The Lord Mayor introduced councillors to Tracey Lee, the council’s new Chief Executive and formally welcomed her to the council and to this, her first meeting of the City Council. 

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Extraordinary General Meeting and Ordinary Meeting held on 24 September 2012.   

Agreed that the minutes of the Extraordinary General Meeting and the ordinary meeting of council held on 24 September 2012 are confirmed as a correct record.

Councillors will be asked to make declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda. A flowchart providing guidance on interests is attached to assist councillors.

The following declarations of interest were made in accordance with the code of conduct from councillors in relation to items under consideration at this meeting –

The Director for Corporate Services will submit a schedule of vacancies on committees, outside bodies etc and of changes notified to us.

The report of the Director for Corporate Services was submitted on current vacancies on committees, outside bodies etc. and changes to committees that have been made.

Agreed that the following appointments are made –

The appointment of the following named substitutes notified to the Assistant Director for Democracy and Governance were noted –

The Lord Mayor congratulated Bishop Nick McKinnel on his recent ordination as the Anglican Bishop of Crediton at Southwark Cathedral.   Bishop McKinnel had been a long-serving Rector of the Minster Church of St Andrew and, on behalf of the Council and past Lord Mayors, thanks were extended to him for all his help, advice and support particularly with regard to civic functions at the Minster Church and he was wished well in his new role. 

Following three appointments made by the Chief Officers Appointments Panel, the Lord Mayor welcomed Judith Harwood (Assistant Director for Education, Learning and Family Support) and Andrew Stephens (Assistant Director for Customer Services).  He also referred to Alison Botham (Assistant Director for Children’s Social Care) who it was hoped would be joining the council shortly.

The Lord Mayor presented Councillor Davey (Cycling Commissioner for the Council) with a signed Team GB jersey in recognition of the contribution that the city had made to increasing cycling in the UK.

British Cycling and Plymouth City Council were working together to deliver a range of initiatives, including Sky Ride Local and helping to get more people into cycling.

Thanks also went to the officers in the Transport and Infrastructure Department and Jim Woffenden and Katrice Deves attended to represent the department.

The Lord Mayor reported that Plymouth had had its Fairtrade City Status renewed.

Officers and members had been working with Plymouth’s Fairtrade Network to renew interest in Fairtrade as part of the city’s commitment to fairer, co-operative market opportunities for the producers of over 4,000 Fairtrade products that were now available in the UK.

A two-year action plan had been set out on how Plymouth could be part of a network of people and organisations working together on a global scale to get a better deal for farmers and workers in the developing world. The action plan detailed five clear commitments to Council support, retailer and community opportunities, promotional projects and partnership working.

The Lord Mayor presented the certificate to Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet Member for Cooperatives and Community Development).

The Leader referred to the recent extreme weather and reported that a joint letter from local authorities in the south west, the Heart-of-the South West Local Transport Body and local enterprise partnerships had been sent to the Transport Minister with regard to recent flooding and disruption of rail and road services.  Fast, reliable transport links were essential for the delivery of economic growth and investment in the transport infrastructure had been requested.

The Leader advised the City Council that agreement had been given to a contribution of £20,000 for Plymouth to submit an expression of interest to become a City of Culture.  The University of Plymouth had also agreed to a £20,000 contribution but both contributions were subject to match funding from the Culture Board and the private sector.   If the city was successful in achieving the status, it would be a catalyst for major events but the nature of the competition would need to be assessed before committing further money.

The Leader reported that the initial draft expression of interest for the City Deal had been submitted. Plymouth had been invited to set out the key challenges that the city faced but there would be no new cash or promise of extra funding. The objective was to drive growth across the peninsula and, if successful, a way forward would be agreed with other stakeholders. 

The Leader referred to Movember, where, during November each year, moustaches were grown with the aim of raising vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and testicular cancer.  He paid tribute to the ‘mo sisters’ (Paula Hindmarsh, Kathy Williams, Di Byrne, Alicia Coumbe, Jill King, Stephanie Day, Councillors Mrs Aspinall and Williams) for raising over £600 through sale of false moustaches and cakes. 

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, Civic Centre, Plymouth, PL1 2AA, or email to democraticsupport@plymouth.gov.uk. Any questions must be received at least five complete working days before the meeting.

One question had been received from a member of the public in relation to a matter which in the opinion of the Lord Mayor, was relevant to the business of the meeting, in accordance with paragraph 10 of the Constitution.

In the absence of the questioner, the question and response were circulated and a written response would be sent to Mr Sharpe.

Cabinet Member: Councillor Lowry

The Director for Corporate Services will submit a report seeking approval of new capital schemes over £0.5m which were considered by Cabinet on 13 November 2012 for inclusion in the Council’s capital programme. (Cabinet minutes 88, 88a, 90, 90a, 91 and 91a refer).

Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) presented the written report of the Director for Corporate Services seeking approval of new capital schemes over £0.5m which had been considered by Cabinet on 13 November 2012 for inclusion in the council’s capital programme. (Cabinet minutes 88, 88a, 90, 90a, 91 and 91a refer)

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Williams.

Agreed the new capital schemes for investment as detailed below, amounting to £14.459m:

Cabinet Member: Councillor Vincent

The City Council will be asked to consider the Cabinet recommendation. 

Minute 84 (of the Cabinet meeting held on 13 November 2012) and the report of the Director for Place refers.

