To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2025 as an accurate record.

The minutes of the meeting that took place on 24 November 2025 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

For (43): Councillors Allen, Allison, Aspinall, Blight, Briars-Delve, Mrs Bridgeman, Coker, Cresswell, Dann, Darcy, Dingle, Evans OBE, Freeman, Gilmour, Hendy, Holloway, Krizanac, Laing, Lawson, Loveridge, Lowry, McCarthy, McLay, McNamara, Moore, Morton, Murphy, Ney, Noble, Penberthy, Penrose, Poyser, Reilly, Ricketts, Simpson, M. Smith, Sproston, Stephens, Stevens, Taylor, Tippetts, Tuohy and Wood.

Against: (0)

Abstain: (1) Councillor P. Nicholson

Absent/did not vote: (7) Councillors Mrs Beer, Goslin, Lugger, Raynsford, S. Nicholson, Tofan and Ms Watkin.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Monitoring Officer will submit a schedule of vacancies on committees, outside bodies etc and of changes notified to us.  

Council noted the following changes:

a)    Councillor Taylor replaced Councillor Dann as Cabinet Member for Customer Experience, Sport, Leisure, Human Resources and Organisational Development;

b)    Councillor Dann replaced Councillor Taylor on the Licensing Committee and Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny Panel.

To receive questions from and provide answers to the public in relation to matters which are about something the council is responsible for or something that directly affects people in the city, in accordance with Part B, paragraph 3 of the Constitution.

Questions, of no longer than 50 words, can be submitted to Democratic Services, Plymouth City Council, Ballard House, West Hoe Road, Plymouth, PL1 3BJ, or email to democraticservices@plymouth.gov.uk. Any questions must be received at least five complete working days before the meeting.

(a)       To receive announcements from the Lord Mayor, Chief Executive, Service Director for Finance or Monitoring Officer;

(b)      To receive announcements from the Leader, Cabinet Members or Committee Chairs.

Councillor Ms Watkin (Lord Mayor) made the following announcement:

a)    The city’s annual civic ceremony would be held on 27 January 2026 in remembrance of the holocaust and all subsequent genocides. The ceremony would pay particular tribute to the Holodomor in Ukraine, recognising the suffering endured during that tragedy. The commemoration would feature a moving performance from the choir and will focus on the theme of bridging generations, reflecting on how the stories and lessons of the past must be carried forward by each new generation.  

Councillor Ms Watkin (Lord Mayor) presented the following awards:

b)    Best regeneration project at the Inside Housing Awards was awarded to Neil Mawson (Housing Delivery Manager), Andrew Lawrie and Nick Jackson. The award was given for the work on almost 800 damp and aging homes which were demolished in North Prospect and replaced by more than 1,100 high quality, energy efficient brand new homes. The homes offered a wide variety of house types, sizes and tenures to completely revitalise the community in partnership with Plymouth Community Homes;

c)    Plymouth’s crematorium had won building of the year at Devon and Cornwall’s Building Forum, recognising the high quality experience for bereaving families in a beautiful, natural setting. The award was given to Graham Smith (Head of Bereavement, Registrations and Coroners Services);

d)    Stirling House had won the best development under 50 homes award at the RTPI awards. Stirling house was a veterans self-build project, a Plan for Homes development of 25 high quality affordable homes (for social rent), including a number of self-build properties for service veterans at risk of homelessness. Delivered in partnership between the Council and Livewest, the project stands out for its collaborative planning and strong partnerships which had produced resilient outcomes that benefited both people and nature, with clear evidence of social capital returned to the economy. Simon Osbourne (Planning Officer) and Neil Mawson (Housing Delivery Manager) received the award;

e)    Transport Operation and Vehicle maintenance won best performance at the APSE awards, recognising the team’s outstanding commitment to service improvement and operational excellence from maintaining our vehicle fleet to implementing better systems and processes that keep the council’s services running smoothly. Martin Hoar(Fleet Services Manager), Ali Grant(Fleet Compliance and Policy Manager) and Simon Tongue(Fleet and Data Performance Officer) received the award.

The following announcements were made by Cabinet members:

Councillor Evans OBE (Leader of the Council), made the following announcements:

f)     Expressed heartfelt thanks to all those who had sent messages of support and well wishes during his recent ill health. Particular thanks was given to the Cabinet, who had stepped in and ensured stability during his absence;

g)    Paid tribute to Councillor Sue Dann following her stepping back from her role as Cabinet Member for Customer Experience, Sport, Leisure, and HR & OD on 01 January 2026. Councillor Dann had served the city for more than two decades, during which she had led on Human Resources, Economic Development, Transport, Street Scene and Environment, and most  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) introduced the item, which was seconded by Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet Member for Housing, Cooperative Development and Communities).

Following contributions from Councillors P. Nicholson and Wood, Council agreed to:

1.    The Council Tax Base for 2026/27 of 76,887 equivalent Band D dwellings as set out in the report.

2.    The continuation of the current Council Tax Support scheme and Exceptional Hardship Scheme for 2026/27 with no updates.

