The Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Shropshire Council met on 10 July 2025, and among the topics discussed was a petition for a skateboard facility and pump track in Oswestry, and questions raised by members on topics including the usage of Household Recycling Centres and fly tipping. The committee also reviewed the Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership Annual Report 2023/24 and discussed the Community Safety Partnership Prioritisation Strategy 2025/26.

Petition for Skateboard Facility and Pump Track in Oswestry

The committee considered a petition bearing 423 signatures requesting the council to pass unused land to the north of Oswestry Leisure Centre to Oswestry Town Council, on the condition that it is used for a skateboard facility and pump track.

The petition stated that:

Amenities like this are common in many much smaller settlements around Oswestry and the Town Council has the benefit of a Capital Receipt to fund the construction costs. Young people deserve to enjoy proper exercise facilities in our town and their lack increases the risks to them, and other residents, from anti-social riding and skating in public places.

The petition was started by Theo, who works in a bike shop in the town, and Councillor Olly Rose of Oswestry Town Council.

Member Questions

The committee addressed questions raised by members on various topics. These questions had to be submitted by 12 noon on Friday, 4th July 2025.

In a previous meeting on 23 January 2025, Councillor Rob Wilson asked a question regarding an update on the change in usage of the Household Recycling Centres since the booking system became operational, and the change in reports of fly tipping since the system became operational. Councillor Wilson also asked a supplementary question regarding the number of fixed penalty notices issued in 2024 for fly tipping in Shropshire.

Also in the 23 January 2025 meeting, a question from Councillor Bernie Bentick regarding the felling of an oak tree on Washford Road in Meole Village was read out. Councillor Bentick also submitted a supplementary question regarding whether the replacement oak tree would be of the nearest age to the one felled which is commercially available. Councillor Joyce Barrow confirmed that Councillor Bentick would receive a response to his supplementary question in writing.

Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership Annual Report 2023/24

The committee received the Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership Annual Report 2023/24. The report is a joint report for Community Safety, which fulfils the statutory duty to produce a needs assessment for the Community Safety Partnership¹. The committee was asked to focus on the Community Safety Partnership elements of the Annual Report and consider the actions taken and current performance.

Councillor Simon Jones, Deputy Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Rachel Robinson, Executive Director of Health, Jane Rose, Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership Business Manager, and Eryn Cookson, Anti-Social Behaviour Lead Officer were in attendance. Paula Mawson, Assistant Director – Integration and Healthy People, Wendy Bulman, Domestic Abuse Strategic Lead, and Lorna Tilley, Head of Service, West Mercia Youth Justice Service attended remotely.

During the meeting, members discussed:

• Work being undertaken to bring multi-agency teams together from both within the council and from wider external agencies to tackle issues such as anti-social behaviour.
• The Shrewsbury Movement and Public Space Strategy, which had recently been adopted by full council.
• The need for community safety elements of the report to be clearer and stronger, with plans to separate out the reports in future years.
• Following up with schools that had not taken up the offer of hate crime sessions delivered by the Youth Engagement Team to establish the reasons why.
• The scope of the work on community safety covered issues around crime and disorder, but not issues such as river safety and home safety.
• The fact that the majority of anti-social behaviour occurs in more urban setting wards, but when it does occur in a rural area, it is often magnified.
• The Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership was funded through a multi-agency budget as detailed within the annual report, with the council contribution in 2022/23 and 2023/24 being £234,580.00.

Community Safety Partnership Prioritisation Strategy 2025/26

Having considered the Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership Annual Report 2023/24, the committee were asked for their views on the priority setting process for the revised / new Strategy to be in place from April 2025. This discussion took place with the press and public excluded from the meeting.

Minutes of Previous Meetings

The committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 23rd January 2025 and 22nd May 2025.

During the 22 May 2025 meeting, Councillor Ed Potter was elected Chairman of the Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and Councillor Sam Walmsley was appointed Vice-Chairman.

During the 23 January 2025 meeting, Councillor Nick Hignett was appointed as Vice-Chairman for the remainder of the municipal year. The committee also resolved to cancel the meeting scheduled for 6th March 2025 and to record a list of the work undertaken by the Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee over the last four years, including any outstanding items, for consideration by the new committee following the May 2025 local election.