Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council House, Plymouth

Contact: Jamie Sheldon  Email: jamie.sheldon@plymouth.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

27.

Declarations of Interest

Cabinet Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.  A flowchart providing guidance on interests is attached to assist councillors.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

28.

Minutes

To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2022.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 7 July 2022 were a correct record.

 

29.

Questions from the Public

To receive questions from the public in accordance with the Constitution.

 

Questions, of no longer than 50 words, can be submitted to the Democratic Support Unit, Plymouth City Council, Ballard House, Plymouth, PL1 3BJ, or email to democraticsupport@plymouth.gov.uk. Any questions must be received at least five clear working days before the date of the meeting.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Q. Mr Danny Bamping - Can the Council Leader, Richard Bingley, please explain how he intends to rename Sir John Hawkins Square to Zelenskyy Square when Plymouth City Council’s Policy on Street Naming clearly states “in order to avoid causing offence, either by inclusion or exclusion, or to appear biased, a street should not be named are a living person or individual.”

 

A. Councillor Richard Bingley – I acknowledged that this is not my decision to be taken. It is a decision to be taken in line with the relevant procedures if and when the Council considers taking this issue forward.

 

30.

Chair's Urgent Business

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

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair had no urgent business.

31.

Leader's Announcements

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Mark Shayer, Deputy Leader of the Council made the following announcements on behalf of the Leader, Councillor Richard Bingley:

 

a)     

Congratulated the Plymouth Athletes who took part in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, on their tremendous performance and for bringing home 5 medals, including Ben Proud (Gold, Swimming 50m Freestyle), Giselle Ansley (Gold, Hockey), Lewis Burras (Silver, Swimming 50m Freestyle), Alison Yearling (Bronze, Lawn Bowls) & Laura Stephens (Bronze, Swimming 200m Butterfly). Councillor Mark Shayer congratulated them on the inspiration they have given younger generations and explained that he looked forward to hearing about their sporting successes in the future.

 

b)     

Councillor Mark Shayer welcomed the announcement that plans for a £33.5million eco-friendly neighbourhood, offering more than 140 new affordable homes in the heart of the city centre has moved forward. This is another example of a ground-breaking scheme by Plymouth Community Homes in partnership with Plymouth City Council. The prospect of so many new homes, including affordable options, in such a key location is very welcome.

 

c)     

Councillor Mark Shayer was pleased to announce, that since the last cabinet meeting, the Council has submitted a pitch for £19.9million of investment under the government’s levelling up fund to unlock funding for a package of transitional and transformational infrastructure projects. This bid is result of partnership work across the city. Three key projects have been put forward including a Freeport innovation centre, which will house high value businesses, innovation and start-ups; modernisation of poor infrastructure supporting business growth, high-value jobs and international trade; and transforming the waterfront by repurposing derelict buildings to engage and inspire and train the future workforce.

 

d)     

Garden Waste collections are to end early this year as part of urgent measures to help address a projected £13.6million overspend in the City Council’ budget. The final collection round will begin on Monday 15 August 2022. It is estimated this will save around £200,000. The Council is facing a very serious financial position, largely due to national issues. Action has had to be taken now to give the Council a chance of balancing the budget at the end of the financial year 2022/23. Councillor Mark Shayer apologised for the inconvenience this might cause, but hopes that the people of Plymouth understand that the rising costs the Council are experiencing are beyond its control.

 

32.

Cabinet Member Updates

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Jonathan Drean, Cabinet Member for Transport presented an update to cabinet and highlighted the following key points:

 

a)     

A visit had been hosted for Baroness Vere of Norbiton from the House of Lords on 25 July 2022. Among the items discussed were the Plymouth Station Regeneration Project; strategic schemes through the major route networks; the infrastructure at the Forder Valley Interchange and Forder Valley Link Road; the Northern Corridor Strategic Cycle Network; the Woolwell to the George Transport interchange scheme; plans for Manadon Roundabout; pop-up e-chargers on The Hoe; and the EV Ferry;

 

b)     

The CCTV Centre, VMA and UTC Tenders had been circulated and the Highways Team hoped to have upgraded software and hardware in place by next year;

