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 members.

To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2016.

Agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2016.

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 the public.  The question and the response were circulated and in the absence of Ms Soper, the written response would be sent to her.

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.

Councillor Darcy will present the Efficiency Plan for Cabinet approval for submission to the Department for Communities and Local Government.  Also included are the recommendations from the Joint Select Committee Review on the budget and policy proposals under the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Councillor Darcy introduced the Efficiency Plan.  It was reported that in March 2016, the Secretary of State wrote to all councils offering four year settlements and councils were asked to submit an Efficiency Plan by 14 October 2016.  The Efficiency Plan addresses the financial risks facing the council and provides the maximum resources achievable to address key policy areas.

Councillor Ball, Vice-Chair of the Select Committee on Budget and Policy Proposals under the Medium Term Financial Strategy attended the meeting to submit the recommendations from the Joint Select Committee Review and gave thanks to  officers involved in the consultation and to the public and council stakeholders who took part.   This was an extremely professional piece of work, which took into account both public comments and those of stakeholders such as the business community and voluntary and community sectors was invaluable when the committee developed its lines of enquiry and recommendations.

Agreed that Cabinet approves the Efficiency Plan for submission to the Department of Communities and Local Government.

Councillor Downie will present the Delivery Plan for Child Poverty 2016 – 2019 which sets out the activities that will enable progress towards addressing the four child poverty priority areas over the next three years.  Cabinet are requested to note the delivery plan for the Plan for Child Poverty 2016 – 2019.

Councillor Downie presented his report Delivering the Plan for Child Poverty 2016 – 19.   The delivery plan activities would enable progress towards addressing the four child poverty priority areas over the next three years.  Councillor Mrs Beer added that she has been involved in the Child Poverty Working Group since 2012 which continues to successfully work cross party and reported that good progress was being made against the priorities.

Agreed that Cabinet notes the delivery plan for the Plan for Child Poverty 2016 – 2019 and thank the Child Poverty Working Group on the cross party work undertaken to produce the plan.

Councillor Darcy will present the Sharing Services Group report.  The purpose of this report is to seek Cabinet approval to set up a Company Limited by Guarantee to enable ICT services to be shared with Livewell Southwest (formally Plymouth Community Healthcare) as a not for profit organisation.   The report briefly sets out the business need, the legal position and the benefits of creating a Sharing Services Group in the form of a company limited by guarantee.

Councillor Darcy presented the Sharing Services Group Report.  It was reported that this report sets out the opportunity to create a sharing services company to enable not for profit partners to access Plymouth ICT services, efficiently.  The first partner to benefit from this would be Livewell SouthWest (formerly Plymouth Community Healthcare).  This means more cash can be diverted to vital front line services in organisations such as Livewell Southwest. 

This also means that DELT, the Council’s IT provider would be able to grow its business through a larger contract with the Council.  Furthermore, to create future opportunities the company would be set up to grow and look for future opportunities to increase the range of services and potentially increase the number of not for profit organisations that could benefit.

Agreed in conjunction with the Part II paper to -

1.            Approve the setting up for the sharing services group in the form of a company limited by guarantee to enable Livewell Southwest and the Council to share ICT services.

2.            Nominate the Strategic Director for Transformation and Change to represent the council as member representative and to exercise all voting rights on behalf of the council (subject to Key Decisions being reserved to the Leader/Cabinet) and take any necessary action to protect, safeguard, and effectively manage the council’s interest in the company.

3.            Delegate to the Strategic Director for Transformation and Change:

a.             the decision to agree the final name for the Company;

b.             to nominate officers of the council to act as the Executive Board Directors of the company;

c.             to nominate an officer to fulfil the seconded role as Chief Executive for the company (approximately 3-4 hours per month).