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.

To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2018.

Agreed the minutes of the meeting held on the 15 January 2019.

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 OBE (Leader) provided an update on –

·         The latest Gross Value Added figure for Plymouth which was at +2.5%, above the Regional and National average;

·         The Council will be undertaking direct development at Plymouth International Medical and Technology Park to deliver 1, 700 square metres of commercial work space;

·         Works undertaken to Plymouth Pavilions as an enabler for Millbay Boulevard

·         Highlights for 2019 will include Derry’s Development, Drake Circus Leisure and The Range HQ along with work commencing on Oceansgate Phase two, Broadly Park and Langage Phase three.

·         Lady Astor Statue Crowd funder - www.crowdfunder.co.uk/lady-astor-statue-100-campaign

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

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

·         Plymouth being named in the top 10 destinations to visit in 2019;

·         Mayflower 400 activity;

·         Cruise Britain and Cruise Liners expected to visit Plymouth;

·         Library opening on Christmas Day.

b.    Councillor Chris Penberthy (Cabinet Member for housing and Co-operative Development) provided an update on additional funding secured for Cities of Service;

c.     Councillor Jon Taylor (Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Transformation) provided an update on –

·         Maintained Nursery School rated good by OFSTED;

·         Improvements at All Saints Academy

·         Work undertaken to improve OFSTED judgements through the Plymouth Challenge;

·         Apprenticeships Ambassador Event

·         Apprenticeship Fair on the 4^th March 2019

·         Skills south west show 13/14 March 2019;

d.    Councillor Sue Dann (Cabinet Member for Environment and Street scene) provided an update on a Heritage Lottery Fund and National Trust project to improve Green Space in the City.

e.     Councillor Sally Haydon (Cabinet Member for Customer Focus and Community Safety) provided an update on Holocaust Memorial Day.

f.      Councillor Ian Tuffin (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care) provided an update on the recently published NHS Long Term Plan.

g.     Councillor Sue McDonald (Cabinet Member for Children and Young People) provided an update on the recently published OFSTED report in respect of Social Care services provided by the City Council.

Councillor Mark Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) introduced the Pledge Update.

Cabinet Members highlighted–

·         Co-operative and Mutual Development;

·         Pledge 23 – Real Time Bus Information;

·         Road and Pavement improvements;

·         Pledge 71 – One hundred years since the Representation of the People Act was given royal assent, giving votes to women in the UK;

·         48 Pledges of 100 have been delivered.

Cabinet noted the update.

Councillor Sue Dann (Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene) introduced the report on the National Marine Park.   Following a video presentation and short debate Cabinet agreed to –

1.    Adopt the leadership role in developing and designating the first National Marine Park for Plymouth Sound.

Reason: To drive forward the designation of the UK’s first National Marine Park for Plymouth Sound as a city priority, working with partners and stakeholders.

2.    Instruct officers to commence an engagement exercise on the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.

Reason: To engage with communities, businesses and stakeholders to help shape the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park and ensure the City and surrounding communities value and recognise the new designation.

3.    Work with Government departments to ensure the National Marine Park local designation has national recognition and enables the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park to be the first of a network of National Marine Park’s across the country.

Reason: To ensure that the locally developed National Marine Park designation is meaningful at a national and international level and the work in Plymouth Sound can be used as a framework to deliver National Marine Park’s across the country.

4.    Continue to seek funding to support the development of the National Marine Park.

Reason:  The development of the first National Marine Park will have national significance and is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the value of the marine environment.  We will therefore be seeking external funding to help us to achieve a designation of such importance.

Councillor Sue Dann (Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene) introduced the report on Highways Asset Management.   Following a short debate Cabinet agreed to -

1.    approve the revised highway infrastructure asset management policy, strategy and plan and they are adopted;

2.    authorise the Head of Plymouth Highways, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment & Street Scene, to make minor amendments to the documents and continue the development of the highway infrastructure asset management plan annexes. Any proposed changes to council policy will continue to be dealt with in accordance with the constitution.

Councillor Sue Dann (Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene) introduced the report on Highways Asset Management.  Following a short debate Cabinet agreed–

1.    To approve the Highway Inspection Manual (2018) and that it is adopted herewith;

2.    That the Head of Plymouth Highways, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment & street scene, be given delegated authority to make minor amendments to the manual as required.

