Members will be asked to make declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

The following declarations of interest were made in accordance with the Code of Conduct from Members in relation to items under consideration at this meeting –

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 12 October (as amended) and 30 November 2009.  

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 October (as amended) and 30 November 2009 were signed as a correct record.

(a)       To receive announcements from the Lord Mayor or the Chief Executive;

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

Appointments to committees, outside bodies, etc.

Resolved that –

(1)       the following appointments are confirmed -

(2)       the following changes of committee membership notified to the Monitoring Officer, are noted -

The Leader gave an update on the recent fire at Holy Cross Primary School and paid tribute to the local community who had contributed a lot of help and also to staff who had spent the weekend painting the classrooms to enable the school to be reopened.  The Leader, on behalf of the Council, thanked everyone who made it possible for the school to carry on as normal during this difficult period.

To receive questions from and provide answers to the public in relation to matters which, in the opinion of the Lord Mayor, are relevant to the business of the meeting in accordance with paragraph 10 of the Constitution.

In accordance with paragraph 10 of the constitution, the following question was submitted by a member of the public –

Resolved that in the absence of the questioner, a written response be sent to him.

Members will consider the report of the Director for Corporate Support on the Members’ Allowance Scheme and Paul Woods, Chair of the Independent Remuneration Panel will present the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Paul Woods, Chair of the Independent Remuneration Panel presented the report and recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

The Leader moved the recommendations of the panel for approval and the motion was seconded by Councillor Bowyer.

The Lord Mayor declared the motion carried and it was Resolved that the recommendations are approved as follows -

(1)       the special responsibility allowance for the members of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board is Band 4 (currently £5,072.64) increased annually by the adjustment method recommended in the 2008 report;

(2)       it is noted that the special responsibility allowance for each chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel remains at Band 3 (currently £10,145.28);

(3)       a review of the role of the co-opted member of an Overview and Scrutiny Management Board is undertaken, within a period of twelve months from the consideration of this report by full council, in order to assess whether an allowance would be appropriate;

(4)       the special responsibility allowance relating to members of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board is backdated to 6 July 2009;

(5)       co-opted members are entitled to claim childcare and dependent carer’s allowances (against receipts) when they are on approved council business;

(6)       attendance at Member learning and development events is included in the list of approved duties;

(7)       the level of allowance appropriate for the independent chair of the Standards Committee is reviewed in summer 2010;

(8)       the City Council undertakes the notification process relating to the Data Protection Act 1998, on behalf of each councillor, to the Information Commissioner;

(9)       for the purposes of clarity, information about Members’ notification with the Information Commissioner is included within the Members’ Allowances Scheme;

(10)     the Members’ IT options in section 7.3 of the report are noted;

(11)     for the purposes of clarity, the IT information is included within the Members’ Allowances Scheme;

(12)     the process for recruiting a fourth member of the Panel begins following the consideration of this meeting of the City Council;

(13)     the Panel recommends that it convenes at the appropriate times (as identified in this report) in order to review the allowances of the independent chair of the Standards Committee and the co-opted member of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, as well as any other miscellaneous issues as required.

(Councillors Coker, Roberts, Thompson and Wildy declared a personal interest in the above item).

There is no business from the last meeting.

There were no items of business outstanding for this meeting.

Cabinet minute 100 refers.

Cabinet Member: Councillor Bowyer

CMT Lead Officer: Director for Corporate Support

To view the Cabinet report, click on the following link:

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000254/M00003626/AI00040439/$CouncilTaxFinalTaxBaseReportasat30thNov2009.docA.ps.pdf

Councilllor Bowyer submitted the recommendation from Cabinet minute 100 for approval and the proposal was seconded by Councillor Michael Leaves.

Following a vote being taken, the motion was declared carried it was Resolved that the recommendation in Cabinet minute 100 is approved as follows –

to approve the Council Tax Base for Tax Setting for 2010/11 as 76,899 Band D equivalents, which is the tax base after allowing for an estimated collection rate of 98.5%.

Cabinet minute 113 refers.

