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 made in relation to items on the agenda.

To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 09 February 2023.

The Cabinet agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2023 as 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.

There were two questions from members of the public –

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.

The Leader made the following announcements:

a)    It was the last cabinet of the municipal year 2022/23 and so he chose to reflect on some of the achievements of the administration that year;

b)    There had been £21m of inward investment in sport in Plymouth biggest since Plymouth Life Centre;

c)    Platinum Parkway had opened;

d)    Plymouth had been named as one of the 14 most underrated places on the globe with national coverage for Plymouth through articles in The Telegraph, Mirror and The Daily Mail;

e)    The Box had picked up more National coverage for its spring arts programme with an article in The Financial Times;

f)     The Leader expressed his thanks to Plessey and their CEO for hosting him and staff from the Economic Development Team, the company is part of Plymouth’s diverse and strong economic infrastructure and the City was worth £6 billion GDP;

g)    Designation of the UK’s first free port and its first corporate tenant;

h)    The smart sound control room had opened and 5G network launched as well as additional manufacturing facilities at Plymouth Science Park opening;

i)     The Melville building at Royal William Yard had been completed with Urban Splash starting work on redeveloping the Civic Centre Building and there had been land deals and development with Hilton Hotels on the Hoe, as well as an expansion announced for the M&S Food Hall at Derriford;

j)     A master plan for Millbay had been developed as well as a strategy on ports to bring all four of the regulatory authorities together;

k)    The administration had rekindled the campaign to reopen the city airport;

l)     The inward investment team had engagement with 715 companies with a 95% occupancy rate on commercial estate and 98% debt recovery, and, in the last year, Plymouth City Council had engaged with 1562 businesses in a proactive investment centred way with 18 live foreign direct investment enquiries totalling around £30million;

m)  Millions of pounds of regeneration going into Armada Way and New George Street as well as a new Derriford District Shopping Centre planned;

n)    There was a pipeline of approximately 8000 jobs leading up to 2030, most higher value graduate level jobs;

o)    There was a £500 million development pipeline across dozens of capital projects across Plymouth.

Councillor Jonathan Drean (Cabinet Member for Transport) made the following announcements:

a)    Cross Country trains would have an hourly service northbound from Plymouth from May 2023 that would connect Plymouth better to Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow;

b)    Platinum Way has opened with Brest Road and Morlaix Road due to open shortly and the Forder Valley Road Scheme had had significant community impact with 85% of the workforce living in a PL postcode, created 13 jobs as well as 75 weeks of work experience for over 16s and 455 weeks of training;

c)    Lining work was ongoing across the city;

d)    Additional lighting was installed in Central Park with TCF funding in partnership with the VAWG Commission;

Councillor Dr John Mahony (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care) provided the following updates:

e)    The number of clients waiting for domiciliary care to be allocated to them in Plymouth was at its lowest level for 18 months or more and he expressed his thanks to the commissioning teams and the Council’s partners for their hard work in this area;

f)     Recruitment events had brought 25 new workers to the home care market as well as the arrival of 20 international recruits;

g)    The Council continued to perform ahead of its target for ‘no right to reside’ position which referred to patients who were fit to leave Derriford but were awaiting care to be provided in the community or at home;

h)    The uplift rates for adult care providers would see the hourly rate for domiciliary care rise from £19.87 to £22 and he would be urging providers to ensure the majority of this was passed onto workers through pay;

i)     There would also be an uplift in the contract for Care Homes and supported living provision by 8.5% from 1 April 2023 to encourage more people to work in the sector;

Councillor Charlotte Carlyle (Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Children & Young People) provided the following updates:

j)     Skills Launchpad launched an employer hub which was providing a way for employers to engage with the Council and over 2000 learners had been supported with apprenticeships and education and a SEN employment forum had been established;

k)    She had been working with City Bus and Princess Yachts on signing the Care Leavers Covenant as well as Babcock and even finding placements for 2 young care leavers;

l)     As part of Safer Plymouth a youth engagement team out on the streets of Plymouth had engaged with 2620 young people to date;

m)  Youth Parliament Elections had been held and between the candidates, 700 votes were cast, and The Leader encouraged cabinet members to engage with the group;

Councillor Pat Patel (Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure and Sport) provided the following updates:

n)    The events calendar for the year would be going live shortly and it was full of great events;

o)    There was a new Chief Operating Officer for Plymouth Active Leisure who would be focusing on increasing membership;

p)    The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 109.

