Name

Item

Interest

Reason

CouncillorMrs Beer

Minute 87  - Motion on Notice No 16 – Police Numbers

Personal

Employee of Devon and Cornwall Police

CouncillorMrs Bragg

Minute  83 - Motion on Notice No 15 – Proposed incinerator at North Yard 

Personal

Husband is employee at  Devonport Dockyard

CouncillorBrookshaw

Minute 87 - Motion on Notice No 16 – Police Numbers

Personal

Son is a police officer

CouncillorDelbridge

Minute 87 - Motion on Notice No 16 – Police Numbers

Personal

Son is a police officer

CouncillorMrs Foster

Minute 85 - Motion on Notice No 13 – Plymouth Argyle Stadium

Personal

Plymouth Argyle season ticket holder

Councillor Foster

Minute  85 - Motion on Notice No 13 – Plymouth Argyle Stadium

Personal

Plymouth Argyle season ticket holder

Councillor Martin Leaves

Minute 85 - Motion on Notice No 13 – Plymouth Argyle Stadium

Personal

Plymouth Argyle season ticket holder

Councillor Lowry

Minute 83 - Motion on Notice No 15 – Proposed incinerator at North Yard 

Personal and prejudicial

Employee of Babcock

Councillor Nicholson

Minute 83 - Motion on Notice No 15 – Proposed incinerator at North Yard 

Personal and prejudicial

Employee of Babcock

CouncillorMrs Pengelly

Minute 87 - Motion on Notice No 16 – Police Numbers

Personal

Police authority representative

Councillor Smith

Minute 85 - Motion on Notice No 13 – Plymouth Argyle Stadium

Personal

Plymouth Argyle season ticket holder

Councillor Smith

Minute 83 - Motion on Notice No 15 – Proposed incinerator at North Yard 

Personal and prejudicial

Employee of Babcock

Councillor Stark

Minute 85 - Motion on Notice No 13 – Plymouth Argyle Stadium

Personal and prejudicial

Shareholder of Plymouth Argyle

Councillor Stevens

Minute 87 - Motion on Notice No 16 – Police Numbers

Personal

Employee of Devon and Cornwall Police

Councillor Wheeler

Minute 84 - Motion on Notice No 12 – Supporting People

Personal and prejudicial

Trustee of PATH

‘Add to end of (3) – However, in the event of significant amendments, the Area Action Plan to be referred back to Full Council for approval.’

(1)

the Derriford and Seaton Area Action Plan Pre-Submission draft is approved for consultation purposes;

(2)

authority is delegated to the Assistant Director of Development and Regeneration (Planning Services), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, Strategic Housing and Economic Development, to agree the final pre-submission format of the Area Action Plan;

(3)

authority is delegated to the Assistant Director of Development and Regeneration (Planning Services), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, Strategic Housing and Economic Development, to agree minor amendments to the Area Action Plan in response to the consultation process.  However, in the event of significant amendments, the Area Action Plan will be referred back to the City Council for approval;

(4)

instruct the Assistant Director of Development and Regeneration (Planning Services) to formally submit the Area Action Plan to the Secretary of State after completion of the consultation process.

REMOVAL OF EDUCATION MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE

Important Council and Local Strategic Partnership Priorities for Plymouth are ‘Growth’ and ‘Raising Aspiration’.

(1)

The Council recognises that the Tory led Coalition Government has voted to remove the Educational Maintenance Allowance from students and will not allow any further applications.  This will affect over 3000 young people in Plymouth who will therefore lose this support grant.  Figures show that post-16 achievement in Plymouth is below what it should be.  This underperformance affects Plymouth’s ability to achieve its stated priorities.

(2)

Council therefore CALLS upon the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People (Cllr Watkins) and the Cabinet Member for Finance (Cllr Bowyer), working with the Directors for Corporate Support and Children’s services to –

(a)

Bring forward proposals in the Council Budget (2010-2013) to provide financial help to ensure that those young people in Plymouth previously in receipt of Educational Maintenance Allowance are able to continue with their post-16 educational courses.

