To approve and sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the special and ordinary meetings of the City Council held on 23 November 2015.

Agreed the minutes of the –

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 -

The Assistant Chief Executive will submit a schedule of vacancies on committees, outside bodies etc and of changes notified to the Monitoring Officer.  

The Assistant Director and Head of Legal Services notified members of the following changes to Committees and Outside Bodies –

(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.

There were no questions from members of the public.

Cabinet Member: Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance).

The City Council will be asked to approve the Council Tax Base setting and Council Tax Support Scheme for 2016/17.

The minute of Cabinet held on 12 January 2016 will be submitted together with the report considered at Cabinet.

Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) presented and Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet Member for Co-operatives and Housing) seconded a report on the Council Tax Base setting 2016/17 band Council Tax Support Scheme 2016/17 (Cabinet minute 66 refers).

Agreed -

Cabinet Member: Councillor Coker (Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport).

The City Council will be asked to approve the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee’s 2016/17 Revenue Estimates and Capital Programme.

The minute of Cabinet held on 12 January 2016 will be submitted together with the report considered at Cabinet.

Councillor Coker (Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport and Planning) proposed and Councillor Hendy (Joint Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee Chair) seconded the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee Capital and Revenue Budget (Cabinet minute 67 refers).

Agreedthe Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee’s 2016/17 Revenue Estimates and Capital Programme.

Cabinet Member: Councillor Coker (Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport).

The City Council will be asked to approve the audit arrangements for the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee.

Councillor Coker (Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport and Planning) proposed and Councillor Hendy (Joint Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee Chair)  seconded the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee Joint Committee Audit Arrangements 2015/16 and beyond.

Agreed the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee’s–

Cabinet member:  Councillor Pete Smith, Deputy Leader

The Council will be asked to approve a change to the day on which executive decisions are published and a consequential amendment to the constitution.

Councillor Smith (Deputy Leader) proposed and Councillor Stevens (Chair of the Constitution, Civic and Councillor Development Working Group) seconded the recommendation in the report on the Publication of Executive Decisions – Constitutional Amendment.

Agreed that -

Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) will submit a report seeking approval of the Pay Policy Statement 2016/17.

Councillor Smith (Deputy Leader) proposed and Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet member for Cooperatives and Housing) seconded the report of the Chief Executive on the Pay Policy Statement 2016/2017.

Agreed the Pay Policy Statement 2016/17.

Councillor P Davey proposed and Councillor Jarvis seconded a motion on the Holocaust Memorial Day, 27 January 2016.

Agreed to –

Councillor Kate Taylor proposed and Councillor Penberthy seconded a motion on Habitable Private Rented Homes.

Following a request from ten councillors for a recorded vote the motion Council agreed to -

For the motion (29) –

Councillors Mrs Aspinall, Bowie, Mrs Bridgeman, Coker, Damerall, Dann, P Davey, S Davey, Evans, Fox, Hendy, Jarvis, McDonald, Morris, Murphy, Parker-Delaz-Ajete, Penberthy, Rennie, Singh, Smith, Sparling, Stevens, Storer, Jon Taylor, Kate Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy, Vincent and Wheeler.

Against the motion (11) –

Councillors Ball, Darcy, Deacon, Downie, Drean, Foster, Mrs Foster, Jordan, Nicholson, Mrs Nicholson and Mrs Pengelly

Abstentions (1) -

Lord Mayor

(Councillors Mrs Beer, Bowyer, Mrs Bowyer, Churchill, Fletcher, Fry, James, Kelly, Mike Leaves, Lowry, Ricketts, Riley, Dr Salter and Wigens declared a Discloseable Pecuniary Interest in the above matter item and left the chamber for the duration of the discussion).

Councillor Stevens proposed and Councillor Kate Taylor seconded a motion on notice in regard to Junior Doctors.

Following a request from ten councillors for a recorded vote the motion Council agreed to reaffirm support for a world class National Health Service, free at the point of use, with high quality care and safety standards and a justly recognised and rewarded body of staff.

To deplore the heavy handed approach of the Conservative government in negotiations with Junior Doctors and their subsequent threat to impose a uniform contract described by the British Medical Association as "unsafe and unfair" and "bad for patients, bad for junior doctors and bad for the NHS." Measures such as the reduction in pay for working anti-social hours and the removal of the GP Trainee Supplement will be bad news for health care in Plymouth and could lead to a worrying reduction in coverage as Doctors are forced to work abroad instead.

Noting the overwhelming support for Junior Doctors in Plymouth, to call upon our Conservative Members of Parliament to join us in calling for the Government to resume meaningful talks and ensure Junior Doctors are rightly recognised with a just pay and reward system reflecting their vital role at the heart of the National Health Service.

For the motion (29) –

Councillors Mrs Aspinall, Bowie, Coker, Damerall, Dann, P Davey, S Davey, Evans, Fox, Hendy, Jarvis, Lowry, McDonald, Morris, Murphy, Parker-Delaz-Ajete, Penberthy, Riley, Rennie, Singh, Smith, Sparling, Stevens, Storer, Jon Taylor, Kate Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy and Wheeler.

Against the motion (21) –

Councillors Ball, Mrs Beer, Bowyer, Mrs Bowyer, Churchill, Darcy, Deacon, Fletcher, Foster, Mrs Foster, Fry, James, Jordan, Kelly, Mike Leaves, Nicholson, Mrs Nicholson, Ricketts, Mrs Pengelly and Wigens.

Abstentions (2) –

Lord Mayor and Councillor Mrs Bridgeman.

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.

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