New committee aimed at strengthening finances to meet for the first time 

Shropshire Council’s new Finance and Improvement Overview and Scrutiny Committee will hold its first meeting on Monday 8 June 2026, with members set to consider financial aspects of a number of important items relating to the council’s improvement, financial sustainability and delivery of priorities.   

The committee is one of a number of changes made to the council’s scrutiny arrangements at the start of this month (May 2026) to strengthen delivery, deepen cross-party working and put more oversight and focus on financial sustainability and transformation, including regular oversight of the council’s Improvement Plan and pre-decision review.   

The Committee will consider a number of reports, including the Financial Outturn 2025/26, a key milestone in the council’s journey towards financial sustainability. It will also review a lessons learned report that will help shape the council’s future approach to transformation. In addition, members will receive an update on the council’s Improvement Plan, consider a proposed performance framework linked to the new Corporate Plan, and review proposals being put forward to Cabinet on in-house provider services.

Councillor Chris Naylor, Shropshire Council’s Chair of Finance and Improvement Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said: 

“Residents across Shropshire are very clear that they want the council to get on top of its inherited financial challenges. It’s my job to focus this new committee on getting us back on an even keel – our committee members have a key role in helping the council to transform and become financially sustainable. We will be scrutinising learning that can help us improve as a council – and challenging financial decisions before they are made. 

“I’m confident the council is facing up to these financial challenges, but from conversations with our Cabinet member for finance and our new Finance Head I know there’s no quick fix. I have to ask residents to be patient – but it’s my job on Scrutiny to ensure the council turns the ship around as quickly and as effectively as it can.” 

Overview and scrutiny plays a vital role in holding decision-makers to account and remains fundamentally important to the functioning of local democracy. Effective scrutiny helps secure the efficient, effective and economic delivery of public services and drives improvement within the council itself. 

To read the agenda and papers, please visit the council’s website.