From

To

Subject

1

Councillor

Andrea

Loveridge

Councillor Mrs Maddi

Bridgeman

As restrictions are being lifted on Thursday, could an update be given on whether staff at Chelson Meadow can assist the general public with heavy bulky waste?

Response: Members of staff at Chelson Meadow had helped members of the public that were struggling to dispose of their bulky waste at the facility.  A risk assessment was currently being undertaken and an email would be sent to Councillor Loveridge providing an update.

2

Councillor

Pat Patel

Councillor Mark Deacon

What plans do the Council have going forward to return to a full library service from next year?

Response:  The Customer Service Team had been asked how much it would cost to restore the libraries to their full opening hours. It would cost £457k to restore the library opening hours. Efficiency savings would need to be made in the future, as had been done in previous years.  The continued restrictions that Covid had placed upon the service had been awful and that was why the library service had not fully opened.

Due to social distancing, only a proportion of personal computers could be open.  Meeting rooms could not be opened due to the lack of ventilation. The library staff had reconfigured the layout of the libraries.  Customers were encouraged not to stay too long due to the Covid rules.  Covid grants had been received from the Government.

At the start of Councillor Deacon’s tenure, he had been asked to protect the library service which had been done whilst struggling with the lack of resources that had been inherited and the continuing demands that Covid brought.  However, despite this, the opening hours of the Southway Library had increased.

Supplementary: exactly when did Councillor Deacon envisage a progression to a return to a fuller library service and the reinstatement of such things as holiday activity clubs, story-telling and job clubs?

Supplementary response: It was clear that libraries all over the country were in a state of flux and libraries in Plymouth were no different.  There were not many cities of Plymouth’s size that had 11 libraries located throughout the city and the suburbs. Most councils had drastically cut back on their library services.  They had also combined them with different Council services to make their customer services more efficient, responsive to customer needs and environmentally greener. This was something that Councillor Deacon was keen to bring to Plymouth but this had been delayed.

In future the way the Council operated its library model may have to be looked at. After this had been done, Councillor Deacon envisaged a library model that would be different but more comprehensive offering holiday clubs, story-telling and memory cafes.  Libraries would open after March 2022.

3

Councillor

Glen Jordan

Councillor

Jonathan

Drean

A number of taxi drivers had contacted Councillor Jordan raising concerns at the number of cars that were parked in taxi ranks. Could an explanation be given as to what was going on and what the Council was doing to combat this?

Response: The Plymouth Licensed Taxi Association (PLTA) had provided Councillor Drean with photographic evidence of cars parking in taxi ranks.  The enforcement teams had been out across the City.  A total number of 250 PCNs had been issued for those people parking in taxi bays that should not have been there.  This was an ongoing operation in the city centre and other locations outside of the city centre.

4

Councillor

Chaz

Singh

Councillor Nick Kelly

Looking back at some recent statistics from the Census in 2001 and 2011 there had been a double increase in members of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. Given Councillor Singh’s experience of anti-Sikhism in Plymouth from the Plymouth Labour Group and the current situation with Nusrat Ghani in the Conservative Party, how will the Leader ensure that members of minority (answer unfinished due to point of order).

Councillor Evans OBE Point of Order: Was it in order for Councillor Singh to imply falsely again, that he was subject to anti-Sikhism? He was not subject to anti- Sikhism, he was asked to moderate his inappropriate behaviour against senior members of other authorities.  He persists to make these allegations without foundation and it would be wrong if he were allowed to continue to do this in a public forum.

Lord Mayor: Councillor Evans OBE, this is not a Point of Order.

Response:  No response was provided.

5

Councillor

James Stoneman

Councillor

Jonathan Drean

In the last Full Council meeting, Councillor Drean stated that the trial for vehicle free school zones was going well. Were there any plans to roll anymore of these out throughout this year?

Response: There were plans to roll more of the vehicle free school zones out across the City.  This would be happening later in the year (2022).  An update response would be provided to Councillor Stoneman outside of this forum.

6

Councillor

Chaz

Singh

Councillor Nick Kelly

What assurances could the Leader of the Council provide members of diverse communities who would be looking at putting themselves forward as potential candidates, in the up-coming elections?

Response: The Council was actively encouraging all faiths, religions and nationalities to come and visit Plymouth to make it their home and Councillor Kelly was very pleased that this Conservative Administration had appointed Councillor Singh as Chair of the Equalities and Diversity Committee to ensure that minority groups were represented and their views and thoughts were very much considered and acted upon, in terms of diversity. 