Councillor Vincent (Cabinet Member for Environment) presented the Cabinet recommendation to adopt the City Council’s Gambling Act Statement of Licensing Policy, following a three year review. (Cabinet minute 84 referred).  The policy would commence on 31 January 2013.

The written report of the Director for Place to Cabinet, was also submitted.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Williams.

Agreed that the Gambling Act Statement of Licensing Policy is adopted as contained in Appendix B to the written report. 

The Assistant Director for Democracy and Governance will submit a report on a review of the proposals published by the Boundary Commission for England relating to the review of the parliamentary constituencies as it affects Plymouth.   

The Assistant Director for Democracy and Governance submitted a written report on revised proposals published by the Boundary Commission for England relating to the review of parliamentary constituency boundaries as it affected the City of Plymouth.  The City Council was invited to consider any representations it wished to make in respect of those revised proposals before 10 December 2012.

A motion was moved by Councillor Evans as follows -

1.    This Council objects in the strongest possible terms to the Boundary Commission proposals for the redrawing of Parliamentary Boundaries relating to the City of Plymouth in so far as they concentrate on numbers of voters and electoral quotas rather than seeking to retain community ties between wards and the local authority.

2.    The Boundary Commission is therefore requested to maintain the existing Parliamentary Boundaries relating to the City of Plymouth.

Following a request for an adjournment to allow councillors to consider the motion, the Lord Mayor adjourned the meeting for five minutes.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Peter Smith.

During the debate, issues raised included that –

·         the proposals would effectively remove the Moor View Ward from Plymouth;

·         the proposals would reduce the number of Members of Parliament nationally, rationalise the size of constituencies and were proposed following a consultation process;

·         the city boundary would not change and at present Plympton and Plymstock were within a constituency including areas of south west Devon;

·         there was no rationale for the proposals;

·         representations had been made in relation to previous proposals which linked part of the city to Okehampton;

·         representation of the Moor View Ward, which included the hospital, teaching establishment and arterial routes, could be diminished with the extent of the proposed constituency;

·         the proposals did not take into account the views of people and in the event of growth and increasing population, a further review would be required.

Following a request from ten councillors for a recorded vote, there voted –

For the motion (28)

Councillors Mrs Aspinall, Bowie,  Casey, Coker, Damarell, P. Davey, S. Davey, Evans, Fox, Gordon, Haydon, Lowry, Murphy, Mrs Nelder, Parker, Penberthy, Rennie, Singh, J. Smith, P. Smith, Stevens, J. Taylor, K. Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy, Vincent, Wheeler and Williams.

Against the motion (23)

Councillors Ball, Mrs Beer, Bowyer, Mrs Bowyer, Churchill, Darcy, Drean, Foster, Mrs Foster, Fry, James, Jordan, Martin Leaves, Michael Leaves, Sam Leaves, Dr Mahony, Nicholson, Mrs Nicholson, Mrs Pengelly, Ricketts, Dr Salter, Stark and Wigens.

Abstentions (1)

The Lord Mayor

The following members were absent (5)

Councillor Browne, Mrs Dolan, Jarvis, McDonald and Monahan.

Following the vote, the motion was agreed. 

To consider motions from councillors in accordance with Part B, paragraph 14 of the Constitution –

·         Loan Sharks.

Councillor Penberthy moved and Councillor Evans seconded the following motion -

‘Council:

·         Notes and welcomes the UK-wide campaign to end ‘legal loan sharking’.

·         Believes that the lack of access to affordable credit is socially and economically damaging.  Unaffordable credit is causing a myriad of unwanted effects such as poorer diets; colder homes; rent, council tax and utility arrears; depression (which impacts on job seeking behaviour) and poor health.

·         Further notes that unaffordable credit is extracting wealth from the most deprived communities.

·         Believes it is the responsibility of all levels of government to try to ensure affordable credit for all, and therefore pledges to use best practice to promote financial literacy and affordable lending.  This will help to ensure that wealth stays in the local economy.

·         Also pledges to promote credit unions, community based organisations offering access to affordable credit and promoting saving, in Plymouth.

·         Calls on the government to introduce caps on the total lending rates that can be charged for providing credit.

·         Calls on the government to give local authorities the power to veto licences for high street credit agencies where they could have negative economic or social impact on communities.’

An amendment was moved and seconded to allow Councillor Penberthy an extension of time to present the motion.

During the debate, issues raised included that –

·         pay day loans were a scourge on society with interest rates of 100 per cent or more plunging people into a downward spiral of debt;

·         the council was committed to and people were urged to use credit unions where loans would be made at a reasonable rate;

·         thanks were extended to the City of Plymouth Credit Union (01752 201329), the Plough and Share Credit Union (01837 658123), the Hope Credit Union (01752 301871) and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau for their work;  

·         work done nationally and especially the amendment from the House of Lords, were welcomed although pressure needed to be maintained to protect vulnerable people; 

·         there should be a licensing system to regulate loans and a veto on high street credit agencies;

·         with the government’s introduction of welfare reforms, the need for credit unions would rise;

·         regulation of private individuals collecting payments was also sought in association with the police;

·         schools needed to be more proactive although credit unions were now working with schools;

·         credit unions also needed investment;

·         information on credit unions would be put on the council’s website and work was being undertaken to provide leaflets and pamphlets.

Following a vote the motion was agreed.

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 -