Cabinet Member: Councillor Brookshaw

CMT Lead Officer: Director for Community Services

To view the Scrutiny report and the Cabinet report and document, click on the following links:

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000254/M00003627/AI00040864/LocalitiesWorkingScrutinyReport.pdf

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000254/M00003627/AI00040857/LocalityWorking2.pdf

CouncillorBrookshaw submitted the recommendations of Cabinet minute 113 for approval and the proposal was seconded by Councillor Fox.

An amendment was subsequently moved by Councillor Wildy and seconded by Councillor Evans as set out below –

Under recommendations

1.         add after the introduction of the words ‘a pilot’ for locality working according to the model proposed and insert under first bullet point ‘in Plymstock’;

Delete bullet points numbers 1 – 4

2.         after discontinued insert ‘in the pilot area’;

3.         delete all and insert ‘agrees to request the Director of Community Services to present options for each locality based on detailed negotiations with relevant councilors, partners, members of the community, faith groups and third sector organisations taking into account feedback from consultation and community engagement and disaggregated data at neighbourhood level on city-wide priorities together with detailed budgets for each locality’;

4.         delete after Task and Finish Group ‘be established 12 months after implementation to formally review progress’ and insert ‘to monitor the pilot and other neighbourhood management initiatives, eg.  Devonport with a view to making recommendations for roll-out across the city within the next 12 months’.

Following a request by 10 Members for a recorded vote on the amendment, there voted –

For the motion (16)

CouncillorsMrs Aspinall, Bowie, Coker, Dann, Evans, Gordon, Lowry, McDonald, Nelder, Purnell, Rennie, Stevens, Tuohy, Vincent, Wheeler and Wildy.

Against the motion (36)

Councillors Ball, Mrs Beer, Berrow, Bowyer, Bragg, Brookshaw, Browne, Delbridge, Mrs Dolan, Drean, Michael Foster, Fox, Fry, James, Jordan, Kerswell, King, Martin Leaves, Michael Leaves, Sam Leaves, Lock, Monahan, Mrs Nicholson, Nicholson, Mrs Pengelly, Reynolds, Ricketts, Roberts, Dr Salter, Stark, Mrs Stephens, Thompson, Viney, Mrs Watkins and Wigens.

Abstentions (0)

Absent (4)

CouncillorsMrs W Foster, Dr Mahony, Miller and Smith

The Lord Mayor did not vote.

The Lord Mayor declared the amendment not carried.

During the debate on the substantive motion, the Leader offered to meet with members of the opposition group to further explore and clarify issues as necessary.

The Portfolio Holder advised the Council that this was a working document and it would be reviewed in 12 months time via scrutiny.

Following a vote, the motion was declared carried and it was Resolved that the recommendations are approved as follows –

Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee minute 24 refers.

Joint Chair: Councillor Ball

CMT Lead Officer: Director for Development and Regeneration

To view the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee report and document, click on the following links:

http://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/Published/C00000620/M00001781/AI00013316/$RevenueEstimatesCapitalProgramme20102011.docA.ps.pdf

http://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/Published/C00000620/M00001781/AI00013316/RevenueEstimatesCapitalProgramme20102011Appendices.pdf

Councillor Ball submitted the recommendations of the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee minute 24 for approval and the proposal was seconded by Councillor Viney.

Following a vote being taken, the motion was declared carried and it was Resolved that the recommendations are approved as follows –

(1)       the proposed revenue budget for 2010/2011 as set out in appendix 1 of the report be approved;

(2)       the proposed capital programme as set out in Appendix 2 of the report, be approved, including provisional approval of the bridge office development subject to a satisfactory business case;

(3)       the longer term revenue forecast to 2012/2013 be noted.

Mount Edgcumbe Joint Committee minute 18 refers.

Joint Chair: Councillor Reynolds

CMT Lead Officer: Director for Community Services

To view the Mount Edgcumbe Joint Committee report and appendix, click on the following links:

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000261/M00003632/AI00040252/$FinancialUpdate412090910monitoring2.DOCA.ps.pdf

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000261/M00003632/AI00040252/MtEmonitorappend.pdf

This item is withdrawn pending further discussions with Cornwall Council regarding the facilities business plan and confirmation of funding.

