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

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, the following declarations of interest were made in relation to items at this meeting –

The Lord Mayor reassured councillors that the timing system had been checked and no fault had been found.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 2 August 2010.   

The minutes of the special meeting of the Council held on 2 August 2010 were signed as a correct record.  The minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Council on 2 August 2010 were signed as a correct record, subject to the amendment of minute 39 of the ordinary meeting on Page 11 of the agenda papers, to reflect that question 8 was from Councillor James to Councillor Wildy.

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

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

Agreed that appointments to committees and outside bodies are determined as indicated below -

(9) the proposal for no appointment to be made to the Plymouth Foyer, in future, was deferred pending the submission of further information; 

(10) the resignation of Councillors Brookshaw and Jordan from the Management Board of the Theatre Royal (Plymouth) Limited was noted;  (No further appointments would be made).  The Lord Mayor advised councillors that any queries on this should be pursued outside of the meeting.

(11) the following changes of Committee membership have been notified to the Monitoring Officer and were noted -

National Citizen Advice Bureau's Council Partner of the Year Award

The Leader reported that the City Council was ‘voted highly commended by the judges’ at the National Citizen Advice Bureau's Council Partner of the Year Award and the award was presented to Jo Hambly, on behalf of the Financial and Social Inclusion Team, at their Annual General Meeting.  The Leader congratulated all those involved.  

Building for Life

Councillor Fry advised councillors that twenty housing developments nationally had been awarded the highest industry standard for quality and design in new homes and five of these were in Plymouth. They were:

·              Cargo, English Cities Fund with Ferguson Mann Architects (134 units)

·              Astor Court, Cedar Homes Limited with the Architects Design Group (24 homes)

·              Friars Lane, Pemberley Developments with Rogers and Haynes architects (15 homes)

·              Grainey’s Joinery, McAleer and Rusher Ltd with architects Lacie, Hickie Caley. (64 homes)

·              Mills Bakery, Urban Splash with Gillespie Yunnie architects (78 homes)

The initiative was led by CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment)and the Home Builders Federation and awards were given to new housing schemes that demonstrate a commitment to high design standards and good place making. The awards were judged by a panel of experts each year.

Other Silver standard winners for 2010 were:

·              Evolution Cove, developers Standerton House with the Architects Design Group with 58 homes

·              James Place, University of Plymouth with Willmore Illes Architects Ltd (329 homes)

·              Middleton’s, Stevenson Homes Ltd with Roger and Haynes Architects (11 homes)

·              Plymstock Library, Signpost Housing with Rogers and Haynes Architects (27 homes)

Matthew Coombe, Urban Planning Co-ordinator was thanked for his work and asked to take back to his colleagues, the Council’s congratulations for their contribution to this tremendous achievement.

Customer Services Excellence Award for Library Services

Councillor Brookshaw reported that the library services had been awarded the Customer Services Excellence Award from G4S Assessment Services on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Alistair MacNaughton (City Librarian) and the library services team were thanked for all their hard work. 

Council of the Year Award for Customer Services

Councillor Jordan reported that the customer services team has been awarded the Council of the Year Award 2010 from Govmetric, a company that specialised in gathering customer feedback.

Katie Harris, representing the Customer Services team, was congratulated on this achievement. 

South West in Bloom

Councillor Michael Leaves referred to Plymouth’s achievements in the Royal Horticultural Society South West in Bloom competition.

Plymouth won gold in the large city category; Jude Miller (aged 7) won the School Painting Competition and Plymouth won the South West in Bloom Discretionary award Best Portfolio.

Plymouth also achieved the most neighbourhood awards – 24 in total.

There were five categories in the RHS 'It's your neighbourhood' award and Plymouth came away with four 'outstanding' - the top award given.

These awards recognised the work of local people improving their environments.  The Community projects to receive an ‘outstanding’ were Diggin' It and the East  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

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.

Questions, of no longer than 50 words, can be submitted to the Democratic Support Unit, Corporate Support Department, Plymouth City Council, Civic Centre, Plymouth, PL1 2AA, or email to democraticsupport@plymouth.gov.uk. Any questions must be received at least 5 clear working days before the date of the meeting.

There were no questions from the public for this meeting.

Representatives of the Youth Parliament will give a presentation on their achievements, work undertaken and future aspirations.

