(a)        To receive announcements from the Lord Mayor, Chief Executive, Service Director for Finance or Head of Legal Services;

(b)        To receive announcements from the Leader, Cabinet Members or Committee Chairs.

Councillor Shayer (Lord Mayor of Plymouth) made the following announcements:

a)    Made Councillors aware of, and opportunity for donations to, the charity “Jeremiah’s Journey”, which played a vital role in supporting children, young people and their families during challenging and emotional times when a loved one passed away or faced a terminal illness;

b)    The 2024 citywide “Enough” campaign, created by the Trevi charity had been initiated. This initiative aimed to combat gender-based violence and raise awareness about the urgent need to end violence against women and girls;

c)    The Youth Parliament election results evening had transpired on Wednesday 13 March 2024. The Lord Mayor passed on congratulations to all successful candidates.

Councillor Evans OBE (Leader of the Council) made the following announcements, providing elucidation on the actions of the Council during the previous year:

d)    There was concern from the administration of the instability of both national and local government during 2022/23;

e)    The current administration was working to deliver on key priorities including employment, affordable housing, community safety, the availability of NHS dentists, supporting the elderly, looking after children at risk of harm, roads maintenance and improvement of bus services;

f)     The Council was committed to assisting those in need during the cost-of-living crisis and a Cost-of-Living Action Plan had been created and implemented within the preceding year;

g)    Investment in the City had been ensured after securing the following funding;

                              i.        £1.3 million funding for a programme of works at Millbay docks;

                             ii.        nearly £20 million to regenerate the city by accelerating the Freeport, National Marine Park and Net Zero vision;

                            iii.        £11.6 million funding boost from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver the UK’s first National Marine Park;

                            iv.        £50 million for the Civic Centre residential redevelopment;

                             v.        £25 million for Brickfields for a sports led regeneration;

                            vi.        £80 million for the Brunel Plaza regeneration scheme;

h)    New employment opportunities at Oceansgate, Langage, Sherford, Derriford and the City Centre continued to be fostered;

i)     The Council continued to prioritise the regeneration of the City Centre with a new commitment to delivery on housing working with Homes England.

Councillor Aspinall (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care) made the following announcements:

j)     The Celebrating Excellence in Care Awards would take place on Saturday 23 March 2024. These awards would celebrate the very best staff working within the adult social care sector of the city;

                              i.        The variety of awards considered were in the categories of:  ‘Innovation in Partnerships and Engagement’, ‘Care Worker of the Year’, ‘Excellence in Dimension care’, ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Rising Star Award’ and also ‘Service User Stories’;

k)    A showcase of careers in Health and Social Care would take place on 19 April 2024 at the Duke of Cornwall Hotel for people looking to change careers and who would like further information about working within the caring profession;

Councillor Laing (Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children's Social Care, Culture, Events and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89