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 by councillors in accordance with the code of conduct in relation to items under consideration at this meeting.

Agreed that Councillor Vincent is appointed Vice Chair for the meeting.

To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2013.

Agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2013.

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, Civic Centre, Plymouth, PL1 2AA, or email to democraticsupport@plymouth.gov.uk. Any questions must be received at least five clear working days before the date of the meeting.

Two questions were submitted by members of the public for this meeting, in accordance with Part B, paragraph 11 of the Constitution.

In the absence of the questioners, written responses would be sent to them as set out below -

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 Director for Place will submit a report on proposals to establish a programme of initiatives to help achieve a step change in the delivery of homes within Plymouth.  The Plan for Homes will aim to bring forward 1,000 homes per annum over the next five years to address the severe housing needs within the city and to support the growth agenda.

The report also seeks agreement to include within the Capital Programme a significant Affordable Housing Loan Facility and to the release of further city-council-owned sites in support of the Plan for Homes and the delivery of more affordable homes.

The Director for Place submitted a report on proposals to establish a programme of initiatives to help achieve a step change in the delivery of homes within Plymouth.  The Plan for Homes aimed to bring forward 1,000 homes per annum over the next five years to address the severe housing needs within the city and to support the growth agenda.

The report also sought agreement to include within the Capital Programme a significant Affordable Housing Loan Facility and to the release of further City Council-owned sites in support of the Plan for Homes and the delivery of more affordable homes.

Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) introduced the proposals and indicated that the loan facility would be available only to registered social landlords and co-operative associations, not to private developers. 

The City Council, at the meeting on 25 November 2013, would be asked to sign up to the ‘Say Yes to Homes’ Campaign.

Members’ attention was also drawn to the Plan for Homes and Get Plymouth Building brochures which were available to members at the meeting.

Paul Barnard (Assistant Director for Planning Services) reported that the draft plan had been considered by the Working Plymouth Scrutiny Panel on 25 September 2013, and their suggestions had been incorporated into the document.  A progress report would be submitted to the panel after a year, as requested.

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed –

The City Council is Recommended to include the Plan for Homes within the Capital Programme from 2014/2015 until 2019/2020 with an allocation of up to £50 million (subject to due diligence) in support of the affordable housing loan facility to the Plymouth Housing Partnership.

The Assistant Director for Finance, Efficiencies, Technology and Assets will submit a report on an over-archingFees, ChargesandConcessions Policy to providea clear statementof Plymouth City Council’s corporateapproachto feesand chargesincorporatingconcessions.

Thispolicy sets outthe principlesthat the Councilwill usewhen levyinga chargefor servicesthat we provideand why wearedoingso.It will ensurewe adopta consistentand fairapproachto feesandcharges,and thatthey are used todeliverthe Council’s overall objectiveswhilst protecting,whereverpossible,the mostvulnerablecitizensof Plymouth. It alsosetsa directionof travelabout principlestobe usedwhen waivingchargesand the conditionsthat will be appliedin thesecircumstances.

The Assistant Director for Finance, Efficiencies, Technology and Assets submitted a report on an over-archingFees, ChargesandConcessions Policy to providea clear statementof Plymouth City Council’s corporateapproachto feesand chargesincorporatingconcessions.

Thispolicy set outthe principlesthat the Councilwould usewhen levyinga chargefor servicesthat were providedand why the Council weredoingso.It would ensure that the Council adopted aconsistentand fairapproachto feesandcharges,and thatthey were used todeliverthe Council’s overall objectiveswhilst protecting,whereverpossible,the mostvulnerablecitizensof Plymouth. It alsoseta directionof travelabout principlestobe usedwhen waivingchargesand the conditionsthat would be appliedin thesecircumstances.

Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) introduced the proposals and reported that the framework would assist the council in being fair, open and honest when considering fees, charges and concessions. He also thanked Councillor Penberthy for his assistance with the policy.

Councillor Penberthy indicated that the policy would ensure that everyone would pay something towards Council tax and that if the Council supported groups, it would review what contribution had been made by them towards the city.  The report would also link with the report on the Civil Society Policy which would be considered by Cabinet in the new year. 

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed that –

The Corporate Management Team will submit a report outlining the finance monitoring position of the Council as at the end of September 2013 and will provide details on how the Council is delivering against its financial measures using its capital and revenue resources and to approve relevant budget variations, virements and new capital schemes.

The report will also provide details on Human Resources and Organisation Development data including workforce and sickness statistics. 

The Corporate Management Team submitted a report outlining the finance monitoring position of the Council as at the end of September 2013 and provided details on how the Council was delivering against its financial measures using its capital and revenue resources.  Approval was also sought to relevant budget variations, virements and new capital schemes.

Human Resources and Organisation Development data including workforce and sickness statistics were also submitted. 

Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) introduced the proposals and reported that –

Councillor Peter Smith emphasised that although sickness levels were consistently reducing, current efforts needed to be maintained as sickness remained too high.

Malcolm Coe also reported that officers were striving to ensure that the budget was balanced at year end.

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Cabinet noted –

Agreed –

The City Council is Recommended to increase the capital programme by the increase in the allocation to enable the Civic Centre decant, totaling £0.627m.

The Chief Executive will submit a report on the progress of delivery of outcomes identified in the Corporate Plan, highlighting cause for celebration as well as delays and issues requiring corrective action.

The Chief Executive submitted a report on the progress of delivery of outcomes identified in the Corporate Plan, highlighting cause for celebration as well as delays and issues requiring corrective action.

In the absence of Councillor Evans (Council Leader), Councillor Peter Smith (Deputy Leader) introduced the proposals and advised that the report would be considered by the Co-operative Scrutiny Board on 27 November 2013.

Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) indicated that this was the first report monitoring the actions to deliver the corporate plan and that she was pleased with the progress made to date. Cabinet Members were also advised that the report could be refined in the light of feedback.   

The report was noted.