Councillor Chris Penberthy (Chair of the Performance, Finance and Customer Focus Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Chair of the Armed Forces Select Review) introduced the recommendations and highlighted: -

a)    The Armed Forces Community Covenant was important to the Council, first signed just over 10 years ago, but it had never been subject to any scrutiny, and the Scrutiny Management Board was keen to look at it to try and make recommendations to improve it;

b)    He thanked all those who had worked on the Armed Forces Community Covenant over the years, cross-party as it had added value to the city;

c)    It was important for the Select Review to make recommendations to different Scrutiny Panels for further scrutiny on specific areas, covered by different scrutiny committees because the Covenant needed to get out to other areas of the Council too;

d)    There had been a feeling that MKC Heroes had been let down in the transition to the Royal British Legion taking on support for them, but since the review there seemed to be some movement on this in a positive direction;

e)    It would be important to keep reviewing what the Council’s role was in leading it and facilitating city-wide partnerships to support the Armed Forces community;

f)     He thanked all the Councillors who sat on the panel and officers who enabled the review to happen as well as expressing thanks to Councillor Mark Shayer for attending for the entirety of the meeting and for taking action so quickly following the meeting;

Councillor Mark Shayer (Deputy Leader, Cabinet Member for Finance and the Economy and Chair of the Armed Forces Covenant Meetings) responded by saying:-

g)    He was grateful to Councillor Penberthy and everyone else involved for making the meeting happen;

h)    There were around 18,000 veterans in Plymouth, as well as serving personnel and families of those who were, or had, served in the Armed Forces, so it was important to look at this in a Select Review;

i)     Work had already begun to create improvements, including with the MKC Heroes, who now had somewhere to come together and practice, with the majority of the other recommendations either agreed, or noted where relevant.

The Cabinet agreed to: -

1.    Thank the select committee for taking their valuable time to consider the past 10 years of the Armed Forces Community Covenant, reviewing its successes and challenges and contributing to its future development and activity. To acknowledge each of the individual recommendations and to respond accordingly, as described in the report;

2.    Note that the majority of recommendations have either been agreed or noted where relevant. In some the recommendations coincide with activities already in train and are have already been embedded within Council practice. 

Councillor Andy Lugger (Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee) introduced the report and highlighted:-

a)     Since November 2022, the Committee had approved the Annual Update to the Risk Management Strategy, recommended the Capital Finance and Treasury Management Strategies and had approved a new DBS check policy and had created a subgroup to consider the engagement concerning the proposed changes to the electoral cycle;

b)    There were issues with the Constitution with regards to how petitions and referendums were handled as well as arrangements for handling allegations under the code of conduct against members of Plymouth City Council and so there was a recommendation in the report for Cabinet to instruct the Audit and Governance Committee to conduct a thorough and independent review of the Constitution.

The Leader further highlighted:-

c)    The importance for officers to progress the task of the Audit and Governance Committee progressing the review of the Constitution;

d)    Thanks for Councillor Lugger’s leadership as Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee.

The Cabinet agreed to note the report.

The Cabinet agreed to note the report.

Councillor Mark Shayer (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Economy) introduced the report and highlighted: -

a)    That purpose of the report was to provide an update to scrutiny on the performance of the Council against the Corporate Plan and would help scrutiny panels identify areas to scrutinise further with the aim of improving performance.

The Cabinet agreed to note the report.

Councillor Mark Shayer (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Economy) introduced the report and highlighted:-

a)     The report set out the revenue monitoring position of the council forecast to the end of the financial year 2022/23 at Period 10 and was reporting a net overspend, down to £1.3 million.

The Cabinet agreed to:-

1.     Note the forecast revenue monitoring position of the Council forecast to the end of the financial year 2022/23 at period. 

The Leader introduced the report and:-

a)     Thanked to Councillor Shayer for working with David Northey and other officers on working hard to get the overspend numbers down;

b)    Thanked all Councillors for their involvement in the budget scrutiny work for savings and to be included in the budget for 2023/24;

Councillor Rebecca Smith (Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Homes and Communities) asked:-

c) For clarification on the wording in the report’s recommendation ‘h’ as the Cost of Living Taskforce was, at that point, an informal group and Jamie Sheldon (Senior Governance Advisor) agreed to check the wording.

The Cabinet agreed to:- 

1.     Note the allocations approved by Council on the 27 February as set out in paragraph 2.3 and Appendix 1 of the Briefing Report, some of which were subject to coming in to force of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill;

