A SHROPSHIRE councillor has welcomed a number of approved recommendations over housing by her Cabinet colleagues.

A report from the Place Overview Committee was to put Cabinet members on Wednesday (June 7) which recommended that Shropshire Council use its own in-house building control for developments.

It also recommended raising awareness of building control to new homeowners in the county, to appoint a dedicated officer for designing open spaces, and also back Cornovii – the council's in-house developer – in creating an open space management company.

Councillor Joyce Barrow, for St Oswald, which includes Trefonen, Morda and Maesbury, is chairman of the Place Overview Committee, and she thanked the staff who created the report.

She said: “The topic was picked up by the committee which commissioned a task and finish group in response to raising the issues of residents who had moved into their homes on new build developments.

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“I would like to thank the members of the task and finish group who committed to the task and I believe together we have developed evidence-based recommendations that will add value to the council and communities.

“ I would also like to thank the officers who shared their knowledge and experience and supported our work, and to the organisations that helped inform our work.

“One of the key learning points was that developers can appoint their own private sector companies to carry out the work, and therefore the Council’s own service is in competition with them.

“The council’s service cannot get involved in disputes where they were not the provider unless there is a safety concern.

“This is something that needs to be communicated to ensure that there is greater awareness, both for Members and for communities and the owners of new build homes.

“We also looked at open spaces on development and options about the administration of these areas.”

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Other recommendations included including building control in the programme of induction training provided to elected members following all-council elections in 2025. 

Also to review its Section 38/278 process to create a greater focus on securing legal agreements early in the planning process.

Cllr Barrow added: “The response to these recommendations and the progress in delivering those that are accepted will be received by and monitored by the new Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

“It would be great to receive the response to the recommendations and the action/delivery plan for those that have been accepted, and an indication of when would be a good time to receive a progress report.”