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.

Agreed the minutes of the meeting held on the 13 November 2018.

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.

There were no questions from members of the public.

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 Tudor Evans (Leader) provided an update on –

·         Closure of Barden Corporation in Plymouth, associated meetings with the Ministry of Defence and Defence Procurement Minister and letters to owners;

·         Meeting with the Plymouth Area Business Council

·         Broadly Park

·         Growth of the construction workforce

·         Marine Technology and Business Centres Launched

·         Interactive Elements at The Box

·         Development of the West End of the City Centre

·         The “Digital Declaration”

Cabinet members provided an update on the work they had undertaken in the last month.

a.     Councillor Mark Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) requested clarity from Andrew Hardingham (Section 151 Finance Officer) on when information on the Local Government Finance Settlement would be available. 

b.    Andrew Hardingham responded that he was not able to provide information on the timing of any announcement. Some information was available following the multi-year settlement data although there was still a number outstanding issues including Business Rates and New Homes Bonus, which amounted to uncertainty over a number of funding areas.  Officers were still on course to provide a budget for Cabinet consideration.

c.     Councillor Chris Penberthy (Cabinet Member for housing and Co-operative Development) provided an update on –

·         Inside Housing Development Awards

·         Award for the Nelson Project

d.    Councillor Ian Tuffin (Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care) congratulated -

·         the integrated health and social care system who brought a contract providing short term care and support in house after an organisation withdrew from the contract.

·         Stoke Damerel Community College on the inter-generational programme undertaken at the school.

e.     Councillor Peter Smith (Deputy Leader) provided an update on –

·         Mayflower 400 Programme

·         Achievements of the Sports Development Unit

f.      Councillor Jon Taylor (Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Transformation) provided an update on improvements to Educational Attainment.

g.      Councillor Sue Dann (Cabinet Member for Environment and Street scene) congratulated Active Neighbourhoods on the work they had undertaken in the City.

Councillor Mark Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) introduced a report on the progress of pledges made as part of the Corporate Plan.

Cabinet members highlighted the delivery of the following pledges -

a.     Pledge 79 - we will create more parking spaces in the West End to help support local businesses.

b.    Pledge100 - we will re-commit Plymouth to become a carbon neutral city by 2050

c.     Pledge 26 - we will tackle this administrative backlog in the housing waiting list. We will set up a working arrangement with housing associations to deliver much more housing for affordable social rent.

d.    Pledge 47 - Every Plymouth child deserves a safe and loving home. That is why we will promote fostering and adoption in Plymouth with a renewed public campaign

Cabinet members agreed to note the report and completed Pledges.

Councillor Mark Coker (Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport and Infrastructure) introduced a report on the future funding of the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry. 

Following a short debate members agreed to recommend to Full Council that an application be made to the Department for Transport for tolls to increase by one-third, applied pro-rata to the current toll classification table, detailed as follows:

Proposed Schedule of Tolls effective from 1 July 2019

NOTES:

1. trailers, caravans etc charged at the same rate as the towing vehicle
2. discount rates for TamarTag crossings remain unchanged with a 50% discount of the full cash toll for each class of vehicle, excluding motorcycles using the Torpoint Ferry
3. charges for abnormal loads at both crossings remain unchanged
4. charges for special crossings of the ferry remain unchanged.

Councillor Sue McDonald (Cabinet Member for Children and Young People) introduced a report on the Peninsula Residential Children’s Homes placements. 

Following a short discussion Cabinet agreed that that a framework agreement (which does not commit the local authority to purchasing placements) is established with the residential providers listed in the Part II Report. The financial impact of the tender is set out in the Part II report.

Please see below for a list of providers that have been successful per Lot.

Lot 1 Devon Geographical Area made up of Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council:

·         3 Dimensions Care Limited

·         Broadwood Educational Services Limited

·         Cambian Childcare Limited

·         Enhanced Foster Care

·         IDEM Living Ltd

·         Lifeworks Charity Limited

·         Phoenix Childcare Ltd

·         Priory Education Services Limited

·         South West Childcare Services Ltd

·         Willows (Devon) Ltd

Lot 2 Somerset County Council’s Administrative Area:

·         3 Dimensions Care Limited

·         Broadwood Educational Services Limited

·         Cambian Childcare Limited

·         IDEM Living Ltd

·         Five Rivers Child Care Limited

·         Headway Adolescent Resources Limited

·         Phoenix Childcare Ltd

·         Priory Education Services Limited

·         South West Childcare Services Ltd

·         Blackford Education (Schools) Limited t/a 'The Libra School'

·         Willows (Devon) Ltd

Lot 3 Outside Peninsula Partnership’s Boundary:

·         Broadwood Educational Services Limited

·         Bryn Melyn Care Ltd

·         Cambian Childcare Limited

·         CareTech Community Services Limited

·         The Institute of integrated Systemic Therapy t/a Childhood First

·         Enhanced Foster Care

·         Esland

·         Five Rivers Child Care Limited

·         Headway Adolescent Resources Limited

·         Hillcrest Children’s Services Limited

·         New Horizons-(Stockport) Ltd

·         Options Autism (1) Limited

·         Options Autism (4) Limited

·         Hillcrest Children’s Services (2) Limited

·         Pathway Care Solutions Group Ltd.

·         Phoenix Childcare Ltd

·         Priory Education Services Limited

·         Progress Children's Services Ltd

·         Step-a-Side Company Ltd

·         The Caldecott Foundation Limited

·         Total Care Matters Limited