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.

Councillor Taylor declared an interest in relation to Item 15, Intervention Challenge and Support.

To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2019.

Agreed the minutes of the meeting held 12 February 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 was no urgent business from the Chair

The Leader reported on an important statement he made the previous week in relation to the live music scene in Plymouth, following notice of the closure of the Hub. An alternative venue is being sought and the Leader thanked all of those individuals and groups who have already shown an interest in helping to take this forward. The Leader acknowledged the developments already underway in the city and the importance of enhancing our creative industries.

Cabinet members provided an update on the work they had undertaken over the past month.

1.    Councillor Taylor (Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Transformation), provided updates on:

a.     The successful bid to the Early Years Professional Development Fund;

b.    The partnership between the Institute and STEM boards to encourage young children into STEM.

2.    Councillor Tuffin (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care) provided updates on:

a.     Wellbeing Hubs;

b.    GP recruitment – Health Summit to be announced post-election;

c.     Commissioning team to support care homes;

Councillor Tuffin will approach the Director for Public Health to send a reminder to MP Mercer without delay with regards to health funding.

3.    Councillor McDonald (Cabinet Member for Children and Young People) provided updates on:

a.     The recognition of the work of the Council in being shortlisted for an award in the face of funding challenges

4.    Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet Member for Housing and Cooperative Development) provided updates on:

a.     The Gypsy, Roma and Travellers Policy consultation

Cabinet noted that a further ten pledges had been completed since the last update taking the total completed to fifty. Updates were give on the following:

1.    Councillor Smith provided an update on pledge 87 to invest in sports facilities and children’s play areas;

2.    Councillor Dann provided update on:

a.     The issue of blocked gullies;

b.    The success of the wildflower meadows in encouraging wildlife and increasing biodiversity;

c.     The work underway with South West Water to provide drinking water refill stations to reduce plastic waste;

d.    The Sea Bin trial at Queen Anne’s Battery;

e.     Tree maintenance.

3.     Cllr Penberthy provided updates on:

a.     The delivery of new homes which is in excess of 1000 this year;

b.    The work underway to look at what affordable housing means in relation to average income in the city;

c.     Pledge 28 for self-build and custom-build housing; there are 211 individuals currently on the register seeking appropriate plots;

d.    Homelessness and improving the quality of temporary accommodation and options for pop up homes/winter shelters.

4.    Cllr Lowry provided updates on:

a.     Security cameras installed in Whitleigh to address antisocial behaviour with additional cameras due to be installed in Ernesettle.

Cabinet noted the pledge update and extended thanks to all Officers involved across the Local Authority for their input.

Councillor Evans (Leader) introduced a report on the Plymouth Visitor Plan 2020-2030.

Following a short debate and having considered the information in the reports, Cabinet agreed to:

·         Adopt the strategic principles and direction of travel as recommended in the report, subject to any recommendations from Scrutiny

·         To support the process to develop a detailed operational Business Plan and Marketing Plan for the three years beyond 2020 and on a rolling basis thereafter, to clarify specific delivery priorities.

Councillor Dann (Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene) introduced a report on the Plan for Trees with a short presentational video.

Following a short debate and having considered the information in the reports, Cabinet agreed to:

·         Approve the Plan for Trees;

·         Approve the Plan for Trees Delivery Programme which sets out how the fundamental principles in the Plan for Trees will be achieved;

·         Instruct officers to sign up to the Steering Group Agreement to become members of the Plymouth Plan for Trees Steering Group with partners, and to act as secretariat as part of this membership. Support a partnership approach to delivery, with City Council resources utilised to enable a collaborative delivery model to be developed;

·         Note the Tree Management Principles document that sets out the principles and approach that Plymouth City Council will take to manage its trees and woods and confirms work to be completed for this to be formally adopted.

Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet Member for Housing and Co-operative Development) introduced a report on Plan for Homes III.