(b)

Make the strongest representations to their Government to rapidly replace or reinstate Educational Maintenance Allowance to ensure continued investment in young people in Plymouth, and nationally, so that that all young people have equal access to Further Education and the opportunities it brings.  

?

that the allowance made a real difference to unemployed parents and helped with the cost of young people travelling to courses;

?

that the budget proposals to be presented by the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, would seek to target funding at vulnerable young people;

?

that the Children and Young People Plan also sought to focus resources on the most vulnerable;

?

that it was necessary to target scarce resources in the current economic climate;

?

the high number of unemployed in the 18 – 25 age range;

?

the reducing resources for sure start centres, new schools, family support for anti social behaviour and youth offending.

PROPOSED INCINERATOR AT NORTH YARD

Given the investment in the NDC area of Devonport by Plymouth City Council and Government, this Council resolves to ask the Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Environment to look carefully at any suggestions that South Yard should be used as an alternative entry point for lorries carrying waste to and from the site of the proposed incinerator.

Council further resolves to ask the Cabinet Member for Planning to make any Traffic Impact Assessment available to Members of Plymouth City Council in a timely manner so that it can be discussed by ward members prior to the relevant meeting of the planning committee.

?

the level of pollution; 

?

that the proposal was identified in the local plan;

?

that there would be 180 vehicle movements a day;

?

that this was the first time that the Council had had an opportunity to speak on this proposal;

?

that a briefing had been held for all councillors;

?

that a traffic assessment would be available with the planning application and would be available for all to see;

?

that Councillors Gordon and Vincent attended partnership meetings and were kept fully up to date;

?

that questions asked at partnership meetings, had not received responses;

?

thatcouncillors would only have information five days before any decision was made and that there was no opportunity to make any input.

SUPPORTING PEOPLE

This Council notes

That as a result of cuts in funding by the Conservative led Government Cornwall Council has decided to cut its Supporting People budget by 40%.  Plymouth City Council also faces significant budget pressures and will be reviewing its contracts with a view to making substantial savings.  Given that several Housing Associations and other providers funded by the supporting peoples’ budget have said that they do not have the capacity to maintain current levels of services on a reduced budget this Council resolves to –

Ask Overview and Scrutiny Management Board to arrange for an evaluation of the range of services funded by the Supporting People’s budget with a view to identifying best practice and value for money and the possible affect of reduced funding across the Devon and Cornwall region on the capacity for providers to deliver in Plymouth.  That the findings of the Overview and Scrutiny be used to inform the Executive when making decisions about the allocation of Supporting Peoples’ funding.   

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE STADIUM

In the light of Plymouth Argyle’s current financial predicament, Council CALLS UPON the Cabinet Member to offer to buy back the land at current market valuation from the present owners.

?

the proposal was for the City Council to buy the land through capital expenditure and rented back to the football club;

?

if Plymouth Argyle ceased, Plymouth would be the largest city without a football league team; 

?

the proposal was for the City Council to buy back the land at an unspecified price;

?

in order to fund such a proposal, the existing schemes in the capital programme would need to be reduced;

?

the football club needed to resolve the position with inland revenue;

?

there was no business plan;

?

the City Council needed to reduce public spending;

?

councillors were concerned and worried with regard to the football club’s current position;

?

fans needed to support the club;

?

officers would continue a dialogue with the club;

?

a successful football could contribute towards the Council’s priorities relating to  aspiration and growth.   

GLASS RECYCLING

1.

Council notes the Conservative Election Manifesto promise of 2007 to introduce doorstep glass recycling.

2.

Council calls upon the Executive to bring forward a detailed implementation plan in time for inclusion in the 2011/12 budget.