 

c)     

Micro Asphalt treatment 90,000Mtr² had been delivered from September, which is in addition to the yearly surface treatment programme;

 

d)     

Surface Dressing of 40,000Mtr² was complete and is also in addition to the published surface treatment programme;

 

e)     

The Ridgeway Pedestrian upgrade was completed and used recycled slabs and street furniture to reduce costs and carbon emissions;

 

f)      

6 major junctions had been upgraded to MOVA, funded by TCF2 with another 4 programmed for the 2022/23 financial year;

 

g)     

Commencement of main road lining works using MMA lining that reduces Carbon emissions, lasts longer and improves visibility, this will also see city wide Zebra Crossing remarking, from September 2022.

 

Councillor Drean updated Cabinet with regard to Cattewater Harbour and highlighted the following key points:

 

a)     

95% of all cargo in and out of Plymouth, transited through the Cattewater

b)     

Cattewater Harbour had facilitated over 2.2 million tonnes of cargo
through the port in 2021 and equated to an increase of 370,000 tonnes from the year before;

 

c)     

New export customers had been established in Mexico. Regular shipping routes to Mexico had been underway with the possibly of Egypt coming;

 

d)     

Cargoes included break bulk, clay, fertiliser, salt, liquid cargo, project cargo, animal feed as well as many more, essential to the South West;

 

e)     

Cruise, CHC increased the offering to the city for visiting vessels not wishing to visit ABP;

 

f)      

Port had a programme underway engaging with schools, giving students a hands on experience of trade that passed through Plymouth, as well as opportunities to meet the staff, and an afternoon afloat viewing Port facilities;

 

g)     

10 apprentices commenced work over an 18 month period in the port;

 

h)     

Millions had been invested into the port over the previous 18 months, from shore cranes to vessels.

 

Councillor Wakeham, Cabinet Member for Environment & Street Scene presented an update to cabinet and highlighted the following key points:

 

a)     

Apologies to the residents of Plymouth for the early end of Garden Waste Collections, the decision had been very necessary to prevent further budget issues;

 

b)     

Thanked and paid tribute to all of the Council’s outdoor workers who had all been working in extreme heat;

c)     

Crews had been working to remove weeds from central reservations and kept on top of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

33.

Finance and Capital Monitoring Report Month 3

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Mark Shayer, Deputy Leader of the Council presented the report and Tracey Lee, Chief Executive highlighted the following points:

 

a)     

The unprecedented position the Council is in

 

b)     

The importance of finding savings to balance the budget

 

c)     

The forecast for the future

 

Cabinet agreed to:-

 

1.    Note the forecast revenue monitoring at period three

2.    Note the capital expenditure of the capital programme at period three

3.    Note the quarter one capital programme update

4.    Note the work of the cabinet working group on the commercial income

5.    Note the update of the revenue budget environment

6.    That the report goes forward for consideration at the next meeting of Full Council on 19 September 2022.

 

34.

Modern Slavery Update pdf icon PDF 185 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Rebecca Smith, Cabinet Member for Homes & Communities, presented the update.

 

Cabinet agreed to:-

 

1)    Accept the new Modern Slavery Statement and Policy.

35.

Community Equipment Service Contract Award Report pdf icon PDF 157 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Dr John Mahony, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care and Planning presented the report as well as Emma Crowther, highlighting:

 

 

a)      The service was jointly funded between Plymouth City Council and NHS Devon ICB (formerly CCG). They would sign off their part of the decision making process on 17 August 2022.

 

 

b)      To support budget, planning prices in the new contract would be held for 12 months for equipment and for 3 years for activities such as cleaning and delivery of equipment.

 

 

c)      All providers involved in the procurement had flagged likely future challenges in relation to the cost of service delivery, in particular the cost of fuel.

 

 

d)      The outcome of this tender involved a change from the incumbent Millbrook to a new provider, NRS. Time had been built into the project plan to allow for the transfer of equipment and premises to avoid disruption to service users.

 

Cabinet agreed to:-

 

1)      Award the contract of Plymouth Community Equipment Services, for the period 2023 to 2026, to NRS as the highest scoring tender.