To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2019 as a correct record.

The minutes of the meetings held on 24 June 2019 were agreed as a true and accurate record. 

The following declaration of interest was made by a councillor 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.  

The following changes to the appointments to Committees or Outside Bodies were noted:

Council agreed the appointment of Mr Ian Shipperley as an independent member to the Audit and Governance Committee on recommendation of the Appointment Panel; this was proposed by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Ball, and seconded by Councillor Derrick.

(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:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Tudor Evans OBE made the following announcements:

Councillor Sue Dann, Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene made the following announcements:

Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member for Customer Focus and Community Safety made the following announcement:

Councillor Kate Taylor, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care made the following announcement:

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.

Councillor Pete Smith introduced the report on the Polling District and Polling Stations Review. This was seconded by Councillor Davey.

Following a debate Council agreed:

For (55)

Councillors Allen, Mrs Aspinall, Mrs Beer, Bowyer, Mrs Bowyer, Mrs Bridgeman, Buchan, Carson, Churchill, Coker, Cook, Corvid, Dann, Darcy, Sam Davey, Deacon, Derrick, Downie, Drean, Evans OBE, Goslin, Haydon, Hendy, James, Mrs Johnson, Jordan, Kelly, Laing, Michael Leaves, Samantha Leaves, Loveridge, Lowry, Mavin, McDonald, Murphy, Neil, Nicholson, Parker-Delaz-Ajete, Penberthy, Mrs Pengelly, Rennie, Riley, Singh, Pete Smith, Rebecca Smith, Stevens, Jon Taylor, Kate Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy, Vincent, Ms Watkin, Wheeler, Wigens and Winter

Absent/Did Not Vote (2)

Councillors Ball (Lord Mayor) and Morris.

Councillor Lowry introduced the Treasury Management 2018/19 Annual Report. Councillor Parker-Delaz-Ajete seconded the report.

Council agreed, per Part H, Financial Regulations, Section 19.1 of the Constitution, to note the Treasury Management Annual Report 2018/19.

Councillor Ian Bowyer introduced the Motion on the Forder Valley Link Road. This was seconded by Councillor Drean.

Following a debate, the motion was lost.

For the motion (25)

Councillors Mrs Beer, Mrs Bowyer, Bowyer, Mrs Bridgeman, Carson, Churchill, Cook, Darcy, Deacon, Downie, Drean, Mrs Johnson, James, Jordan, Kelly, Goslin, Leaves, Mrs Leaves, Mrs Loveridge, Nicholson, Pengelly, Riley, Singh, Rebecca Smith and Ms Watkin.

Against (30)

Councillors Allen, Mrs Aspinall, Buchan, Coker, Corvid, Dann, Davey, Derrick, Evans OBE, Goslin, Haydon, Hendy, Laing, Lowry, Mavin, McDonald, Murphy, Neil, Parker-Delaz-Ajete, Penberthy, Rennie, Pete Smith, Stevens, J Taylor, K Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy, Vincent, Wheeler and Winter.

Absent/Did Not Vote (2)

Councillors Ball (Lord Mayor) and Morris.

Councillor Corvid introduced the Motion on Congratulating Greta Thunberg. This was seconded by Councillor Buchan.

Following a debate, Council resolved:

Plymouth City Council congratulates Greta Thunberg and the crew of the Malizia for their successful journey and salutes Thunberg for her world changing campaign, in which children demand radical, immediate and effective action from world leaders to combat climate change. The Leader of the Council will write a letter to the Malizia crew and to Thunberg conveying this.

For the motion (55)

Councillors Allen, Mrs Aspinall, Mrs Beer, Bowyer, Mrs Bowyer, Mrs Bridgeman, Buchan, Carson, Churchill, Coker, Cook, Corvid, Dann, Darcy, Sam Davey, Deacon, Derrick, Downie, Drean, Evans OBE, Goslin, Haydon, Hendy, James, Mrs Johnson, Jordan, Kelly, Laing, Michael Leaves, Samantha Leaves, Loveridge, Lowry, Mavin, McDonald, Murphy, Neil, Nicholson, Parker-Delaz-Ajete, Penberthy, Mrs Pengelly, Rennie, Riley, Singh, Pete Smith, Rebecca Smith, Stevens, Jon Taylor, Kate Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy, Vincent, Ms Watkin, Wheeler, Wigens and Winter

Absent/Did Not Vote (2)

Councillors Ball (Lord Mayor) and Morris.

Councillor Nicholson moved the Motion on Notice in relation to Delivering an Airport for Plymouth. This was seconded by Councillor Mrs Bridgeman.

An amendment to the Motion was moved by Councillor Evans OBE and this was seconded by Councillor Coker.

The amendment proposed was as follows:

Council notes that on 23 August 2011 the Conservative administration accepted the Notice of Non viability dated 24 December 2010 that PCA Limited/Sutton Harbour Holdings Limited wished to close Plymouth City Airport for its principal use of providing public commercial air services.

Council further notes that alternative options to keep it open were considered and rejected at that time.

Following the very successful public consultation, examination and adoption by West Devon Borough Council, South Hams District Council and Plymouth City Council in March 2019 of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan 2014 - 2034, Plymouth City Council now needs to address delivery of the Plan to ensure the strategic growth of Plymouth and South West Devon that the Council unanimously agreed in adopting the Plan.