To consider a motion from Members in accordance with paragraph 13 of the Constitution.

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, the following motion (No 7 09/10) was moved by Councillor Mrs Aspinall and seconded by Councillor Evans -

Plymouth City Council opposes any measure which would reduce, or threaten to reduce the number of Police Community Support Officers in Plymouth.

An amendment was subsequently moved by Councillor Bowyer and seconded by Councillor Lock as set out below -

            Add the words ‘or full time Police Officers’ so the motion reads

‘Plymouth City Council opposes any measure which would reduce, or threaten to reduce the number of Police Community Support Officers or full time Police Officers in Plymouth”

Following a vote, the amendment was declared carried.

A further amendment was subsequently moved by Councillor Evans and seconded by Councillor Wildy as set out below -

To insert the word ‘equivalent’ before ‘full time officers’.

With the consent of Council, Councillor Bowyer accepted the further amendment so that the amended motion read -

‘Plymouth City Council opposes any measure which would reduce, or threaten to reduce the number of Police Community Support Officers or full time equivalent Police Officers in Plymouth”

The motion, as amended, was put to the vote and declared carried and it was Resolved accordingly.

(Councillors Mrs Beer, Brookshaw, Mrs Pengelly, Stevens and Viney having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the above, withdrew from the meeting).

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, the following motion (No 6 09/10) was moved by Councillor Mrs Pengelly and seconded by Councillor Fry –

Members’ basic and special responsibility allowances are adjusted annually (by the same percentage as the local government pay award).  This takes effect from 1 April each year.

In view of the current economic climate and the need to ensure that the council gives value for money, we believe that councilors should show restraint and set an example as leading members of our local communities.

We therefore recommend that all members’ allowances are kept at the existing level for the 2010/2011 financial year.

Following a vote, the motion was declared carried and it was Resolved accordingly.

(Councillors Coker, Roberts, Thompson and Wildy declared a personal interest in the above item).

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, the following motion (No 8 09/10) was moved by Councillor Stevens and seconded by Councillor McDonald –

Plymouth City Council notes the controversy surrounding the change arising for the ‘Awakening the West End’ scheme to the highway and pavements in New George Street, Market Way and Cornwall Street.

In light of the accidents reported, and the lack of consultation, the issue is referred to the appropriate body for urgent consideration to formulate a programme of affordable remedial action.

Following a vote, the motion was declared lost.

(Councillor Mrs Pengelly having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the above item, withdrew from the meeting).

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, the following motion (No 9 09/10) was moved by Councillor Wheeler and seconded by Councillor Evans -

Council notes that since the sale of CityBus to Go Ahead on 30 November 2009, there has been a report of 14 redundancies at Milehouse.  Council resolves to arrange a meeting with Go Ahead to seek re-assurance that these redundancies are compatible with the promise to maintain service given by the Leader of the Council at the time of sale.

Following a vote, the motion was declared lost.

(Councillors Martin Leaves, Michael Leaves, Sam Leaves and Vincent having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the above item, withdrew from the meeting).

There were no items to consider.

Questions to the Leader, Cabinet Members and Committee Chairs covering aspects for their areas of responsibility or concern by Members in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Constitution;

In accordance with paragraph 12 of the constitution, the following questions were asked of the Leader, Cabinet Members and Committee Chairs covering aspects of their areas of responsibility -

The Leader will introduce the Forward Plan as now submitted.

Members may ask questions specific to the Forward Plan of the Leader/Cabinet Members.

The Leader introduced the Forward Plan and advised the Council that the Forward Plan item on Information, Advice and Guidance Service for Young People (FP 40) had been withdrawn due to recent publication on national policy guidance which impacts on this service; this item would be amended and re-submitted later in February.

Questions were asked of the Leader and Cabinet Members as follows –

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(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  

There were no items of exempt business.