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

No declarations of interest were made.

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.

No questions from members of the public had been received.

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 introduced the item by:

a)    Expressing his thanks and appreciation to the members of the Growth and Infrastructure Overview and Scrutiny Committee for their careful consideration of the scheme;

b)    Explaining that his administration had always wanted to have an open and transparent consultation process on Armada Way.

Councillor Laing (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Culture, Events and Communications) added:

c)    It was decided that Plymouth City Council would work with an independent consultation and engagement specialist (ECF), who had vast experience in the field, to offer public reassurance that the process would be different to what had happened before;

d)    t) The proposals and information were shared, and feedback was gathered through:

                      i.        A dedicated project website, email and phone number, and the website had 24,000 visitors and 1,568 subscribers;

                     ii.        A survey hosted online, in hard copy and EasyRead format;

                    iii.        1-2-1 interviews with stakeholders;

                    iv.        Four workshops with under-represented groups – including older people, parents and families, those with disabilities and young people;

                     v.        The submission of formal written responses from groups and organisations;

                    vi.        Those without access to the internet could also provide feedback through a dedicated phone number as well as through hard copy survey;

e)    To ensure that as many people as possible knew about the consultation and how to have their say, a robust publicity plan was developed – which included:

                  vii.        Social media posts by PCC and through digital advertising – and as the ECF report highlights, there were significant views – including over 2.2m impressions in the paid for advertising campaign;

                 viii.        Emails to over 250 stakeholder contacts – made up of key businesses and organisations – including environmental groups – encouraging them to publicise via their networks and on their channels;

                   ix.        Briefings with stakeholders, the local MP and councillors;

                    x.        Vinyls on hoardings along Armada Way;

                   xi.        Press releases and video sharing – including weekly updates and videos focusing on different areas in the proposals – including a SUDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage System) scheme explainer, the history of Armada Way, the cultural value of regenerating Armada Way;

                  xii.        Hard copy materials were available in the central library, the indoor market and the Theatre Royal;

                 xiii.        Over 15,000 postcards distributed to businesses, schools, wellbeing centres, residential areas, shopping centres and to people along Armada Way.

Councillor Tuffin (Vice-Chair of the Growth and Infrastructure Overview and Scrutiny Committee) introduced the recommendations and highlighted:

f)     He had emphasised to the committee that this was a new decision and a new scheme and as such the members would be afforded as much time as they felt necessary to complete their scrutiny of the proposal;

g)    As Chair for the meeting, he had exercised his discretion to allow public speakers to address the committee, and they heard concerns over the sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) and translocation of trees, as well as a statement of support from the City Centre Company;

h)    Members had raised issues during discussion  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.