Agenda, decisions and minutes
Venue: Council House, Plymouth
Contact: Jamie Sheldon Email: jamie.sheldon@plymouth.gov.uk
Media
No. | Item | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 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. Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2023 as a correct record. |
||||||||||||||||
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: There were two questions from members of the public –
|
||||||||||||||||
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: There were no items of Chair’s Urgent Business. |
||||||||||||||||
Leader's Announcements Additional documents: Minutes: 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. |
||||||||||||||||
Cabinet Member Updates Additional documents: Minutes: 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. |
||||||||||||||||
Armed forces select review recommendations and Cabinet response Additional documents:
Minutes: 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.
|
||||||||||||||||
Audit and Governance Committee Chair update PDF 11 MB Additional documents: Minutes: 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.
|
||||||||||||||||
Leader's Delivery Plan Q3 PDF 170 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet agreed to note the report. |
||||||||||||||||
Corporate Plan Performance Update, Q3 2022-23 PDF 156 KB Additional documents: Minutes: 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. |
||||||||||||||||
Finance Monitoring Report Month 10 PDF 223 KB Additional documents: Minutes: 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. |
||||||||||||||||
Cabinet Response to Council Actions Additional documents: Minutes: 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. |
||||||||||||||||
Council Tax Premiums Additional documents: Minutes: 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).
|
||||||||||||||||
Chelson Meadow Community Solar - Virtual Power Purchase Agreement Additional documents:
Minutes: 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. |
||||||||||||||||
Chelson Meadow Community Solar - Construction Loan Additional documents:
Minutes: 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.
|
||||||||||||||||
Habitat Banking Vehicle Additional documents:
Minutes: 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.
|
||||||||||||||||
Day Opportunities Contract Award PDF 159 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: 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.
|
||||||||||||||||
Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity PDF 153 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: 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. |
||||||||||||||||
Additional documents:
Minutes: 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. |