Following a short debate and having considered the information in the reports, Cabinet agreed to:

·         Approve the Plan for Homes III as set out in the report;

·         Note the overall Housing Delivery Framework’s objectives and interventions that will form the basis of a future overall Housing Delivery Plan for Plymouth;

·         Delegate the development of a Housing Delivery Plan for Plymouth to the Service Director for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure, Service Director for Community Connections and the relevant Portfolio Holders;

·         Instruct the Service Director for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure and Service Director for Community Connections to report on progress on the delivery of the Plan for Homes 3 to the relevant scrutiny board every 6 months.

Councillor Evans (Leader) introduced a report on the Cultural Development Fund 2020-2030.

Following a short debate and having considered the information in the reports, Cabinet agreed to:

·       Enter in to a Funding Agreement (to the value of £3,497,301) with Arts Council England to deliver the iMayflower project;

·       Provide delegated authority to the accountable officer for the Funding Agreement, the Service Director for Economic Development, to establish a Collaboration Agreement, and any other necessary contractual arrangements, to authorise distribution of the grant to partner organisations.

Councillor Tuffin (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care) introduced a report on the Integrated Commissioning Position and Direction.

Cabinet agreed to accept the recommendations as set out in the report and noted the next steps for Health and Well Being. Cabinet requested further updates be presented to Cabinet, Health and Well Being Board and Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Panel to ensure progress continues at pace.

Councillor Coker (Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure) introduced a report on the Plympton St Mary Neighbourhood Plan.

Following a short debate and having considered the information in the reports, Cabinet agreed that:

·         A Neighbourhood Plan Referendum be held in the Plympton St Mary Ward as to whether or not the local community support the post-examination version of the Plympton St Mary Neighbourhood Plan;

·         The Chief Executive in her capacity as the Council’s Counting Officer is requested to deliver the Neighbourhood Plan Referendum on 2 May 2019 on behalf of the Plympton St Mary Neighbourhood Forum.

Councillor Jon Taylor (Cabinet member for Education, Skills and Transformation) introduced a report on Intervention Challenge and Support.

Following a short debate and having considered the information in the reports, Cabinet agreed to:

·         Endorse the updated policy for Intervention Challenge and Support in schools. The policy sets out our statutory duties as a Local Authority and has been updated in line with new DFE guidance (November 2018) and local additions and enhancements.

Councillor Jon Taylor (Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Transformation) introduced the paper on STEM/Skills.

Cabinet commended the STEM activities that had already taken place, noting progress and the proposal to refresh the Plan for Employment and Skills.

Cabinet agreed in favour of the recommendations.

Councillor Coker (Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure) introduced a report on the Forder Valley Link Road.

Following a short debate and having considered the information in the reports, Cabinet agreed to:

·         Delegate authority to the Strategic Director for Place to issue a notice to proceed to Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd. through the SCAPE Framework for the Forder Valley Link Road scheme subject to a target cost not exceeding the figure identified in the Part II report.

Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) introduced a report on the Civic Centre and Public Realm with a slideshow presentation.

Following a short debate and having considered the information in the reports, Cabinet agreed to:

·         Approve the draft Business Case;

·         Allocate £3.412m for the project within the Capital Programme funded by £3.412m corporate borrowing and or external grants;

·         Approve the virement of £1.1m from the previously approved Armada Way South scheme, £0.440m corporate borrowing and £0.660m CIL, and request that officers to continue to seek external funding to contribute to this pivotal element of the revitalisation of the City Centre, to minimise the amount of borrowing;

·         Authorise the necessary procurement processes;

·         Delegate the award of contracts to the Strategic Director for Place.

Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) introduced a report on the Re-development of Old Town Street/New George St. East.

Following a short debate and having considered the information in the reports, Cabinet agreed to:

·         Approve the Business Case;

·         Allocate funding for the project to the Capital Programme funded by Corporate Borrowing as set out in the business case;

·         Agree to re-gear and grant of 250 year leases on completion of kiosks

·         Authorise the necessary procurement processes;

·         Delegate the award of contracts to the Strategic Director for Place.

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  At the time this agenda is published no representations have been made that this part of the meeting should be in public.

(Members of the public to note that, if agreed, you will be asked to leave the meeting).

Agreed that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public are excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Please refer to minute 124 above.

Please refer to minute 125 above.

Please refer to minute 126 above.