2.     Agreed:  
 

a.     Subject to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill coming in to force and the Council being able to introduce a Premium Rate Council Tax for empty and second homes from 1 April 2024, to the drawdown of £625,000 from the existing Investment Property Voids Allowance Reserve in the 2023/24 revenue budget to increase the Council Tax Support Fund and support the Plan For Homes are set out at 3.2 in the briefing report;

b.     To the drawdown of an additional £375,000 from the existing Investment Property Voids Allowance Reserve in the 2023/24 revenue budget to fund the items as set out in 4,2 (d) of the briefing report;

c.     To undertake a full review of the Council Tax Support Scheme during 2023/24 for implementation in 2024/25;

d.     Through the libraries review, to seek to enhance access to Council services and also review other Council owned buildings which could be used to support this activity;

e.     To launch a commission on the cost, quality and availability of local supported accommodation for children and adults across the city, with work to be undertaken during 2023;

f.       To commence a project to undertake a review of revenue and capital resources required to decarbonise the city’s taxi fleet and inform the 24/25 budget with the cost of the review to be met from existing resources;

g.     To launch a review of domestic abuse services to improve access, availability and delivery of provision with work to be undertaken by October 2023;

h.     Officers develop, with the Cost of Living Working Group, terms of reference for the spend of the £25,000 allocation by the group for approval by Cabinet; 

i.       Officers develop, with the Cabinet Advisory Group on Child Poverty, terms of reference for the spend of the £25,000 allocation by the group for approval by Cabinet; 

j.       Officers develop a plan and process for Cabinet approval to ensure that the £25,000 to support Violence Against Women and Girls was utilised;

k.     Officers develop and prepare for Cabinet consideration a proposal as to the use of the Green Investment Fund within the capital programme;

l.       Officers undertake a review  ...  view the full minutes text for item 115.

Cabinet agreed to recommend to Council that: 

1.    Subject to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill receiving Royal Assent, from 1 April 2024 the current 100% premium for dwellings which were unoccupied and substantially unfurnished would be levied after a period of one year;

2.    Subject to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill receiving Royal Assent from 1 April 2024 a premium of 100% would be levied on all dwellings which were unoccupied and substantially furnished (second homes). 

Councillor James Stoneman (Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Governance) introduced the item and highlighted:-

a)    The VPPA was an important step forward for the Council on the project;

b)    The agreement would protect the Council from future volatility in the marker for 20 years;

c)    The item had been on the agenda at the Growth and Infrastructure Overview and Scrutiny Committee in the previous week, where an in-depth conversation was had and the recommendations made had been incorporated into the reports for Cabinet.

Cabinet agreed to:

1.    Approve the business case, including the requirement for quarterly monitoring and annual review of the Virtual Power Purchase Agreement; 

2.    To enter into a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement with Chelson Community Solar on the basis set out in the report;  

3.    Delegate authority for negotiation of the terms within the Virtual Power Purchase Agreement to the S151 officer in consultation the monitoring officer;  

4.    Note that the S151 will sign the agreement subject to it not being signed as a deed. Where it is a deed it will be signed by the Monitoring Officer or other authorised signatory. 

Councillor James Stoneman (Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Governance) introduced the item:-

a)    The construction loan would provide be a long-term finance loan to Chelson Meadow Community Solar for the construction of the solar farm.

Cabinet agreed to:-

1.    Approve the business case;

2.    Approve the principal of a £16,373,236 loan to Chelson Meadow Community Solar and delegated the authority for agreeing the final terms of the agreement to the S151 officer in consultation with the monitoring officer subject to the following;

a.     The Leader approving the additional capital allocation of £15,953,326 into the existing budget line of £420,000;

b.    Officers receiving legal advice that the loan is in compliance with subsidy control rules; 

c.     The loan agreement providing for a legal charge/s to deliver such security as the Council shall determine) on the basis set out in the report;

3.    Note that the S151 would sign the loan agreement subject to it not being signed as a deed. Where it is a deed it will be signed by the Monitoring Officer or other authorised signatory.

Councillor James Stoneman (Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Governance) introduced the item:-

a)    This was a nationally innovative approach that lead the way in meeting the Council’s duties from the biodiversity net gain policy within the new Environment Act;

b)    The report recommended the establishment of a company owned by the Council which would secure new streams of investments and would create nationally recognised biodiversity products that would be sold to developers, and possible other corporate buyers, to generate sustainable revenues to help finance the enhancement and maintenance of the city’s green spaces for people and wildlife;

c)    The proposal had been considered to be unusual and innovative and so it was subject to scrutiny with a group from the Growth and Infrastructure Overview and Scrutiny Committee and council officers would be keeping relevant committees up to date with any progress made in establishment and running of the bank;

d)    The decision to establish the habitat bank does not have any financial implications for Plymouth City Council itself as development costs would be met through external funding from the Heritage Lottery under the Future Parks program, as well as DEFRA under the natural environment readiness fund.

