Agenda and minutes

Growth and Infrastructure Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Monday 22 January 2024 2.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, Council House

Contact: Ross Jago Email: democraticsupport@plymouth.gov.uk

Items

No.

Item

27.

Declarations of Interest

Councillors will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on the agenda.

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made.

28.

Chair's Urgent Business

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

Minutes:

There were no items of Chair’s urgent business.

29.

Better Places Programme: Armada Way PDF 175 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The following public representations were made:

The following representation was made by Mr Kilroy:

If no detailed SuDs designs and calculations have been done, how can we be sure that the scheme will have sufficient capacity to handle the roof run-off of any future development in the area?

The following representation was made by Ms Tarrant:

Why was no cost/benefit analysis done regarding the translocation of the 6 (now 4) trees, factoring in the chance of survival, which was considered poor by organisations such as Plymouth Tree People and the Woodland Trust, as well as the council’s own Natural Infrastructure Officers?

The following representation was made by Mrs Steer:

If the plans can change to accommodate two trees, can be changed to accommodate all six trees?

The following representation was made by Mr Godefroy:

The Plymouth City Centre Company, representing the interests of all city centre businesses, recognises the value, importance and urgency of the significant investment planned for Armada Way.

We would like to ask the Scrutiny Committee if it could give the scheme its full support for the sake of existing businesses, which have suffered financial losses due to the delays, and for future investment which will be vital for the regeneration of the city centre.

The following representation was made by Mr Thomas, although he was not present at the meeting:

The consultation material stated that “if we do not translocate the six trees then this proposed scheme is not possible” but this claim was not made about any other element of the design. How can you be sure that this statement did not influence people’s responses?

The Leader of the Council introduced the item and highlighted the following:

a) Thanks to the Committee for this consideration of the material and their important role in the decision-making process;

b) Cabinet wanted to have an open and transparent process for Armada Way and so experienced and independent experts were commissioned to undertake the most recent consultation and engagement exercise;

c) The consultation reflected the values of being democratic, taking responsibility, acting with fairness, and being cooperative, in the Corporate Plan;

d) He advocated for pre-decision scrutiny on key decisions;

e) The consultation exercise was not a vote or a referendum, and the project was not starting from nothing, and he was grateful for the generally positive responses received from local people and businesses on the scheme;

f) The consultation and engagement had launched on 17 October 2023;

g) They wanted the new scheme to:

i. Recapture the scale and grandeur of Armada Way;

ii. Include more trees and greenery;

iii. Include a huge and exciting new destination play village for families;

iv. Help wildlife and nature;

v. Be water smart;

vi. Improve safety for all, especially women and young girls;

vii. Have more places to sit, relax and eat;

viii. Include a new cycling path for people of all abilities;

ix. Have plenty of pop-up spaces for retail, arts, culture, and entertainment;

h) They had ... view the full minutes text for item 29.