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 16 December 2019

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2019 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

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 was one question from Mr Anderson of Mutley:

Why does Plymouth City Council insist on having parking restrictions within residential areas (for example, Zone R) on all bank holidays (including Christmas and Easter)? My suggestion is that bank holidays should be treated the same way as Sundays whereby parking permits do not have to be displayed. This would be in line with other councils such as Bath and North East Somerset and others. Sundays and Bank Holidays offer families the opportunity to get together and it is important that we all try to make this as easy as possible.

Councillor Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure, gave the following response;

Thank you for your proposal.  Like other cities, Plymouth has various permit parking restrictions in residential areas to support our local residents.  Some of these schemes are in operation over 7 days a week and some, particularly schemes that may have been implemented a number of years ago, may operate over 6 days a week.  This is consistent with the example provided of Bath and North East Somerset Council who have permit schemes which operate over both 6 and 7 days a week. 

Permit parking restrictions support residents by preventing non permit holders from parking within a defined scheme during the operational hours of a scheme i.e. prevent commuter parking.  We understand Christmas, along with other multi-cultural events that are celebrated at other times in the year, can be periods whereby people will have more guests and visitors.  The absence of permit restrictions within these areas would likely lead to increased parking difficulties as anyone would be able to park in the residential streets, impacting on the ability for residents, visitor and guest parking.  Equally, Zone R, the zone highlighted in the question, is within the Mutley Plain which is an area that experiences significant demand for residential parking.  Considering this demand and the properties which are ineligible for permits (such as houses of multiple occupancy – HMO’s) exempt, not having a restriction on Sundays and Bank Holidays would impact adversely on parking for local residents.

We are currently supporting a number of communities across the city with solutions to parking challenges, which includes introducing permit schemes, where communities have expressed the requirement for, and/or supported the proposal for, restrictions to apply over a 7 day week and during holiday periods.

It is for these reasons that some of our restrictions apply on Sundays and bank holidays throughout the year, unfortunately revoking these would cause parking difficulties in many of these residential areas.

But going forward, I will ask our scrutiny team to set up a task and finish group to establish views and concerns of local residents and report back to Cabinet with recommendations.

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.

Councillor Pete Smith (Deputy Leader, in the Chair), made the following announcements:

• A commemorative £2 coin is to be issued recognising the importance of the Mayflower 400 anniversary;

• The New York Times has listed Plymouth as the 43^rd place globally to visit in 2020, specifically mentioning Mayflower 400 and the Box

• CNN havenamed Plymouth as the second top destination to visit in the world in 2020

• The Box was the second recommendation by Will Gompertz (BBC Arts Editor) as his second “must see” arts in 2020

• The announcement of Box’s contemporary art programme including Antony Gormley and Leonor Antunes had 58 pieces of coverage, with a reach of 6million, 8.46million page impressions with a combined value of £170,000 including The Guardian, Daily Mail, BBC3 national news

• The Box has also been identified as one of the top 20 museums opening globally in 2020 in a variety of international trade publications.

Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Customer Focus made the following announcement:

Following the fire at Weston Mill Cemetery on 31 December 2019, staff worked swiftly and tirelessly to re-arrange the 59 services that were booked at the facility over the subsequent days. Early signs are that there is little damage to the cremators and work is underway to identify the cause of the fire. Thanks were extended to all the staff involved and to the Funeral Directors and all those families affected who had to rearrange services due to the fire.

Councillor Kate Taylor, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care made the following announcement:

·         A video was played to show the work of the Independence at Home Services following their recent rating of Good by the CQC – the service has only been bought back into the Council in the last 12 months. The service supports people after being discharged from hospital following illness or injury to regain their independence with activities of daily living such as washing, dressing, meal preparation and other domestic tasks.

Councillor Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing and Co-operative Development made the following announcements:

·         The Make a Change campaign launched in October now has ten devices across the city where people can tap a contactless card to donate £2 to homeless charities across the city. £1268 has been donated so far with donations in December being the highest. CaterEd have received the most donations so far and are rotating devices across their various locations.

·         The Streelink App and website are now available so that members of the public can report rough sleepers, of those reported not all were known to the rough sleeper team;

·         In December a total of 37 people overall were sleeping rough, an average of 8 per week, a 50% reduction on the previous month. The number of people in bed and breakfast and short term accommodation is also being reduced.

Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report on completed pledges.

Following the completion of a further pledges in December, the total number of pledges completed is 62 out of 100.

After a discussion, Cabinet agreed to:

·         Note the completion of pledge 80, bringing the total number of completed pledges to 62.

Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report on completed pledges.

