The Chair welcomed Councillor Philippa Davey, the newly appointed Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities, to this her first meeting of Cabinet.

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.

To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 June 2015.

Agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 9 June 2015.

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.

One question was submitted by a member of the public for this meeting, in accordance with Part B, paragraph 11 of the Constitution.  Ms Casey attended the meeting and asked the following question.  Councillor Evans responded 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.

(Please see also minute 20 below).

Kelechi Nnoaham (Director of Public Health) will submit his independent report entitled ‘Positive choices for better health in a growing city’ which will focus on Thrive Plymouth (4-4-54) and will be the baseline report for the ten year programme to reduce health inequalities in Plymouth.

Kelechi Nnoaham (Director of Public Health) presented his independent report entitled ‘Positive Choices for Better Health in a Growing City’ which focussed on Thrive Plymouth (4-4-54) and would be the baseline report for the 10 year programme to reduce health inequalities in Plymouth.

Councillor McDonald (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Public Health) sought approval of the recommendations in the Cabinet report.  

In response to questions, Cabinet Members were advised that -

The Director of Public Health thanked his team for all their work and on behalf of Cabinet, the Chair also added his thanks to Kelechi Nnoaham and everyone involved in the production of the report.

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.  

Agreed that the report is endorsed and commended to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director for People) will submit a report seeking approval to delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Public Health to award the contracts following the re-tendering of contracted transport arrangements for Special Educational Needs children and Looked After Children, without the requirement to seek further formal Cabinet approval. This will streamline overall timescales and support the achievement of the January 2016 implementation target.

A background paper (the equality impact assessment) can be accessed at the Council’s website Council and Democracy/Councillors and Committees/Library/Cabinet background papers or using the following hyperlink –

http://tinyurl.com/q3d6bmh

Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director for People) submitted a report seeking approval to delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Public Health to award the contracts following the re-tendering of transport arrangements for Special Educational Needs children and Looked After Children, without the requirement to seek further formal Cabinet approval.  Cabinet Members were advised that this would streamline overall timescales and support the achievement of the January 2016 implementation target.

Councillor Jon Taylor (Cabinet Member for Transformation and Customer Services) introduced the proposals and indicated that he was confident that the service could be enhanced and savings achieved by doing things differently.  

Councillor McDonald (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Public Health) offered reassurance to parents that they would receive a better service, a safe service and that passenger assistance would remain.

Simon Dale (Interim Assistant Director for Street Services), Jayne Gorton (Head of Access and Planning) attended the meeting for this item and Jayne Gorton confirmed that safety would be paramount with timetables delivering routine and regularity, parents having access to the transport team and regular liaison with the successful contractors.

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed that the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Public Health is delegated authority to approve the award of contract for the new passenger transport contracts (taxis and minibuses) for education and children’s social care without the need to seek further formal Cabinet approval.

Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director for People) will submit a report on the Special Educational Needs and Disability review and proposed framework for education provision 2015-18 which will require further detailed planning with costs prior to implementation and includes an action plan setting out the next steps together with an implementation plan.

The report will be considered by the Ambitious Plymouth Scrutiny Panel on 6 July 2015 and any recommendations will be reported at the Cabinet meeting.

A background paper (the equality impact assessment) can be accessed at the Council’s website Council and Democracy/Councillors and Committees/Library/Cabinet background papers or using the following hyperlink –

http://tinyurl.com/q3d6bmh

Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director for People) submitted a report on the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) review and the proposed framework for education provision 2015-18 (which would require further detailed planning with costs prior to implementation) together with an action plan setting out the next steps and an implementation plan.

Councillor McDonald (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Public Health) introduced the review which set out the level of SEND need and the proposed framework.

Judith Harwood (Assistant Director for Communities and Learning) and Jo Siney (Head of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) attended the meeting for this item.

Cabinet Members -

Following a request by Cabinet, officers undertook to report back following an investigation into the reasons for the number of children in the city with statements and benchmarking with Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils.

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed –

Anthony Payne (Strategic Director for Place) will submit a report seeking approval to make a Compulsory Purchase Order in the future, if necessary, as part of the third phase of the North Prospect regeneration project and relates to properties within the estate transferred to Plymouth Community Homes.

A background paper (the equality impact assessment) can be accessed at the Council’s website Council and Democracy/Councillors and Committees/Library/Cabinet background papers or using the following hyperlink –

http://tinyurl.com/q3d6bmh  

Anthony Payne (Strategic Director for Place) submitted a report seeking approval to make a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in the future, if necessary, as part of the third phase of the North Prospect regeneration project and relates to properties within the estate transferred to Plymouth Community Homes.

Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet Member for Co-operatives and Housing) introduced the proposals. 

Neil Mawson (Housing Delivery Officer) attended the meeting for this item.

Cabinet Members were advised - 

Neil Mawson undertook to raise the continuing issue with Plymouth Community Homes and to ask them to work with future developers.

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

The Cabinet specifically noted the considerations that arose under the Human Rights Act (1998) in respect of the proposed CPO and had full regard to the rights of those that would be affected by the CPO but, for the reasons set out in the report, determined nevertheless to authorise CPO procedure.

Agreed that in the event that a Compulsory Purchase Order is required for properties within Phase 3 of North Prospect defined as –

a Compulsory Purchase Order is made pursuant to Section 17 of the Housing Act 1985, in respect of the areas outlined in red on the plan submitted (appendix one). 

At the invitation of the Chair, Councillor Coker (Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport and Planning) advised Cabinet that the Planning Department had been recognised at the Royal Town Planning Institute Awards for Planning Excellence for their work on the Plymouth Plan in the category of Excellence in Plan Making Practice which was considered to be best practice with innovative measures for community engagement.

Cabinet paid tribute to Councillor Vincent (formerly the Cabinet Member responsible for the draft plan), Paul Barnard (Assistant Director for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure), all of his team and everyone who had made a contribution to the plan.