 ?

the need to improve recycling rates in the city and to comply with a  manifesto commitment;

 ?

that a kerbside glass collection was being investigated and that an invest to save project would be submitted to the City Council when the business case was in place;

 ?

that it was felt that residents did not want another recycling container and that ways of separating glass from other recycling materials (in one bin) were being investigated;

 ?

that there was a need to recycle as much as possible and that the City Council should look at food waste;

 ?

that an additional bin should not be ruled out;

 ?

that any recycling initiative should have universal application across the city.

POLICE NUMBERS

It has been suggested that the number of serving police officers in the Plymouth BCU is to fall to levels unseen since 1983 due to the cuts imposed by the Conservative-led government on the Devon and Cornwall Police Authority.

The Council believe that this will inhibit the police in maintaining their excellent record of reducing crime in our city, and should be opposed.

?

funding of £2m was available to fund the appointment of a police commissioner, to replace the police authority;

?

councillors were worried about reducing police numbers;

?

the police authority was committed to appropriate levels of policing in Plymouth and no decision had been taken on future police numbers in Plymouth;

?

there was need to protect the current levels of police officers who provided an excellent service;

?

less police officers would impact on crime in the city.

SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AND VULNERABLE GROUPS

Council priorities in the Corporate Plan include ‘Reducing Inequalities’ and ‘Value for Communities’.

1.

Council notes that the proposed budget for 2011-2014 proposes restructuring or removing targeted support in many areas including school transport, family intervention services and the youth offending service.

2.

The current impact assessment shows that this will affect Families and Vulnerable Groups and have the potential to widen inequalities.

3.

Further, removing some of these services could result in increased costs for some services in the long run.

4.

Council resolves that these cuts run contrary to the Corporate Plan and should not be pursued as part of the budget cost cutting delivery plans.

 ?

the departmental delivery plans presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board on community and children’s services had been assessed as leading to greater inequalities and not providing value to the communities;

 ?

the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board had also acknowledged that there was further work to be undertaken on impact assessments;

 ?

there was a need for an urgent review of locality management and neighbourhood profiles needed to reflect where there were reductions in funding;

 ?

proposals in the draft Children’s and Young People Plan showed how the impact of reductions would be minimised and the intention was to provide more for less money.  Work would be undertaken with partners on the best use of grant funding;

 ?

less statementing and reduced respite services both had an impact on families;

 ?

there was concern that some councillors had learnt that the budget scrutiny report would not be coming to the City Council this year; 

 ?

early year services in the Barne Barton area.

GRIT AND SALT

Council notes that during the recent cold snap most pavements and bus stops were left ungritted and/or unsalted.

Council also notes that many areas of the city have few salt or grit bins, and those that exist were not re-filled.

Council resolves to request the portfolio holder to change policy and procedure before the winter is over so that pavements are cleared as well as roads, and grit provided to constituents.     

 ?

the recent and unexpected snow and ice leading to people being unable to get to work;

 ?

the initiatives being introduced in other parts of the country;

 ?

that the Council took the situation very seriously;

?

that a plan set out the Council’s priorities;

?

the government’s recent publication of a snow code that advised on how residents could assist;

?

that the Cabinet Member for Transport was working with partners to minimise the cost and disruption;

 ?

in the past, that requests for grit bins had been refused from the Council;

 ?

that Plymouth Community Homes were now providing grit bins outside sheltered homes and tower blocks; 

 ?

that councillors could now use community grant funding for to provide and fill grit bins;

 ?

the need for preparation, in the event of future prolonged icy weather, and the need to look at the safety of bus bays;

 ?

that resources had been deployed to clear parks in preference to pavements.

