To receive a verbal report from Councillor Dawn Husemann, Chair of the Strategic Partnership Task and Finish Group.

Councillor Dawn Husemann, Chair of the Strategic Partnership Task and Finish Group provided an update on the work of the Group.   She presented the initial findings and recommendations of the Group, which had conducted research and interviews to identify key factors for successful partnership working between Shropshire Council and Town & Parish Councils.

The update highlighted three critical areas:– communication; support and training; and provision of essential information, as foundational to the success of the partnership and specific actions needed in each area, such as improving communication channels, providing a single point of contact, and ensuring transparency about service transfers.

Next steps were outlined for exploring proposals for clustering arrangements, emphasising the importance of engaging volunteers and stakeholders, and the need for ongoing scrutiny to ensure the partnership foundations are robust and effective.

Cabinet welcomed the Task and Finish Group’s report, thanking it for the valuable, well-researched body of work and recommendations informing decision making for partnership working and service transfers. The Deputy Leader emphasised the importance of the recommendations, and said the administration aimed to accept and implement them as much as possible, particularly recognising the need for culture change and improved communication with town and parish councils.

Cabinet acknowledged the challenges ahead, especially the diversity among town and parish councils and reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing scrutiny and further work utilising the Group’s findings.