To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Extraordinary City Council Meeting of the 27February 2017 and the Special Budget City Council Meeting of the 27 February 2017.

Agreed the minutes of Council Meetings held at 11am and 2pm on the 27 February 2017.

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 -

(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 the following question and response would be circulated and a written response would be sent to him after the meeting –

Mr Harvey-Heath asked the following question. The response will be circulated and a written response provided to him after the meeting –

Leader of the Council: Councillor Ian Bowyer (Leader).

The City Council will be asked to approve the recommendations in relation to the establishment of a Joint Committee for Local Authorities within the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership geography.

Councillor Bowyer (Leader of the Council) presented the report on the Joint Committee for the Heart of the South West and Councillor Nicholson (Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Transport and Housing) seconded the report.  Following the vote, the Council agreed the recommendations within the report to –

1.    Note progress toward the Heart of the South West Combined Authority / Devolution deal proposals;

2.    Approve the proposals for the Heart of the South West Productivity Plan preparation and consultation;

3.    Agree in principle to the establishment of a Heart of the South West Joint Committee with a Commencement Date of Friday 1st September 2017 in accordance with the summary proposals set out in this report;

4.    Agree that the ‘in principle’ decision at (3) above is subject to further recommendation and report to the constituent authorities after the County Council elections in May 2017 and confirmatory decisions to approve:

a.     the establishment of the Joint Committee;

b.    a constitutional ‘Arrangements’ document;

c.     an ‘Inter-Authority Agreement’ setting out the support arrangements;

d.    the appointment of representatives to the Joint Committee;

e.     the appointment of an Administering Authority. 

Chair of the Lord Mayor Selection Committee: Councillor Nicholson (Deputy Leader).

The City Council will be asked to approve the recommendation of the Lord Mayor Selection Committee, prior to the Annual Meeting, in accordance with Article 5.1.1 of the Council’s Constitution.

Councillor Nicholson (Chair of the Lord Mayor’s selection committee) proposed and Councillor Evans seconded the recommendation of the Lord Mayor’s Selection Committee.

Agreed that the nomination of Councillor Mrs Foster as Lord Mayor for 2017/18 is forwarded to the Council’s Annual General Meeting.

Councillor Mrs Foster addressed the council following the vote.

(Councillor Mr Foster declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the above item and left the meeting during this item)

Chair of the Place and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Councillor Bowie.

The City Council will be asked to approve the recommendation of the Place and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Bowie (Chair) proposed and Councillor Ball (Vice Chair) seconded the recommendation of the Place and Corporate Overview Scrutiny on the Waterfront Partnership Business Improvement District.

Agreed that the power of veto, as per Regulation 12 of the Business Improvement District (England) Regulations 2004, is not exercised.

Councillor Kelly proposed the motion and Councillor Downie seconded the motion regarding a gesture at council.  Following a request from ten councillors for a recorded vote the motion was carried and Council agreed that -

·         that the Nazi salute gesture by Cllr Morris at the last Council meeting was abhorrent and has no place in today’s society.

·         the Council reinforces the fact that our ethos and values promote a welcoming City, therefore Cllr Morris’ behaviour was entirely inappropriate and is severely damaging to the reputation of the Council and the City.

·         Council calls on Cllr. Morris to stand down with immediate effect.

Councillor Evans made the following statement and left the Chamber for the debate –

“As a Councillor subject to the jurisdiction of this council’s agreed disciplinary process, I will not remain in the chamber for this item, which prejudges an outcome without evidence being presented.”

The monitoring officer asked if any other councilor wished to make the same statement.

Councillors Smith, Mrs Aspinall, Bowie, Coker, S Davey, P Davey, Hendy, Lowry, Mavin, McDonald, Penberthy, Singh, Sparling, Stevens, J Taylor, K Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy, Vincent, Wheeler and Winter indicated that they wished to make the same statement and left the chamber for the debate.

(Councillors Parker-Delaz Ajete, Dann, Rennie, Ball, Fletcher and Mrs Bowyer declared a prejudicial interest in this item and left the chamber for the debate)

For the motion (26) –

Councillors Mrs Beer, Bowyer, Mrs Bridgeman, Carson, Cook, Churchill, Darcy, Deacon, Downie, Drean, Foster, Mrs Foster, Fry, James, Jordan, Kelly, Martin Leaves, Mike Leaves, Sam Leaves, Loveridge, Dr Mahony, Nicholson, Mrs Pengelly, Ricketts, Storer and Wigens.

Against the motion (0)

Abstained (2) –

Lord Mayor, Councillor Riley.

Absent (29) –

Councillors Mrs Aspinall, Parker-Delaz Ajete, Dann, Rennie, Ball, Fletcher, Mrs Bowyer, Evans, Smith, Bowie, Coker, P Davey, S Davey, Hendy, Lowry, Mavin, Morris, McDonald, Penberthy, Singh, Sparling, Stevens, J Taylor, K Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy, Vincent, Wheeler and Winter.

Councillor Kate Taylor proposed the motion as amended and Councillor Penberthy seconded the motion regarding the Housing Cost Element of Universal Credit.  Following a vote, the motion was carried and Council agreed that –

·         That the Chief Executive write to the Minister responsible requesting the release of the Equalities Impact Assessment in order to facilitate planning for local service provision.

·         That taking into account the government’s democratic mandate for overall welfare reform the Chief Executive prepares and publishes a report by the end of June on the potential impact of this regulation on young people in Plymouth and the services that support them including, but not limited to: the number of young people likely to be impacted and the value of the withdrawn benefit, together with cumulative information on other (previous and planned) changes to welfare and benefit payments for this age group; the potential impact on homelessness services and the actions the Council will take to mitigate this; the potential additional burdens this will put on support for households involved in Families with a Future and the potential costs to the programme; the potential impact on support required from youth services in Plymouth and how these will be resourced; and the potential impact on local private sector landlords and their businesses.

·         That the relevant Scrutiny Panel considers the Chief Executive's report and makes any recommendations to Cabinet or Council it feels appropriate.

(Councillors Lowry, Wheeler, Coker, Sparling, Hendy, Wigens and Riley made declarations of interest respect of this item and left the chamber during the debate)

The City Council will be asked to approve the draft Calendar of the Council and Committees for 2017/18 up to the next Annual General Meeting of the Council.

Councillor Riley proposed and Councillor Mrs Bridgeman seconded the Annual Calendar of Council and Committee meetings 2017/18.

Agreed to adopt the calendar of meetings as set out in the agenda.

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.