Plymouth's poor connectivity has been recognised for some time with only limited road, rail and sea connections. As the largest City south of Bristol, it is acknowledged by key decision makers and a large number of the public who signed a petition to safeguard the airport, that Plymouth still has potential to have its own airport.

With the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan Examiners' decision to safeguard the Plymouth Airport site for aviation uses until the next review of the Plan, it is important for the City Council to prioritise the implementation of this policy if Plymouth is ever to see an airport re-instated in the City.

The City Council resolves to:

1. Request the Leader of the Council to bring a report to the Cabinet setting out the next steps in progressing the policy of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan insofar as it relates to Plymouth Airport and re-instating aviation at Plymouth Airport.

2. Request the Leader of Note that the Council to instruct the Strategic Director for Place to has negotiated negotiate terms for the surrender of the current Plymouth Airport lease held by Sutton Harbour Holdings which is yet to be completed.

3. Request the Chief Executive to provide monthly updates on progress to all Members of the Council in line with the current JLP monitoring arrangements.

4. Request Plymouth’s MPs to campaign for government financial support for aviation in Plymouth.

The meeting was briefly adjourned to consider the amendment.

Following a debate, the amendment to the motion was agreed.

For (30)

Councillors Allen, Mrs Aspinall, Buchan, Coker, Corvid, Dann, Derrick, Evans OBE, Goslin, Haydon, Hendy, Laing, Lowry, Mavin, McDonald, Murphy, Neil, Parker-Delaz-Ajete, Penberthy, Rennie, Singh, Pete Smith, Stevens, J Taylor, K Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy, Vincent and Winter

Against (24)

Councillors Mrs Beer, Mrs Bridgeman, Bowyer, Mrs Bowyer, Carson, Churchill, Cook, Darcy, Deacon, Downie, Drean, James, Mrs Johnson, Jordan, Kelly, Leaves, Mrs Leaves,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Councillor Carson moved the Motion on Notice in relation to Weeds in Plymouth. This was seconded by Councillor Sam Leaves.

An amendment to the Motion was moved by Councillor Dann and this was seconded by Councillor Coker.

The amendment proposed was as follows:

Plymouth residents have been badly let down by the Labour run Council by their serious failure to deliver a proper weed control programme since May 2018.  This has resulted in our City looking untidy, unkempt, and uncared for.

Continual reports in the local media, social media, and in Councillors’ mailboxes have failed to stir the Administration into concerted action aimed at improving performance in delivering this basic service to our residents. This undermines public confidence in the Council’s ability to provide local services in this area of the Council’s operations.

Plymouth residents are feeling like they live in a city divided – on one side the basic services in the tourist and The most visual areas of the city are looking reasonably good, and tidy however in some parts of  step over the ramparts and the some residential areas more can be done are looking dirty, dismal and depressing.

The Council’s winter works programme of 2017/18 was very successful reaching into certain parts of neighbourhoods as was the 2018/2019 winter gully clearance works and the spring cleaning that took place in the district shopping centres. On behalf of local residents, we call on the Leader of the Council to produce and publish a business plan to deliver an immediate improvement in performance, including Further delivery of an autumn works programme to shall include an:

Increase in the weeding programming to reach into Weeding the remainder of all residential areas

Expanded on the number of gully clearances

Targeted street sweeps ready for the winter storms.

The City Council resolves to:

Ask the Council Leader and Cabinet Member for the Environment to bring forward and publish urgent plans to restore the City’s image, and indicate, within 3 weeks, how the ongoing problem of weeds will be dealt with throughout Plymouth.

The meeting was briefly adjourned to consider the amendment.

Following a debate, the amendment to the motion was agreed.

For (28)

Councillors Allen, Mrs Aspinall, Buchan, Coker, Corvid, Dann, Derrick, Evans OBE, Goslin, Haydon, Hendy, Laing, Lowry, Mavin, McDonald, Murphy, Neil, Parker-Delaz-Ajete, Penberthy, Rennie, Pete Smith, Stevens, J Taylor, K Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy, Vincent and Winter.

Against (25)

Councillors Mrs Beer, Mrs Bridgeman, Bowyer, Mrs Bowyer, Carson, Churchill, Cook, Darcy, Deacon, Downie, Drean, James, Mrs Johnson, Jordan, Kelly, Leaves, Mrs Leaves, Loveridge, Nicholson, Mrs Pengelly, Riley, Singh, Rebecca Smith, Watkin and Wigens

Absent/Did Not Vote (3)

Councillors Ball (Lord Mayor), Morris and Wheeler.

Following a debate, Council voted on the motion as amended as follows:

For (53)

Councillors Allen, Mrs Aspinall, Mrs Beer, Bowyer, Mrs Bowyer, Mrs Bridgeman, Buchan, Carson, Churchill, Coker, Cook, Corvid, Dann, Darcy, Davey, Deacon, Derrick, Downie, Drean, Evans OBE, Goslin, Haydon, Hendy, Mrs Johnson, James, Jordan, Kelly, Laing, Michael Leaves, Mrs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

Councillor Evans OBE gave a brief update on two urgent key decisions taken since the last meeting. The update was seconded by Councillor Lowry.

·         The Plymouth Railway Station (Brunel Plaza Project) was a long term project however this was supported by both sides of the Council.

·         Bereavement Infrastructure Project – this would provide the Council with modern facilities.

Council noted the urgent key decisions taken by the Leader in line with due process and published on 19 June 2019 and 27 June 2019.

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.