To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2026 as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting which took place on 23 February 2026 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

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

Against: (0)

Abstain: (1) Councillor S. Nicholson.

Did not vote/absent: (2) Councillors Cuddihee and Ms Watkin.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Monitoring Officer will submit a review of proportionality and changes to appointments to committees, outside bodies etc following changes to political groups.

The Lord Mayor introduced the report which was seconded by Depuy Lord Mayor. 

Council agreed to note the report.

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 11 of the Constitution.

Questions, of no longer than 50 words, can be submitted to the Democratic Support Unit, Plymouth City Council, Ballard House, West Hoe Road, Plymouth, PL1 3BJ, or email to democraticsupport@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 Head of Legal Services;

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

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

a)    A briefing note had been prepared on fuel and energy security, which would be circulated following the meeting;

b)    In respect of diesel, the Council received weekly deliveries, with storage levels continuously monitored with adequate supplies being held;

c)    Fuel costs were variable and subject to market fluctuation. Current and anticipated increases had been reflected within budget monitoring, which remained under constant review;

d)    The Council had already secured 100% of summer 2026 energy requirements, and no impact was anticipated from events in the Middle East;

e)    Approximately 40% of winter 2026 power had been purchased. Further purchasing was being deferred pending clarity on delivery timescales and the potential progression of the Chelson Meadows Community Solar Farm and associated Virtual Power Purchase Agreement;

f)     Officers were monitoring the market daily, noting mixed forecasts regarding short? and long?term price movements;

g)    In relation to heating oil, the Leader highlighted a Government announcement confirming over £50 million of support for households facing high costs;

h)    Funding would be distributed via the Household Support Fund, transitioning from 01 April 2026 into the Crisis and Resilience Fund;

i)     Councillors were asked to signpost eligible residents, particularly those on benefits experiencing exceptional heating costs, to the available support;

j)     The Leader confirmed that Plymouth City Council had not cancelled or sought to cancel its elections and expressed confidence in standing on the administration’s record;

k)    Achievements under the current Labour administration, included:

                      i.        inward investment and job creation;

                     ii.        expanded apprenticeships and training;

                    iii.        delivery of housing and public infrastructure;

                    iv.        investment in youth services, playgrounds, care leavers and SEND provision;

                     v.        improvements to the city centre, including reduced vacancy rates and increased footfall; and

                    vi.        improvements to core services, including street cleanliness, tree planting and pothole repairs.

l)     The Leader cited instability and governance issues in new Reform council’s, including resignations, expulsions and financial commitments not being delivered.

Councillor Haydon (Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Events, Libraries, Cemetries and Crematoria) provided the following updates:

m)  Plymouth would be launching a six?month pilot scheme offering free bus travel to survivors of domestic abuse, delivered in partnership with Plymouth Citybus, Stagecoach and Stagecoach South West, working alongside Plymouth City Council;

n)    It was reported that the scheme was a community?led initiative, delivered by First Light, the city’s specialist domestic abuse support service. The pilot would provide 53 individual 28?day bus tickets, designed to support survivors in accessing essential services, including:

                     i.         housing and homelessness appointments;

                    ii.        legal advice and court proceedings;

                   iii.         counselling and therapeutic support;

                   iv.         education, school attendance and employment; and

                    v.        other critical health and wellbeing services.

o)    The primary aim of the scheme was to remove transport as a barrier to safety, support independence and recovery, and strengthen Plymouth’s coordinated, city?wide response to domestic abuse;

p)    The pilot would be closely monitored, with a formal review planned between three and six months to assess  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.

Councillor Dann presented the report which was seconded by Councillor Evans OBE. 

Following a contribution from Councillor Mrs Beer, Council agreed to:

1)    Approve the recommendation of the Lord Mayor Selection and Advisory Committee and agree to appoint Councillor Kevin Sproston as Lord Mayor for 2026/27.

For: (50) Councillors Allison, Aspinall, Bannerman, Mrs Beer, Blight, Briars-Delve, Coker, Cresswell, Dann, Dingle, Evans OBE, Finn, Freeman, Gilmour, Goslin, Haydon, Hendy, Holloway, Laing, Lawson, Loveridge, Lowry, Lugger, McCarty, McLay, McNamara, Moore Penrose, Morton, Murphy, Ney, P. Nicholson, S. Nicholson, Noble, Penberthy, Poyser, Raynsford, Reilly, Ricketts, Simpson, M. Smith, Sproston, Steel, Stephens, Stevens, Taylor, Tippetts, Tofan, Tuohy, and Wood.

Against: (0)

Abstain (0)

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

Councillor Lowry introduced the report which was seconded by Councillor Evans OBE.

Council agreed to:

1.    That Council extends the designation of the interim Service Director for Finance, David Northey, as the section 151 Officer for the Council.

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

Against: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent/ did not vote: (3) Councillors Cuddihee, Penrose, and Ms Watkin.

Councillor Haydon introduced the motion which was seconded by Councillor Raynsford.

