The committee agreed to appoint Councillor Morris as Vice Chair for this particular meeting.

Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

In accordance with the constitution, the following declarations of interest were made in respect of items under consideration at this meeting –

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

There were no items of Chair’s urgent business.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2015.

Agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2015.

The Panel will be provided with updates on Key Performance Indicators K22, K24, K25 and K52 of the Corporate Plan – Performance Report Q2 2015.

A further report for this agenda item will be sent as a supplement.

Councillor Philippa Davey (Cabinet member for Safer and Stronger Communities), Matt Garrett (Head of Housing Services), Darin Halifax (City of Service Chief Officer), Giles Perritt (Assistant Chief Executive) and Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet member for Co-operatives and Housing), were present for this item. 

Comprehensive verbal updates (and one presentation) were provided by officers and councillors on the following key actions –

K22 - Deliver the Housing Plan Objectives

The Plymouth Plan incorporated the strategic objectives contained in the existing, published Housing Plan, and key actions were now contained within Policy 15 ‘meeting local housing needs’.  There were several challenges surrounding this key action including –

·         a high level of homeless people in the city;

·         an increase in the number of rough sleepers;

·         an urgent need for housing adaptations for Plymouth’s rising population of elderly or disabled people;

·         the introduction of Universal Credit in January 2016, combined with rising levels of debt could result in many households experiencing significant barriers in accessing and sustaining housing;

K24 - Strengthen and support coordination and capacity building in the voluntary sector and reinvigorate volunteering

It is estimated that approximately 21% of the adult population (almost 45,000) are currently formally volunteering at some level in the city.  The true figure is likely to be much higher with many people volunteering and not realising that they are and informal volunteering not being recorded.

In January 2016, a volunteering opportunity of the month for Plymouth City Council staff would be advertised on the ‘Our Plymouth’ website along with information on staffroom, Facebook and Twitter, along with the launch a time-banking model for Plymouth City Council staff.  This pilot project was funded through the Department for Communities and Local Government.

K25 - Lead agreement on and implementation of a new framework for working with citizens and communities for the city

The new framework for working with citizens and communities would be delivered jointly as part of the upcoming service reviews within the People Directorate and Chief Executive's Office.  A blueprint for community engagement had been developed to form the basis of discussion with partners and stakeholders.  A workshop with internal stakeholders had also taken place to better understand the communication and engagement needs of the organisation.  Community engagement activities continued to be undertaken across the city in support of Neighbourhood Plans, CEDTs and the Plymouth Plan Part 2.

K52 - Develop a programme to improve the quality of private rented housing and take action against rogue landlords

The creation of the Housing Charter Steering Group ensured -

·         the quality and management of properties in the private rented sector including fair trading by business;

·         the health and wellbeing of tenants;

·         the availability of choice of and access to private rented housing;

·         the ability of tenants to sustain tenancies in the long term;

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The main areas of questioning from Members related to the following -

The Panel will be provided with an update on the Problem Debt Review.

Pete Aley (Head of Neighbourhood and Community Services), Laura Griffiths (Financial & Social Inclusion Officer), Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet member for Co-operatives and Housing) and Emma Rose (Strategic Development Manager (Customer Services)) provided members with an update on the Problem Debt Review.

The main highlights were –

The Chair thanked officers for their attendance at the meeting.

The Panel will monitor progress on previous recommendations.

The panel noted the tracking resolutions schedule.

To review the Your Plymouth work programme for 2015 – 2016.

The panel noted the work programme.

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s)   of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

There were no items of exempt business.