The Cabinet agreed to:

1.    Approved the creation of the vehicles/company structure, as outlined in the Briefing Report;

2.    Approved the appointment of the following officers to serve as Directors of the Habitat Banking Special Purpose Vehicle (“HBV”):  

a.     Philip Robinson (Service Director for Street Services) 

b.    Zoe Sydenham (Natural Infrastructure Projects and Partnership Manager);

3.    To appoint the Service Director for Finance (David Northey) to act as Member representative in respect of the Holding Company (“HoldCo”) and to exercise all voting rights on behalf of the Council as Member of the company, including the appointment and termination of Company Directors and subject to Key Decisions (as defined by the Council’s Constitution) being reserved to the Leader/ Cabinet and take any necessary action to protect, safeguard and effectively manage the Council’s interest in the HoldCo;

4.    Delegate to the Service Director of Finance (David Northey), the authority to approve or enter into all relevant documentation and agreements on behalf of the Council in relation to the HoldCo and HBV. 

This item was introduced by Councillor Dr John Mahony (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care), who highlighted:-

a)    The day opportunity service offered a range of activities and support for people with complex social care needs to become more independent through a focus on prevention, reducing social isolation, improved health and wellbeing and increased self-management of their health conditions, all of which reduces reliance on paid support;

b)    There were 10 commissioned day opportunity contracted services, with an overall budged of over £1.3million per year, which supported 198 adult clients;

c)    This agenda item referred to a two year contract which would be accompanied by a review of the service to make future recommendations about how the area was managed within the two years.

The Cabinet agreed to:-

1.    Approve the direct award of a new contract to the incumbent Day Opportunities suppliers (10 contracts) for 2 years from 1st April 2023 until 31st March 2025 to enable strategic review and remodelling of the services; 

2.    Approve the development of a business case to describe the recommended approach and any associated procurement activity for the remodelled service. 

Councillor Rebecca Smith (Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Homes & Communities) introduced this agenda item and highlighted:-

a)    The report had been to scrutiny committee several weeks before and following recommendations, the action plan had been adjusted accordingly.

The Leader added:-

b)    Thanks to Councillor Rebecca Smith for chairing the Equality and Diversity working group;

c)    It was a good example of cross-party working and members could be proud of this piece of work;

d)    Plymouth had shown regional leadership.

The Cabinet agreed to:-

1.      Note the progress set out in the Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity document;

2.         Endorse the accompanying updated Equality and Diversity Action Plan for 2023/24. 

The meeting was adjourned from 3.27 pm to 3.35 pm.

Councillor Pat Patel (Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure & Sport) introduced the report on Brickfields and highlighted:-

a)    The report set out the £21 million investment in Brickfields that would not only transform the site but also the opportunities available to the Devonport communities and across the city, as well as providing new opportunities for Plymouth’s professional sports clubs;

b)    The project had been developed cross party and in partnership with Plymouth Argyle Football Club, Plymouth Argyle Community Trust, Plymouth Albion  and Devonport Community Leisure Trust;

c)    It would increase participation in grassroots rugby;

d)    Plymouth Argyle Football Club and Plymouth Argyle Community Trust would be investing £18 million;

e)    The project showed the ambition for better access to facilities for local people, and a commitment to improve their health and wellbeing;

Andrew Parkinson (Chief Executive Officer, Plymouth Argyle Football Club) and Mark Lovell (Chief Executive, Plymouth Argyle Community Trust) added:-

f)     The project would enhance and underused site and would improve facilities for the local community, whilst also providing and exemplar multi-sport venue for Plymouth Argyle Football Club and Plymouth Albion, amongst others, to use;

g)    One of the aims was to be able to attract, retain and develop the best sporting talent in the city as well as connecting the local community with the site through a hub;

h)    Plymouth Argyle Community Trust, along with partners had engaged with local people and the themes that emerged was a desire for indoor spaces, improved outdoor spaces, a community offering at a low cost, versatility, health and wellbeing, open spaces, café and youth engagement;

i)     There would be two floodlit play zones which would be open to the community as well as a full size 3G rugby pitch, the only one in the city, as well as a full size 3G football pitched which would have community usage;

j)     The athletics track would be retailed and a 3G covered indoor pitch, the first in the south west, all of which would be connected by active walkways around the complex;

k)    A dedicated site would be provided for the displaced hockey group;

l)     A community hub would be available on site with a health and wellbeing offering, a centralised youth zone for young people to access with education and employment opportunities, hub breakout spaces for social interaction and family engagement, increased formal and informal activities on site, improved gym offering at a low cost with increased hours of access;

m)  Plymouth City Council would retain the freehold and there would be three leases: Plymouth Argyle Football Club, Plymouth Argyle Community Trust and Plymouth Albion;

n)    The operational community aspects would be overseen by the trust with a deed granting easement over the common areas and there would be regular meetings with a board of key stakeholders;

o)    Plymouth Argyle is trusted within Plymouth and the Plymouth Argyle Community Trust had a proven record within the city at Manadon in developing community facilities and would be applying for grants that wouldn’t  ...  view the full minutes text for item 122.