Kate Taylor and Marcus Natale (members of the youth parliament) and Reace McDonnell (a deputy member) together with Sarah Hefferman (youth parliament co-ordinator) gave a presentation on the achievements of the Youth Parliament, the work undertaken and their future aspirations.

In response to a suggestion that the Youth Parliament could work with the Council to increase the number of young people registering and exercising their vote, the councillors were advised that some work had been undertaken with year sevens at Notre Dame and at Devonport High School for boys.

Jake Paggett (representing young people), was congratulated on his work with the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board. 

In response to a suggestion that scrutiny could check the process for the election of young people to the Youth Parliament, councillors were advised that the process was being reviewed.

Councillor Mrs Watkins (Cabinet Member for Children and Young People) thanked the representatives for their work and indicated that she had enjoyed a recent visit to them.  As part of Local Democracy Week, she referred to everybody’s role in democracy, politics and voting and reported that she and colleagues would be visiting and speaking at various schools during the week.

The Lord Mayor expressed her thanks to the representatives for their presentation and also to Ross Johnston (Democratic Support Officer) for his work on organising the events for local democracy week.

There is no outstanding business.

There was no outstanding business from the last meeting.        

To consider the written report of the Assistant Chief Executive and the Cabinet recommendations.

Cabinet Member: The Leader

CMT Lead Officer: Assistant Chief Executive

Following consideration of the City and Council Priorities by Cabinet (minute 47 refers), the written report of the Assistant Chief Executive was submitted on a revised proposal.  Councillor Mrs Pengelly presented the report to Council and proposed the recommendations set out in the written report.  The motion was seconded by Councillor Sam Leaves.

During her summing up, Councillor Mrs Pengelly indicated that, in response to a question by Councillor Wheeler on Barne Barton early years, the Council were committed to the service at Barne Barton and alternative venues had been found.  She undertook to provide Councillor Wheeler with the information she had been given.     

The priorities would be monitored by scrutiny, through performance indicators, and also by the theme groups within the Local Strategic Partnership.  

Following a vote, it was Agreed that –

To consider the Cabinet recommendations.

Cabinet Member: The Leader

CMT Lead Officer: The Monitoring Officer (Assistant Director for Democracy and Governance)

The report submitted to Cabinet is also enclosed.

The Leader submitted the proposals for consultation on changes in Executive arrangements, referred to in Cabinet minute 48 and set out in the written report to Cabinet, for approval.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Fry.

Following an objection by Councillor Mrs Pengelly, to personal remarks during the debate, the Lord Mayor reminded councillors about their behaviour.

Following a vote, it was Agreed to approve –

To consider the recommendation of the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee. 

Chair: Councillor Delbridge

CMT Lead Officer: Director for Development and Regeneration

The report submitted to the Joint Committee is also enclosed.

In the absence of Councillor Delbridge (Joint Chair), Councillor Mrs Pengelly submitted for approval, the proposed terms of reference of the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee, referred to in minute 51 of and the written report to, the Joint Committee. 

Following a vote, it was Agreed to adopt the terms of reference for the operation of the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee, as submitted, and to amend the constitution accordingly. 

Proposed by Councillor Ball

Seconded by Councillor James

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, the following motion (No 7 10/11) was submitted by Councillor Ball and seconded by Councillor James.

ELECTRONIC RECORDING OF SPEECH AND THE MAKING OF PHOTOGRAPHIC / VIDEO IMAGES

Plymouth City Council meetings are formal gatherings of elected Members supported by officers and witnessed by the public in accordance with the laws that govern the local authority democratic process in England. Such meetings should be conducted in a serious and businesslike manner.

The constitution holds that Members will, “be the ultimate policy-makers and carry out a number of strategic and corporate management functions” and one of the ten general principles for those who act on behalf of the public is that, “Members should promote and support these principles by leadership, and by example, and should act in a way that secures or preserves public confidence”.  Using mobile devices during any formal meeting is a breach of good manners, discourteous to others in attendance and a hindrance to good decision making?

Current practice is that the electronic recording of speech and the making of photographic/video images (other than by the Council) is prohibited at formal meetings. 

I therefore move that this Council:

Councillor Ball, whilst moving the motion for approval, sought to make some amendments in order to clarify the proposal.  The Assistant Director for Democracy and Governance advised that the action of Councillor Ball was in order.

Following objections, the Lord Mayor adjourned the meeting to take advice.