For: (46) Councillors  Allen, Allison, Aspinall, Blight, Briars-Delve, Coker, Cresswell, Dann, Darcy, Dingle, Evans OBE, Freeman, Gilmour, Goslin, Hendy, Holloway, Krizanac, Laing, Lawson, Lowry, Lugger, McCarty, McLay, McNamara, M. Smith, Moore, Morton, Murphy, Ney, Noble, Penberthy, Penrose, Poyser, Raynsford, Reilly, Ricketts, Simpson, S. Nicholson, Sproston, Stephens, Stevens, Taylor, Tippetts, Tofan, Tuohy, Wood.

Against: (0)

Abstain: (4) Councillors Mrs Beer, Mrs Bridgeman, Loveridge and P. Nicholson.

Absent/did not vote: (1) Councillors Ms Watkin.

Councillor Taylor (Cabinet Member for Customer Experience, Sport, Leisure and Human Resources and Organisational Development) introduced the item, which was seconded by Councillor Evans OBE (Leader of the Council).

Council agreed to:

1.    Approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27 and the amended NJC Pay structure in place from 01 April 2026.

For: (49) Councillors Allen, Allison, Aspinall, Mrs Beer, Blight, Briars-Delve, Mrs Bridgeman, Coker, Cresswell, Dann, Darcy, Dingle, Evans OBE, Freeman, Gilmour, Goslin, Hendy, Holloway, Krizanac, Laing, Lawson, Loveridge, Lowry, Lugger, McCarty, McLay, McNamara, M. Smith, Moore, Morton, Murphy, Ney, Noble, Penberthy, Penrose, P. Nicholson, Poyser, Raynsford, Reilly, Simpson, S. Nicholson, Sproston, Stephens, Stevens, Taylor, Tippetts, Tofan, Tuohy and Wood.

Against: (0)

Abstain: (1) Councillor Ricketts.

Absent/did not vote: (1) Councillors Ms Watkin.

Councillor Evans OBE (Leader of the Council) introduced the report which was seconded by Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance). 

Council agreed to:

1.    Extend the designation of the Council’s interim Service Director for Finance, David Northey, as the Section 151 Officer for the Council for the period from 28 February 2026 to 30 April 2026.

For: (48) Allen, Allison, Aspinall, Mrs Beer, Blight, Briars-Delve, Mrs Bridgeman, Coker, Cresswell, Dann, Darcy, Dingle, Evans OBE, Freeman, Gilmour, Goslin, Hendy, Holloway, Krizanac, Laing, Lawson, Loveridge, Lowry, Lugger, McCarty, McLay, McNamara, M. Smith, Moore, Morton, Murphy, Ney, Noble, Penberthy, Penrose, P. Nicholson, Poyser, Reilly, Ricketts, Simpson, S. Nicholson, Sproston, Stephens, Stevens, Taylor, Tippetts, Tofan, Tuohy.

Against: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent/did not vote: (3) Councillors Raynsford, Ms Watkin and Wood.

Councillor Evans OBE (Leader of the Council) introduced the report which was seconded by Councillor Aspinall (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care). 

Council agreed to:

1.    To note the indicative dates for committee meetings to be held in 2026/27.

For: (48) Councillors Allen, Allison, Aspinall, Mrs Beer, Blight, Briars-Delve, Mrs Bridgeman, Coker, Cresswell, Dann, Darcy, Dingle, Evans OBE, Freeman, Gilmour, Goslin, Hendy, Holloway, Krizanac, Laing, Lawson, Loveridge, Lowry, Lugger, McCarty, McLay, McNamara, M. Smith, Moore, Morton, Murphy, Ney, Noble, Penberthy, Penrose, P. Nicholson, Poyser, Reilly, Ricketts, Simpson, S. Nicholson, Sproston, Stephens, Stevens, Taylor, Tofan, Tuohy, Wood.

Against: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent/did not vote: (3) Councillors Raynsford, Tippetts and Ms Watkin.

To consider motions from Councillors in accordance with Part B, paragraph 5 of the Constitution.

Councillor Ricketts introduced the motion which was seconded by Councillor Ney. 

Following contributions from Councillors Loveridge, Penberthy and Reilly, Council did not agree to:

1.    That Plymouth City Council will not take part in any government pilot schemes for asylum housing, to ensure that council resources remain focused on meeting local housing demand.

2.    To request that the Cabinet Member for Housing, Co-operative Development and Communities communicates this decision by letter to the Secretary of State for the Home Office and for Housing, Communities and Local Government to confirm that Plymouth City Council will prioritise housing provision for local residents.

For: (4) Councillors Loveridge, Ney, P. Nicholson and Ricketts.

Against: (41) Councillors Allen, Allison, Aspinall, Blight, Briars-Delve, Coker, Cresswell, Dann, Darcy, Dingle, Evans OBE, Freeman, Gilmour, Goslin, Hendy, Holloway, Krizanac, Laing, Lawson, Lugger, Lowry, McCarty, McLay, McNamara, Moore, Morton, Murphy, Noble, Penberthy, Penrose, Poyser, Raysnford, Reilly, Simpson, M. Smith, Sproston, Stephens, Stevens, Taylor, Tippetts, Tuohy.

Abstain: (4) Councillors Mrs Beer, Mrs Bridgeman, S. Nicholson and Wood.

Absent/did not vote: (2) Councillors Tofan and Watkin.

Questions to the Leader, Cabinet Members and Committee Chairs covering aspects for their areas of responsibility or concern by councillors in accordance with Part B, paragraph 4 of the constitution.