To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2015 as a correct record.

Agreed the minutes of the meeting of the City Council held on 21 September 2015.

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 by councillors in accordance with the code of conduct in respect of items under consideration at the meeting -

Any vacancies on committees, outside bodies etc and changes notified to the Monitoring Officer will be reported at the meeting. 

The Assistant Director and Head of Legal Services notified members that Councillor Kate Taylor had replaced Councillor Wheeler on the Planning Committee.

(a)        To receive announcements from the Lord Mayor, Chief Executive, Assistant Director for Finance or Head of Legal Services;

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

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, Ballard House, West Hoe Road, Plymouth, PL1 3BJ, or email to democraticsupport@plymouth.gov.uk. Any questions must be received at least five complete working days before the meeting.

Two questions were submitted by members of the public for this meeting, in accordance with Part B, paragraph 11 of the Constitution.

In the absence of Mr Sharpe and Mr Kerswell the following questions and responses were circulated and a written response would be sent to them after the meeting - 

Cabinet Member: Councillor Philippa Davey

The City Council will be asked to adopt the Gambling Act Statement of Licensing Policy contained in Appendix A with effect from 31 January 2016.

Councillor P Davey, Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities, proposed and Councillor Rennie seconded the report of the Director of Public Health on the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy (Cabinet minute 48 refers).

Agreed to adopt the Gambling Act Statement of Licensing Policy contained in Appendix A with effect from 31 January 2016. 

(Councillor Coker declared a DPI in this item and left the meeting during the debate).

Cabinet Member: Councillor Lowry

The City Council will be asked to increase the CapitalProgramme2015 - 2020 to£287m (as shownin table 5 of the Cabinet report).

Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) proposed and Councillor Evans (Leader) seconded the report of the Corporate Management Team (Cabinet minute 52 refers).

Agreed to increase the CapitalProgramme2015 - 2020 to£287 million

Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) will submit a report seeking endorsement of the draft proposals for a devolution deal for the Heart of the South West, to be submitted in line with the Government’s timescales. Any final devolution deal with Government will be subject to further approval /ratification by all councils across the Heart of the South West partnership individually.

Councillor Evans, Leader proposed and Councillor Bowyer seconded the report of the Chief Executive on a Devolution Deal for the South West subject to the removal of the words ‘before the end of the year in recommendation 2’.

Agreed to –

Councillor Bowyer proposed and Councillor Darcy seconded a motion on the Trident Nuclear Submarine Programme.

During the debate Councillor Evans proposed and Councillor Smith seconded an amendment to the motion as follows –

Following a request from 10 councillors for a recorded vote on the amendment was agreed.

The vote was –

For the motion (53)

Councillors Mrs Aspinall, Ball (Deputy Lord Mayor), Mrs Beer, Bowie, Bowyer, Mrs Bowyer, Mrs Bridgeman, Churchill, Coker, Damarell, Dann, Darcy, Philippa Davey, Sam Davey, Deacon, Downie, Evans, Fletcher, Fox,  Fry, Hendy, James, Jarvis, Jordan, Kelly, Martin Leaves, Mike Leaves, Mrs Leaves, Lowry, McDonald, Morris, Murphy, Nicholson, Mrs Nicholson, Parker-Delaz-Ajete, Penberthy, Mrs Pengelly, Rennie, Ricketts, Riley, Dr Salter, Singh, Peter Smith, Sparling, Stevens, Storer, Jon Taylor, Kate Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy, Vincent Wheeler and Wigens.

Against the motion (0)

Not Voting (1)

Lord Mayor (Chair)

Absent (3)

Councillors Drean, Foster and Mrs Foster

It was agreed that the motion as amended was put to the vote without further debate.

The motion as amended was agreed as follows -

The Chief Executive be instructed to write to the Leaders of all the UK political parties with parliamentary representation asking them to confirm their support for the replacement of the Vanguard-class ballistic submarine fleet and recognize the importance of this project to the local economy of Plymouth.  In addition, Council urges the city's MPs to press the Prime Minister to commit to the Successor programme without further delay’.

The Leader agreed to share the responses with all members.

Councillor Philippa Davey proposed and Councillor Evans seconded a motion on police funding subject to changing the last word ‘missions’ to ‘millions’.

During the debate Councillor Nicholson moved and Councillor Mrs Pengelly seconded an amendment as follows –

Seek a briefing for the whole Council, from the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner, on the results of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn Statement and the impact this announcement will have on his budget and policing in Plymouth.

The amendment was agreed.

It was agreed that the motion as amended was put to the vote without further debate.

The motion as amended was agreed as follows –

It was noted that the Chief Constable would also be requested to attend the briefing.

(Councillors Mrs Beer, Darcy and Stevens declared a DPI in this item and left the meeting during the debate).

Councillor Stevens proposed and Councillor Penberthy seconded a motion on cuts to tax credits.

Council Agreed to oppose these cuts and request our Members of Parliament to vote against them when given the opportunity.

At the start of this item and following a proposal from Councillor Evans and seconded by Councillor Smith,  it was agreed to amend Council Procedure Rule 10 to extend the time for adjournment until 8pm to conclude the business for the meeting. 

Councillor Penberthy proposed and Councillor Evans seconded a motion on maintaining support for community energy.

The motion was agreed as follows -

Councillor Evans proposed and Councillor P Davey seconded a motion on EU referendum task group.

The motion was agreed as follows –

to ask the Chair of the Co-operative Scrutiny Board to create a cross party EU task group, including representatives from all parties, that will invite evidence from local business leaders, the LEP, trade unions, local universities, the police, the NHS, agricultural representatives, charities, district and parish councils and other partner agencies in order to compile a comprehensive report that will be presented to full Council, all partner agencies, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and be made available to the public prior to the referendum.

Questions to the Leader, Cabinet Members and Committee Chairs covering aspects for their areas of responsibility or concern by councillors in accordance with Part B, paragraph 12 of the constitution.

The following questions were asked and responses were given by the Leader and Cabinet Members -

Please note that questions, answers, supplementary questions and supplementary answers have been summarised.

There were no items of exempt business.