Following contributions from Councillors Reilly, Mrs Beer, Holloway, Taylor and Finn, Council agreed to:

1.    Request the Leader to write to NHS England, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, and relevant Government minister to reiterate the Council’s concerns about the proposed relocation and encourage collaborative exploration of alternative or hybrid models that keep forensic capacity in Plymouth.

For: (50) Councillors Allison, Aspinall, Bannerman, Mrs Beer, Blight, Briars?Delve, Coker, Cresswell, Dann, Dingle, Evans OBE, Finn, Freeman, Gilmour, Goslin, Haydon, Hendy, Holloway, Laing, Lawson, Loveridge, Lowry, Lugger, McCarty, McLay, McNamara, Moore, Morton, Murphy, Ney, Noble, P. Nicholson, S. Nicholson, Penberthy, Penrose, Poyser, Raynsford, Reilly, Ricketts, Simpson, M. Smith, Sproston, Steel, Stephens, Stevens, Taylor, Tippetts, Tofan, Tuohy, and Wood.

Against: (0)

Abstain: (0)

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

Councillor Murphy introduced the motion which was seconded by Councillor Sproston.

Following contributions from Councillors Lugger, Penberthy, Council agreed to:

1.    Plymouth City Council resolves to ask the Leader to write to the Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandher-Jones MP, in support of The Royal British Legion’s ‘Keep the Covenant Promise’ campaign:

               i.        To call for improved statutory guidance and funding to all public bodies in scope of the extended Duty, including local authorities, to deliver better support through the expanded Covenant Duty.

              ii.        To ask that the UK Government implements a dedicated programme of promotional activity on the Armed Forces Covenant, in order to improve public awareness and positively recognise those who serve / have served in HM Armed Forces.

             iii.         To ensure that the impact of the expanded Covenant Duty is thoroughly monitored, and that members of the Armed Forces community can access effective means of redress in cases where the Duty is not fulfilled.

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

Against: (0)

Abstain (0)

Absent/did not vote: (3) Councillors Cuddihee, Finn and Watkin.

(Following the conclusion of this item, Council adjourned until 4.10pm)

Councillor Steel introduced the motion which was seconded by Councillor Taylor. Following contributions from Councillors Holloway, Loveridge, Gilmour, Ricketts, Goslin, P. Nicholson, Bannerman, Dann, Ney, Stevens and McLay, Council agreed to:

1.    Invite Councillor Ricketts to resign to enable residents to determine their representation in line with the Council elections on 7 May 2026.

For: (35) Councillors Allison, Aspinall, Bannerman, Blight, Briars?Delve, Coker, Cresswell, Cuddihee, Dann, Dingle, Evans OBE, Gilmour, Goslin, Haydon, Hendy, Holloway, Laing, Lawson, Lowry, McCarty, McNamara, Moore, Morton, Murphy, Noble, Penberthy, Penrose, Raynsford, Simpson, M. Smith, Steel, Stephens, Stevens, Taylor, and Tuohy.

Against (4) Councillor Mrs Beer, Loveridge, Ney and Ricketts.

Abstain: (8) Councillors Finn, Lugger, McLay, P. Nicholson, Poyser, Reilly, Tippetts, and Wood.

Absent/did not vote: (5) Councillors Freeman, S. Nicholson, Sproston, Tofan, and Ms Watkin.

This motion was withdrawn by Councillor Wood.

Councillor Evans OBE introduced the motion which was seconded by Councillor McCarty.

Following a contribution from Councillors Lugger, Council agreed to:

1.    Create an online survey for commercial and charter fishers who live in the City of Plymouth or who own and/or work on commercial and/or coded charter vessels that predominantly work out of Plymouth to express their interest;

2.    Develop a business case with quotes, that provides PFDs with PLBs to eligible fisher;

3.    Develop a business case with quotes for a project to support enhanced (not statutory) safety training tailored to each vessel and crew and create a report to be submitted to the Department of Transport’s Marine and Coastguard Agency with proposals for better, best practice where needed;

4.    Prepare and submit a bid to the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme when it opens later this spring to seek core funding for 80% of these project costs;

5.    Seek match funding of 20% from maritime, and marine charities for these project costs.

For: (44) Councillors Allison, Aspinall, Blight, Briars?Delve, Coker, Cuddihee, Dann, Dingle, Evans OBE, Finn, Gilmour, Goslin, Haydon, Hendy, Holloway, Laing, Lawson, Lowry, Lugger, McCarty, McLay, McNamara, Moore, Morton, Murphy, Noble, P. Nicholson, Penberthy, Penrose, Poyser, Raynsford, Reilly, Ricketts, Simpson, M. Smith, Sproston, Steel, Stephens, Stevens, Taylor, Tippetts, Tofan, Tuohy, and Wood.

Against: (0)

Abstain: (0)

Absent/did not vote: (8) Councillors Bannerman, Mrs Beer, Cresswell, Freeman, Loveridge, Ney, S. Nicholson, and Ms 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 12 of the constitution.