Councillor Mark Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) introduced the development Draft Budget for 2019 – 18.  Councillor Lowry highlighted –

a.     Assuming no rise in Council Tax the current budget gap was £4.8 million due to a number of new cost drivers;

b.    There is no clarity from Government on the future of funding to the local authority following the end of the multi-year settlement in 2020;

c.     The Local Government Settlement ended the participation of Plymouth City Council in the Business Rates Retention Pilot and a further reduction of £6.79 million in Revenue Support Grant was also announced;

d.    Central Government funding streams are underfunding demand led council services.

Following a short debate Cabinet agreed to note the budget development for 2019/20.

Councillor Mark Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) introduced a report on the Council Tax Base and minor amendment to the Council Tax Support Scheme.  Following a short debate Cabinet agreed to recommend that Council -

1. approves the Council Tax Base for 2019/20 as set out in the report;
2. approves the continuation of the current Council Tax Support Scheme for 2019/20 with a new paragraph added  to clarify when the claim can be made as follows: 
   1. 69.2(d) By means of an electronic notification to the Local Authority from the Department of Work and Pensions, generated when a claim to Universal Credit is made.
3. use the powers described in paragraph 5.6 to apply a full council tax discount, effectively reducing the amount of council tax payable to zero, for Plymouth care leavers until they reach their 25^th birthday.
4. remove the 50% discount for empty properties as set out in section 6 of the report.
5. Increase the premium for properties which have been empty for more than two years from 50% to 100% as set out in section 7 of the report.

Councillor Mark Coker (Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure) introduced a report on the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Revenue and Capital Budget 2019/20.

Following a short debate, Cabinet agreed to recommend the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee’s 2019/20 Revenue Estimates and Capital Programme to Council for approval.

Councillor Chris Penberthy (Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Development) introduced a report on the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Temporary and Negotiated Stopping places for Cabinets Consideration. 

Councillor Penberthy moved slight amendments to Page 10 section 7.1 of the report as follows -

o   Amend first paragraph last sentence to – a temporary stopping place will not normally be used for more than 3 months in a nine month period

o   Amend second paragraph first sentence - We will licence a temporary stopping place for a period of up to 6 weeks, and no site will be used for any longer than 3 months in a nine month period.

Following a short debate, Cabinet agreed to –

1. approve the Gypsy Roma & Traveller Unauthorised Encampment Policy;

2. commence the process of identifying appropriate sites to enable the Council to implement this policy once the JLP has been approved.

Councillor Jon Taylor (Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Transformation) introduced a report on the Special School Designation Review.  Following a short debate Cabinet agreed –

1.     to re-designate all special schools to ‘complex needs’from 1 September 2019. In addition to this, each school is described through a general and a specific criterion.  Each of the specific criteria reflects the current designation of each special school, but provides description to support work to match pupils to the most appropriate special school;

2.     to proceed with the SEND Review of education provision 2018-21 and the associated implementation plan for 2018-2021.  This includes a planned review of capacity within Special Schools as identified; 

3.     the capital plan projects for SEND to be presented to City Council Investment Board when feasibility studies have been completed.

Councillor Ian Tuffin (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care) introduced a contract award report in respect of Alliance for People with Complex Needs.

Following a short debate Cabinet agreed to award a contract to the successful tenderers (hereinafter referred to as the “Plymouth Alliance”) under a single multi-party contract for a period of 5 years, plus an option to extend for a further 5 years (2+2+1).

The reason for the recommended action is that the current system for people with complex needs is not fit for purpose. Transformational change cannot be achieved given the present configuration of contracts and the following challenges:

• A growing number of people experiencing addiction, homelessness, offending and poor mental health as a result of changes in welfare reform, under-funding and increasing health inequalities.
• A broken system, with duplication, an inefficient use of resources, limited joined up working and poor access to mental health services and appropriate accommodation.
• Challenges in relation to increases in complexity, issues accessing sustainable accommodation, disjointed working, safer information sharing, managing risks and missed opportunities for timely interventions.