Councillor

Interest

Reason

Councillor Mrs Beer

Private

Employee of Devon and Cornwall Police

Councillor Sam Leaves

Private

Employee of the NEW Devon Clinical Commissioning Group

Councillor Stevens

Private

Employee of Devon and Cornwall Police

Councillor Jon Taylor 

Private

Employee of the NEW Devon Clinical Commissioning Group

(a)

Former Councillor Peter Berrow

referred to the recent death of former councillor Peter Berrow who was elected to the City Council in 2008 as a Conservative councillor for the Southway Ward and served until 2012 when he stood down after joining UKIP.   Councillors were advised of the funeral arrangements for 11 March 2015 and the Council stood in silence as a mark of respect;

(b)

Lord Mayor Designate 2015/16

congratulated Councillor Dr John Mahony on his nomination by the Lord Mayor’s Selection Committee, as Lord Mayor for 2015/16.  The Council was advised that the recommendation would be formally considered at the next meeting of the Council to be held on 23 March 2015; 

(c)

2015 Councillor Achievement Awards

congratulated Councillor Evans on his shortlisting by the Local Government Information Unit and the CCLA (Church, Charity and Local Authority Investment Management) for Leader of the Year as part of the 2015 Councillor Achievement Awards and wished him well at the Awards Ceremony in London on 2 March 2015; 

(d)

Improvement and Efficiency Awards

reported that the Council had been shortlisted in two categories of the national Improvement and Efficiency Awards 2015.  He advised that the Council’s approach to being a partner had been recognised in the Working Together category where the partnership with the social enterprise sector had been acknowledged as being exemplary.

The Lord Mayor thanked the Plymouth Social Enterprise Network and the Council’s Economic Development Team for their work.

The Council was also advised that its work in supporting the development of Plymouth Energy Community had been recognised in the Innovation category and the Lord Mayor thanked all of the Plymouth Energy Community members, volunteers and staff together with the Council’s Climate Change team for the difference they were making to the city;

(e)

2014 UK Social Enterprise Award for Investment Deal of the Year

announced that Plymouth Energy Community (PEC) and PEC Renewables had been awarded the UK Social Enterprise Award for ‘Investment Deal of the Year’, in recognition of their first community share offer in 2014 which resulted in free solar panels for 21 city schools and community buildings.

The Council was advised that the second share offer had now been launched which hoped to raise a further £950,000.

The Lord Mayor congratulated Dave Garland, Chair of PEC Renewables, Peter Flukes, former Chair of PEC and Andrew Shadrake, Member of PEC Renewables and presented the award to them;

(f)

Fair Trade Certificate

sought support from councillors for the various events that were taking place over the next fortnight to celebrate Fair Trade fortnight and in particular for the ecumenical celebration of Fairtrade being held at St Andrew’s Church on 5 March 2015 to which they had all been invited.

The Lord Mayor thanked supporters of the Fairtrade initiative as follows –

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staff and students at Plymouth University and the City College;

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pupils, staff and parents at the Council’s schools and the  education catering lead Katie Fremlin;

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Andy Hawkins (Absolute Recycling);

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Fairport  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

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consider the updated report of the Chief Executive on delivering the co-operative vision within a four year sustainable budget and the proposed Council Tax levels for 2015/16; 

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approve the proposed net revenue budget requirement for 2015/16;

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approve the capital budget 2014/18;

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approve the Treasury Management Strategy and Annual  Investment Strategy 2015/16;

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note the mid-year review of the 2014/15 Treasury Management Strategy;

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approve the appointment of an interim Section 151 officer;

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note the capital and revenue monitoring report 2014/15;

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approve the Council Tax for 2015/16.

Appendix 1

Minute 125

Delivering the co-operative vision within a three year sustainable balanced budget.   

Appendix 2

For information: Cabinet’s response to the scrutiny recommendations and the scrutiny report.

Appendix 3

Minute 126

Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy 2015/16 and mid-year review of the 2014/15 Treasury Management Strategy;.

Appendix 4

Minute 127

Capital and revenue monitoring report 2014/15

(a)

Cabinet minute 125 (of 10 February 2015) and the Cabinet report on delivering the co-operative vision within a four year budget;

(b)

Cabinet minute 124 (of 10 February 2015) on Cabinet’s response to the Scrutiny Recommendations together with the Budget Scrutiny Report 2015/16;

(c)

Cabinet minute 126 (of 10 February 2015) on the Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy 2015 /16 (together with the mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy;

(d)

the Capital and Revenue Monitoring Report 2014/15;

(e)

recommendations following confirmation that the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority had agreed to increase the precept on the Council by 1.99% and from the Chief Officers Appointments Panel with regard to the appointment of David Northey as interim Assistant Director for Finance S151 Officer pending the appointment of a permanent replacement.

(f)

thanked Councillor Lowry and the officers in the finance team for their hard work in enabling the recommendations for such a forward looking budget in very difficult circumstances and delivering last year’s budget almost on target;   

(g)

thanked Malcolm Coe (Assistant Director for Finance) for his work as this was his last meeting and wished him well in his new role with another Council;  

(h) 

indicated that the government had cut funding for local services in Plymouth this year from £62m to £44m;

(i)

referred to the discrepancy in government funding which was being called the ‘missing millions’ particularly with regard to public health funding, roads and train services and pledged to continue to lobby for a fair deal for the city;     

(j)

reported that with the proposed budget, the Council would be prioritising jobs, skills and opportunities for young people, homes,  cleaner and safer streets and care for vulnerable adults and children; 

(k)

referred to the transformation programme which would enable the Council to change the way it delivered services by making it more efficient and joining with partners to protect and improve services;

(l)

highlighted forthcoming developments such as the new coach hub in the City Centre, the transformation of the Bretonside site and the History Centre;  

(m)

thanked Councillor Coker (Cabinet Member for Transport) for his leadership and negotiating skills in securing funding for Plymouth.  The Council was advised that an extra £4.8m would be spent on roads and pavements in 2015/16, in addition to the existing £5m revenue budget and transport improvements schemes would be implemented in the north of the city and for the Forder Valley Link Road;        

(n)

gave a commitment to keep weekly rubbish collections;

(o)

referred to the work of each of the Cabinet Members and thanked them for their work;

(p)

indicated that the Council would continue to improve schools for example at Pennycross Primary School;

(q)

reported that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.