To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2019  as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2019 were approved as a true and accurate record.

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 us.  

There were no changes or amendments to the appointments to Committees or 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.

The Lord Mayor made the following announcements:

·         Following recent terror attacks in New Zealand and Utrecht, the Lord Mayor called on all Members to observe a one minute silence as a mark of respect and solidary with those affected. 

·         The Lord Mayor offered his best wishes to all members standing in the upcoming local elections.

·         The Lord Mayor offered thanks on behalf of the Council to Councillors Ken Foster and David Fletcher on their retirement.

The Leader made the following announcements:

·         The bearing for the Sutton Harbour Bridge had arrived in the City and works will be completed as soon as possible.

·         Updates on lobbying of Government Ministers on topics including: the high costs of children’s placements; the cultural development bid; high needs funding and SEND policy; school standards and performance in Plymouth; passive safety for A38 and strategic roads network; Plymouth as a strategic port.

Councillor Pete Smith made the following announcement:

·         Three Plymouth community projects have been boosted by Government funding from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government of £55,000 to improve park and play areas.

Councillor Tuffin made the following announcements:

·         Attendance at the recent ‘Proud to Care’ event focussing on apprenticeships in the care sector.

·         An additional 75 staff across the city had been trained in Dementia Awareness.

·         An update on the Loneliness Action Plan to reduce loneliness in the City.

·         Update on the Place of Safety initiative, now providing over 150 places of safety across the City.

Councillor McDonald made the following announcement:

·         Highlighted the importance of ongoing vigilance in recognition of child sexual exploitation week.

Councillor Coker made the following announcements:

·         An update on the upcoming publication of the latest housing and employment land monitoring report.

·         Plymouth had been granted just over £30m, £23 million for the Forder Valley Link Road from the Department for Transport, and an additional £7.6 million from tranche one of the Transforming Cities Fund.

·         The Joint Local Plan inspectors report had been received and the Council’s Extraordinary General Meeting would take place next week to consider the adoption of the Joint Local Plan.

Councillor JonTaylor made the following announcements:

·         Education staff are to be part of a new pilot scheme to support children with special education needs in the city.

·         The bid for a special school for young people in the city with complex needs and autism had been successful.

Councillor Chris Penberthy made the following announcements:

·         A commission had been established to tackle period poverty in Plymouth. The commission wouldl report to Cabinet in the Summer.

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 the public.

Councillor Mrs Mary Aspinall presented the recommendations from the Lord Mayor Selection Committee, Councillor Mrs Maddie Bridgeman seconded the recommendations.

Following the vote, Council agreed to approve the appointment of Councillor Richard Ball as Lord Mayor for the 2019/20 municipal year.

For the Motion (54) Lord Mayor, Councillors Mrs Aspinall, Ball, Mrs Beer, Mrs Bowyer, Bowyer, Mrs Bridgeman, Buchan, Carson, Churchill, Coker, Cook, Corvid, Dann, Deacon, Derrick, Downie, Dr Mahony, Drean, Evans OBE, Fletcher, Foster, Goslin, Haydon, Hendy, James, Mrs Johnson, Jordan, Kelly, Laing, Mrs Loveridge, Lowry, Mavin, McDonald, Michael Leaves, Morris, Murphy, Neil, Nicholson, Parker Delaz-Ajete, Penberthy, Mrs Pengelly, Rennie, Singh, Pete Smith, Rebecca Smith, Stevens, Jon Taylor, Kate Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy, Wheeler, Wigens and Winter.

Abstentions (0)

Absent / Did Not Vote (3) Councillors Vincent, Darcy and Mrs Leaves.

Councillor Peter Smith introduced and proposed approval of the updated pay policy statement for 2019/20. Councillor Bowyer seconded these proposals.

For the Motion (54) Lord Mayor, Councillors Mrs Aspinall, Ball, Mrs Beer, Mrs Bowyer, Bowyer, Mrs Bridgeman, Buchan, Carson, Churchill, Coker, Cook, Corvid, Dann, Deacon, Derrick, Downie, Dr Mahony, Drean, Evans OBE, Fletcher, Foster, Goslin, Haydon, Hendy, James, Mrs Johnson, Jordan, Kelly, Laing, Michael Leaves, Mrs Loveridge, Lowry, Mavin, McDonald, Morris, Murphy, Neil, Nicholson, Parker Delaz-Ajete, Penberthy, Mrs Pengelly, Rennie, Singh, Pete Smith, Rebecca Smith, Stevens, Jon Taylor, Kate Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy, Vincent, Wheeler, Wigens and Winter

Abstentions (0)

Absent / Did Not Vote (3) Councillors Vincent, Darcy and Mrs Leaves.

To consider motions from councillors in accordance with Part B, paragraph 4.15 of the Constitution.

Declaration on Climate Emergency

Councillor Dann introduced a motion on climate emergeny and this was seconded by Councillor Buchan.

Following a debate and vote, Council agreed to:

For the Motion (55) Lord Mayor, Councillors Mrs Aspinall, Ball, Mrs Beer, Mrs Bowyer, Bowyer, Mrs Bridgeman, Buchan, Carson, Churchill, Coker, Cook, Corvid, Dann, Darcy, Deacon, Derrick, Downie, Dr Mahony, Drean, Evans OBE, Fletcher, Foster, Goslin, Haydon, Hendy, J Taylor, James, Mrs Johnson, Jordan, K Taylor, Kelly, Laing, Michael Leaves, Mrs Loveridge,  Lowry, Mavin, McDonald, Morris, Murphy, Neil, Nicholson, Parker-Delaz-Ajete, Penberthy, Mrs Pengelly, Rennie, Singh, Pete Smith, Rebecca Smith, Stevens, Tuffin, Tuohy, Vincent, Wheeler, Wigens, Winter

Abstentions (0)

Absent / Did Not Vote (2) Councillors Vincent and Mrs Leaves.

Fair Funding for Plymouth Schools

Councillor Jon Taylor introduced a motion on fair funding for schools and this was seconded by the Leader, Councillor Evans OBE.

Following a debate, Council agreed to:

Request that the Education and Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee closely monitor the impact of the school funding crisis in Plymouth exploring specifically whether schools in the city are being forced to close early on some days of the week as a result of funding constraints and calls on the Government to:

Remove the damaging gains cap which is punishing schools in Plymouth with great need;

Increase the level of funding for Plymouth schools, bringing up the level to the national average immediately; and

Asks the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Education in the terms set out above.

For the Motion (51) Councillors Mrs Aspinall, Ball, Mrs Beer, Mrs Bowyer, Bowyer, Mrs Bridgeman, Buchan, Carson, Churchill, Coker, Cook, Corvid, Dann, Darcy, Deacon, Derrick, Dr Mahony, Drean, Evans OBE, Fletcher, Foster, Goslin, Haydon, Hendy, James, Mrs Johnson, Jordan, Kelly, Michael Leaves, Mrs Loveridge,  Lowry, Mavin, McDonald, Morris, Murphy, Neil, Nicholson, Parker Delaz-Ajete, Penberthy, Mrs Pengelly, Rennie, Singh, Pete Smith, Rebecca Smith, Stevens, Jon Taylor, Kate Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy, Wheeler, Wigens, Winter

Abstentions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

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.