Following the completion of a further pledges in December, the total number of pledges completed is 62 out of 100.

After a discussion, Cabinet agreed to:

·         Note the completion of pledge 80, bringing the total number of completed pledges to 62.

Councillor Lowry, Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report on the Council Tax Base Setting.

Following a discussion, Cabinet agreed that:

·         Cabinet recommends Council approves the Council Tax Base for 2020/21 as set out in the report.

·         To implement fully the provisions of the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018 which amends Section 11B of Local Government Finance Act 1992 (higher amount for long-term empty dwellings: England), as follows:

o   a. 1 April 2020 charge the maximum additional premium of:

§  100% of council tax charge for any dwelling empty between 2 and 5 years;

§  200% of council tax charge for any dwelling empty for 5 years or more.

o      b. From 1 April 2021 charge the maximum additional premium of:

·         100% council tax charge for any dwelling empty between 2 and 5 years;

·         200% council tax charge for any dwelling empty between 5 and 10 years;

·         300% council tax charge for any dwelling empty for 10 years or more.

Councillor Lowry, Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report on the Council Tax Base Setting.

Following a discussion, Cabinet agreed that:

·         Cabinet recommends Council approves the Council Tax Base for 2020/21 as set out in the report.

·         To implement fully the provisions of the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018 which amends Section 11B of Local Government Finance Act 1992 (higher amount for long-term empty dwellings: England), as follows:

o   a. 1 April 2020 charge the maximum additional premium of:

§  100% of council tax charge for any dwelling empty between 2 and 5 years;

§  200% of council tax charge for any dwelling empty for 5 years or more.

o      b. From 1 April 2021 charge the maximum additional premium of:

·         100% council tax charge for any dwelling empty between 2 and 5 years;

·         200% council tax charge for any dwelling empty between 5 and 10 years;

·         300% council tax charge for any dwelling empty for 10 years or more.

Councillor Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing and Co-operative Development introduced the report on Council Tax Support Scheme.

Following a presentation on the scheme and a discussion, Cabinet agreed:

·         Cabinet recommends Council approves the ten proposed changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2020/21 as described in this report

·         To amend the council tax exceptional hardship policy to support customers in the event that they are no longer entitled to council tax support under the new scheme

Councillor Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing and Co-operative Development introduced the report on Council Tax Support Scheme.

Following a presentation on the scheme and a discussion, Cabinet agreed:

·         Cabinet recommends Council approves the ten proposed changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2020/21 as described in this report

·         To amend the council tax exceptional hardship policy to support customers in the event that they are no longer entitled to council tax support under the new scheme

Councillor Lowry, Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the 2020/21 Budget Update.

Following a discussion, Cabinet agreed:

·         That Cabinet notes the 2020/21 Draft Budget.

·         That Cabinet consider the impact of the 1.99% referendum limit on council tax increases and the 1.99% increase for Adult social care.

·         That the finance select committee consider the savings options for 2020/21.

Councillor Lowry, Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the 2020/21 Budget Update.

Following a discussion, Cabinet agreed:

·         That Cabinet notes the 2020/21 Draft Budget.

·         That Cabinet consider the impact of the 1.99% referendum limit on council tax increases and the 1.99% increase for Adult social care.

·         That the finance select committee consider the savings options for 2020/21.

Councillor Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure introduced the item on Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry 2020/21 Revenue Estimates and Capital Programme. David List, Bridge Manager, was also in attendance.

Following a discussion, Cabinet agreed to:

·         Recommend TBTFJC’s 2020/21 Revenue Estimates and Capital Programme to Council for approval.

Councillor Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure introduced the item on Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry 2020/21 Revenue Estimates and Capital Programme. David List, Bridge Manager, was also in attendance.

Following a discussion, Cabinet agreed to:

·         Recommend TBTFJC’s 2020/21 Revenue Estimates and Capital Programme to Council for approval.

Councillor Dann, Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene introduced the item on Green Minds.

Following a discussion, Cabinet agreed to:

·         Approve the acceptance of an ERDF grant for the total of £3,403,363.97 (€3,995,496.56 at an exchange rate of £0.8518 per €1 as set by the European Commission) and initiate the delivery of the Green Minds project to deliver nature-based solutions in Plymouth.

Councillor Dann, Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene introduced the item on Green Minds.

Following a discussion, Cabinet agreed to:

·         Approve the acceptance of an ERDF grant for the total of £3,403,363.97 (€3,995,496.56 at an exchange rate of £0.8518 per €1 as set by the European Commission) and initiate the delivery of the Green Minds project to deliver nature-based solutions in Plymouth.