(a)

Alderman Ronald Simmonds

referred to the recent death of Alderman Ronald Simmonds who was elected to the City Council as a Labour councillor for the Budshead Ward from 1979 to 1987 and 1989 to 2007 and appointed Alderman in 2007 in recognition of his service to the City Council;

(b)

Former Devon County Councillor Norman Mallett

referred to the recent death of former Devon County Councillor Norman Mallett who was elected to Devon County Council as a Labour councillor for the St Budeaux Ward from 1993 to 1998 and served on the Joint Highways Committee;

(c)

Recent Events in France

referred to the recent tragic events in France.

The Council stood in silence as a mark of respect to remember those who had lost their lives in France, together with Alderman Simmonds and former County Councillor Norman Mallett;

(d)

Holocaust Memorial Day 2015 – 27 January 2015

reported that tomorrow was Holocaust Memorial Day and that he would be hosting the Council’s Civic Ceremony of Remembrance at the Orangery, Mount Edgcumbe, following which flowers would be laid at the foot of the Memorial Tree.

He would also be attending the Holocaust Memorial Day exhibition at the Roland Levinsky Building and would be lighting a special memorial candle, one of 70 to mark the 70^th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birchenau.

The Council was also advised that since last year’s motion to the Council, various work had been undertaken and events held to promote and celebrate equality and diversity; 

(e)

Individual electoral registration – make sure you register to vote

reminded everyone that the way in which people register to vote had changed and that every individual within a household now needed to be registered.  The Council was advised that there were still thousands of people in Plymouth who were not registered to vote and a link to the on-line registration site would be displayed during the meeting.  He also reminded everyone that advice and guidance was on the Plymouth City Council website and could be found by searching for ‘voting’;

(f)

Lesa Annear, Strategic Director for Transformation and Change

welcomed Lesa Annear to the Council as the newly appointed Strategic Director for Transformation and Change;   

(g)

Loo of the Year Awards

announced the Council’s success in the Loo of the Year Awards in relation to the toilets at Quay Point and Elphinstone car park at the Barbican which had received platinum awards (the highest standard) and a third award was received for the toilets at Armada Way.

The Lord Mayor congratulated Catherine Dilloway (Senior Project and Contract Manager) and Mary Lethbridge (Operational Supervisor) who were representing the service.

(h)

Ofsted Single Inspection of Children’s Services

referred to the report from Ofsted following their inspection of children’s services which had identified a number of areas that needed attention.  He advised that the Council was already working hard to address them and that Cabinet had already considered a draft improvement  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58