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

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

The Lord Mayor presented a series of awards recognising outstanding achievements across the city.

a)    The first award was the Disability Confident Leader Status Level 3, the highest tier of the UK Government’s disability inclusion initiative. The award was presented to the Council for its commitment to recruiting, retaining, and developing disabled people. Shaun Badmin and Claire Scoffield accepted the award on behalf of the Council; 

b)    The Old Town Street and New George Street regeneration project was awarded Infrastructure Project of the Year and Integration and Collaborative Working at the Constructing Excellence South West Awards. The project revitalised the area, creating jobs, supporting small businesses, and enhancing local skills. Martin Ivatt and Catherine Arthurs accepted the award;

c)    Broadland Gardens won Residential Project of the Year (35 homes and under) at the Mitchelmores Property Awards. Judges praised the creative use of modular pod extensions, which allowed homes to adapt to occupants’ changing needs. Joe McCarthy and Tim Thomas accepted the award;

d)    The Park Bereavement Service Project received Client of the Year at the Constructing Excellence South West Awards. The judges commended the client’s passion, attention to detail, and prioritisation of bereaved families’ needs;

e)    The North Prospect Regeneration Project won Best Project and Best in the Region at the RTPI South West Awards for Planning Excellence. The 15-year regeneration initiative was delivered in partnership with Plymouth Community Homes. Carly Francis and Neil Mawson accepted the award;

f)     Theresa Brooks received the Rising Star Award from the Empty Homes Network for her innovative work in tackling long-term empty homes in Plymouth;

g)    The Housing Delivery Team won the Meeting the Challenge Award at the Empty Homes Network for their innovative approach to addressing long-term empty properties. Theresa Brooks accepted the award; 

h)    The Supporting Internships Project won the Diversity and Inclusion Award at the LGC Awards. The Discovery College’s 100% success rate was highlighted as a model of structured, individualised support and strong partnerships. Tina Brinkworth and Jane Hunt accepted the award; 

i)     The Your Future Programme won the Silver Award for SEND and Inclusive Practice at the Pearson National Teaching Awards. The initiative supported young people aged 19–25, and some aged 16–18, with education, health care plans, and additional learning needs through a combination of short breaks, qualifications, and life experiences;

j)     Plymouth’s Habitat Bank won the Environmental Services Award at the LGC Awards. The initiative created a local market for biodiversity units, helping developers meet planning requirements while delivering environmental and community benefits. Chris Avent and Caroline Haynes accepted the award. 

Councillor Tudor Evans OBE made the following announcements:

k)    A series of major announcements affecting Plymouth over the past 12 months. He stated that these announcements reflected completely game-changing levels of investment from national Government, including: 

                     i.         £4.4 billion investment in defence;

                    ii.        7,000 new jobs linked to the dockyard; 

                   iii.         25,000 additional job opportunities projected by 2035; 

                   iv.         Plymouth featured as a case study in the new Industrial Strategy; 

                    v.        The Babcock Defence Dividend  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26