(1)

the new duties imposed on the Council by the Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Order 2010 (SI2010 No. 2212) are noted, including the requirement to contribute 4.70% of the budget for the Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority;

(2)

the draft Code of Conduct; Declaration of Interests, draft Standing Orders, draft Financial Regulations and draft Business Plan and budget for the Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority are approved. Also that based on the outline budget, Plymouth City Council agrees to contribute up to £44,185 for 2011/12;

(3)

the response submitted to the Department of Food and Rural Affairs consultation, as set out in the background paper is noted. This consultation is on how best to allocate the New Burdens funding to local authorities for the new responsibilities for the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities.

(5)

the City Council noted that the following bodies were no longer in existence -

?

Morley Centre Management Committee (existing vacancy);

?

Rees Youth and Community Centre (Councillor Jordan is the Council’s appointed representative).

From

To

Subject

1

Councillor Stevens

Councillor Fry 

With the withdrawal of government funding on planning aid, has it helped or hindered planning processes?

Councillor Fry welcomed any initiative that speeded up decision making but did not have the detail.

2

CouncillorWildy

Councillor Bowyer

Hierarchy of Lord Mayor’s engagements and position of remembrance service and military events. 

Councillor Bowyer undertook to look at the list to ensure that events were accorded the proper respect.

3

Councillor Evans

CouncillorMrs Watkins

Council response to the Ministry of Justice Green Paper on access to justice.

CouncillorMrs Watkins indicated that she had had a meeting with the Social Inclusion Unit and undertook to provide a written reply with a copy of the response made to the green paper.

4

Councillor Evans

CouncillorMrs Pengelly

Internet petition about forestry to save Cann Woods.

CllrMrs Pengelly undertook to look at the petition and think about signing it.

5

CouncillorTuohy

CouncillorMrs Pengelly

Clarification sought about whether previous question related to Ham or Cann Woods.

CouncillorMrs Pengelly confirmed that it was Cann Woods.

6

Councillor Stevens

CouncillorMrs Pengelly

Provisions of the Localism Bill and whether she agreed with Eric Pickles as to which were inappropriate to be determined at local level.

CouncillorMrs Pengelly undertook to provide a written response.

7

Councillor Evans

CouncillorWigens

Equality impact assessment on the use of the camera car ands issues for the disabled with drop offs from taxis.

CouncillorWigens indicated that if a report should be done, one would be done and he would take advice from Anthony Payne and Clive Perkin as to when it could be carried out. He undertook to respond by e mail and would investigate as a matter of urgency.

8

Councillor Williams

CouncillorWigens

Review of the strategy for subsidising buses and inaccurate response from officers on a particular bus route.  

CouncillorWigens asked that he was furnished with a copy of the officer’s response so that he could investigate and indicated that the review would be published within the next two months approximately.

9

Councillor Evans

CouncillorWigens

Subsidised bus review to be considered before or after the budget?

CouncillorWigens indicated that if it needed to be before the budget round, it would be.  He undertook to provide a response to Councillors Evans and Williams.

From

To

Subject

1

CouncillorWildy

CouncillorMrs Pengelly 

Award of the Leisure Management Contract – progress with the Devonport Community Trust and the contract award

The Leader indicated that final tenders were received on 10 January, which would then be followed by evaluation and selection of the preferred bidder.

CouncillorBrookshaw responded that he was about to write to Devonport Community Leisure Trust with a series of options for the future management of the Brickfields and that he would be getting in touch with ward councillors shortly.

2

Councillor Wheeler

Councillor Michael Leaves

South West Devon Waste Partnership –change in design of the building since consultation stage.

Councillor Leaves responded that he did not attend the November consultation event.  The design would be shown in the planning application and would be subject to further consultation.

3

Councillor Wheeler

Councillor Michael Leaves 

South West Devon Waste Partnership – efficacy of the consultation arrangements.

Councillor Leaves responded that what was shown at the consultation event was an impression.  The detail would be provided as part of the planning consultation.

4

Councillor Wheeler

Councillor Michael Leaves 

South West Devon Waste Partnership – fair consultation with limited information due to commercial confidentiality?

Councillor Leaves responded yes.  The information was confidential and could not be released.