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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 August 2022.

Agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 11 August 2022 were a correct record.

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.

Q. Mr Gregg Black – Does the Leader, as the previous Leader did, support the reopening of the railway line between Plymouth and Okehampton via Tavistock.

A. Councillor Richard Bingley -In principle, yes.

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

Councillor Richard Bingley, Leader of the Council sent thoughts, reflections and prayers to the royal household and family, from the City of Plymouth after the statement made regarding HM Queen Elizabeth II’s health earlier in the day.

Councillor Richard Bingley, Leader for the Council gave the following announcements in addition: -

a)    Leader visited the University of Arts which has recently been awarded University status. There is a public exhibition space at the university, currently an art gallery and the Leader encouraged Cabinet Members to visit and support the organisation as they begin their first semester as the University of Arts;

b)    A meeting was held between the Leader, several Cabinet Members and Plymouth Business Council, who expressed their concerns over the increase of energy costs, for which an announcement from Central Government was expected shortly. The Leader also reassured the group that the administration was committed to the reopening of Plymouth Airport;

c)    The Leader took this opportunity to thank all colleagues for their support with the financial planning work that was being undertaken.

Councillor Richard Bingley, Leader of the Council, made the following announcements:

a)    The benefits of Plymouth Freeport need to be communicated to businesses and residents in Plymouth;

b)    During Sail GP several meetings were held with current and potential investors, and this year’s event had a strong theme of skills and job creation, and the Marine Park designation resulted in more hits on the website than ever before.

Councillor Mark Shayer, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Economy presented an updated to cabinet and highlighted the following key points:

a)    Plymouth City Council has re-confirmed its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

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

a)    The first phase of the Mobility Hubs has been completed which was for 12 EV charging points (64 bays for EV charging cars) and 156 E-Bike Docks, which was £800,000 infrastructure works. The second phase has just been approved which includes 17 new sites with EV Charging Points for 84 bays and 98 E-Bike docks at £1.5million for infrastructure works. Ward Councillors have been involved in determining locations.

b)    Lining work was to be carried out on Sunday nights for two Sundays consecutively, weather dependant, at each of the following locations: North Cross Roundabout, Manadon Roundabout and Marsh Mills Roundabout. This work is being done on a Sunday night because of the volume of traffic. 

c)    Plymouth City Council was 1 of 11 Council’s to secure funding from the Department of Transport as part of the Active Travel Social Prescribing Pilot for 2022/23 to 2024/25. £1.2 million has been secured to diverse programmes of social prescribing projects, and contributions from local internal, and external sources will take the overall value to £1.55 million.

d)    The Active Travel self-assessment showed that Plymouth showed strong local leadership and support with strong plans for the emerging walking and cycling network.

e)    12 Interactive Help Points to improve public safety are now installed. Upon activation lighting and the CCTV units will be switch on direct to the location and the person will be able to speak to the CCTV Control Centre and from there can be linked to the Police or Street Pastors. Locations were informed by footfall data and in consultation with Community Connections, the Police and VAWG group.

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

a)    It had been announced that DEFRA had approved £1.154 million in funding for woodland planting for the Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest.

b)    The Council was continuing to deliver against the ash dieback plan.

c)    The Council recognises the value and importance of providing good quality careers for the next generation of environmental managers and to continue the growth of the blue and green sectors in Plymouth.

·         Eight apprentices have been recruited to Street Scene & Waste.

·         The Council had supported 15 kick-starter placements throughout the Plymouth National Grid Project.

d)    A network of ponds and features to capture rain water were planning for Central Park near Barn Park to help reduce the localised flooding that occurs in this part of the park, as well as path improvements, heritage feature improvements, new trees and wildflower planting to improve air quality and biodiversity in the park.

e)    Thanked those officers working in the department at this time, hard, as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

Councillor Mark Shayer, Cabinet Member for Finance and Economy introduced the report and highlighted the following points:

a)    There is a current gross deficit position of £14.8 million.

b)    Through management actions £6 million of savings had already been made, but more actions to be taken.

c)    An all-year financial recovery plan will be subject to further work to crystallize further savings.

Councillor Richard Bingley, Leader of the Council, pledged that information will be shared with the community and other political parties as the process goes on.

Cabinet noted the report.

Councillor Richard Bingley, Leader of the Council introduced the report.

(a)   Since its inception in 2014, the Plymouth Plan had set out a shared direction of travel for the long term future of the city of Plymouth. This was the second annual report that has been produced and it provided Cabinet with an overview of progress over the past year, for each of the different elements of the plan.

(b)  It also provides an opportunity to reflect on progress in the first seven years of the plan.

Cabinet agreed to note the report.

Councillor James Stoneman, Cabinet Member for Climate Change introduced the report on behalf of Councillor Rebecca Smith, Cabinet Member for Homes & Communities and highlighted the following points:

a)    The document had been developed in partnership between members in Plymouth, South Hams and West Devon as a result of members in all three authorities wanting a strong and urgent response to the climate emergency;

b)    This was an interim policy that introduced new requirements ahead of a formal review by the JLP;

c)    There are seven new mitigation measures and six new adaptation measures which compliment new building regulations;

d)    The report is an important step in the journey towards the goal of making Plymouth net zero by 2030.

The Cabinet agreed that the emergency planning statement be referred to City Council for formal adoption as an interim policy statement pending the completion of the next review of the Plymouth and South West Devon Local Joint Plan.