Following the adjournment, Councillor Ball moved the motion, as submitted (as above) and the motion was seconded by Councillor James.

Councillor Fox submitted an amendment to paragraph 3 to delete the following words -

‘and placed clearly on display’ and

‘Note: Members who are “on call” should formally request this of the Lord Mayor, Leader or Committee Chairs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

Proposed by Councillor Mrs Pengelly

Seconded by Councillor Evans

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, the following motion (No 8 10/11) was submitted by Councillor Mrs Pengelly and seconded by Councillor Evans.

This Council resolves:

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, the following motion (No 9 10/11) was submitted by Councillor Rennie and seconded by Councillor McDonald.

LOCAL ENVIRONMENT FUNDS

We call upon the officers of Plymouth City Council to release the funds available in the Local Environment Fund, and as such allow the good work that has been done by councillors and members of their communities to continue.

These funds to be released to councillors to spend in their wards as already agreed.

CouncillorRennie reported that, as the matter had now been resolved, he would be withdrawing the motion.  He addressed councillors on the reasons for submitting the motion, in the first instance.

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, the following motion (No 10 10/11) was submitted by Councillor Williams and seconded by Councillor Evans.

CUTS TO BUS ROUTES IN PLYMOUTH

This Council notes

The Council resolves to:-

Councillor Williams moved and Councillor Evans seconded the motion.

Councillor Wigens indicated that he was willing to accept the motion.  He also

reminded councillors of the criteria for subsidised services, approved by

Cabinet in 2006 and emphasised that the Council would not be able to find

significant amounts to fund poorly used services.

Councillors continued to debate the motion.        

Councillor Bowyer spoke and then moved that the vote was taken.  This was ruled out of order by the Lord Mayor as Councillor Bowyer had spoken in support of the motion before proposing that the vote was taken.

Councillor Fry moved and Councillor Nicholson seconded that the vote was taken.

Following summing up by Councillor Williams, the vote was taken, the motion was carried and it was Agreed.

(Councillors Bowyer, Mrs Bowyer, Martin Leaves, Mike Leaves, Sam Leaves

and Vincent having declared interests in the above matter, withdrew from the

meeting during consideration of this item – see also minute 41 above.)

To consider the report of the Director for Corporate Support.

Cabinet Member: Councillor Bowyer

CMT Lead Officer: Director for Corporate Support

The written report of the Director for Corporate Support was submitted and Councillor Bowyer presented the recommendation in the report for approval, subject to the amendment of paragraph 3.1 of the report (page 48 of the agenda) to change ‘hospital school’ to Torbridge Campus’. The motion was seconded by Councillor Fry.

Councillor Evans questioned why the figures were detailed as millions rather than hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Whilst summing up, Councillor Bowyer indicated that he would be asking the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board to focus on the outcome of the comprehensive spending review.      

At the end of the summing up, Councillor Evans raised an objection to a reference made to the opposition, by Councillor Bowyer and sought the withdrawal of the remark. 

Following a vote, the motion was carried and the updated Capital Programme was Agreed.

To receive a report of a key decision taken under special urgency provisions on the Accommodation Strategy Business Case.

Cabinet Member: Councillor Bowyer

CMT Lead Officer: Director for Corporate Support

In accordance with paragraph 17.2 of the Constitution, Councillor Bowyer, on behalf of the Leader, reported on the decision taken by Cabinet on 10 August, concerning the accommodation strategy business case and the reasons for urgency, which had been agreed with the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.   

Councillor Ball raised a point of order relating to the use of mobile phones.

Councillor James seconded Councillor Bowyer’s proposal to note the report.

The Assistant Director for Democracy and Governance reported that the reason for the urgent key decision was that it had not appeared in the forward plan and that the correct procedure had been followed subsequently.

Following a question by Councillor Evans relating to costs, he was advised to write to the Assistant Director for Democracy and Governance or Councillor Bowyer. Councillor Bowyer indicated that he would be happy to meet with Councillor Evans or respond to an e mail.

Agreed that the report was noted.

Questions to the Leader, Cabinet Members and Committee Chairs covering aspects for their areas of responsibility or concern by councillors 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 Member and Committee Chairs covering aspects of their areas of responsibility -

CouncillorViney moved and Councillor Fry seconded that the meeting continue to conclusion of business.  The motion was Agreed.

The Leader will introduce the Forward Plan.

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

The Leader introduced the Forward Plan.

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