With regards to people putting themselves forward as candidates to be Plymouth City Councillors, he would actively encourage any person that met the eligibility criteria and who felt passionate about their city and their local community to step forward.

Councillor Kelly was not aware of a huge amount of issues. He appreciated Councillor Singh’s personal experiences had not been particularly great and that they had been well documented but in terms of this Conservative Administration and this Council, Councillor Kelly thought that with the Committee that had been set up with Councillor Singh as Chair, recent meetings with the Romanian community, that had been invited to the Council House (the honour and privilege of talking to a lot of those groups) and Hanukkah had been celebrated outside of the Council House, these were very clear steps forward that this City, Council and Conservative Administration had made in ensuring that everybody felt valued.  The greater diversity that this City had made it a richer and better tapestry for its economy and its future.

7

Councillor

Jemima Laing

Councillor Mrs Pengelly

As Portfolio Holder with responsibility for the issue of violence against women and girls, especially following the earlier important debate with excellent contributions from Councillors, did Councillor Mrs Pengelly agree with Councillor Laing that Councillor Kelly’s continued silence undermined the assertion that this issue was a priority and that the Conservative Group took this issue seriously (Councillor Kelly had been readmitted to the Conservative Group with no apology or response to a letter from women Councillors following his remarks which caused enormous offense locally and nationally.  Councillor Kelly could have contributed to the debate today and apologised).

Response: No I do not agree.

Supplementary: Are you able to give an explanation of how your Party decided Councillor Kelly was forgiven for those remarks after an investigation had taken place and the findings had been kept secret?

Supplementary response:  I am not responsible for what other people do or say.

8

Councillor

Tudor

Evans OBE

Councillor Patrick

Nicholson

Following a weekend knocking on many doors across Plymouth, he was unable to find one person that had been aware that in a few weeks’ time the Conservative Government would be re-introducing prescription charges for people aged between 60 and 66. Did Councillor Nicholson agree with the Government’s policy?

Response: Clearly this was a national Government decision (Councillor Nicholson was unaware of this change in policy). Ultimately we in local government had to adhere to the parliamentarians, so it was a matter that clearly the Government decided on and one that unfortunately needed to be adhered to at a local level. He was here to assist and run the local government services and if people were concerned then they should take this up with their MPs.

Supplementary:  Would Councillor Nicholson on behalf of every 60 to 66 year old in the City of Plymouth inform the Government and the local MPs that Plymouth would not meekly accept Government policy when it was wrong. The people that would suffer the most from this policy were the people with long term health conditions that had to have regular medication and this was basically a health tax on them. So would Councillor Nicholson help to campaign to stop this health tax being introduced in the next few weeks?

Supplementary response:  I am very happy to make representation to local MPs and express the concerns that are being raised.  There are means tests for those that could not afford to pay but he was more than happy to raise this issue.

9

Councillor Philip

Partridge

Councillor

Jonathan Drean

Was it possible to add parking on pavements a fineable offence on their PDAs?

Response: Legislation was due from Westminster, so that local authorities could make this enforceable in the future.  At the moment this legislation had not arrived. There were lots of people, whether in wheelchairs or mobility scooters that were forced to drive on the road because there were cars blocking the pavement, so this issue was being looked into. Councillor Drean was happy to respond to Councillor Partridge with an update.

10

Councillor

Chaz

Singh

Councillor

Dr John

Mahony

As an unregistered data controller should an elected member breach the Data Protection Act would all councillors be covered under insurance from the Council or could they all be individually prosecuted as a criminal act?

Response: Members could be subject to a claim for breach of Data Protection legislation where they were acting as a Data Controller in their own right. In general terms, if acting as a Ward Councillor and an email was received and you forwarded it to someone within the Council network that should not be an issue.

If there was sensitive material the Councillor may wish to ask for permission and if an email was being sent outside of the Council family. Councillors were included in the list of entities to be indemnified under the Council’s liability policies which extended to provide cover for Data Protection breaches should there be a legal liability attached. Any deliberate acts or omissions would not be covered.

Supplementary: If a breach occurred from a Councillor’s email was it a breach by the Council or was it a breach by the Councillor?

Supplementary response: When it came to the processing of data, Councillors had three different roles.  They represented their ward and in this capacity they were controllers in their own right, separate from the Council. Secondly, Councillors act as Members of the Council, for example as Cabinet Member or Members of the Committee and in this capacity the Council was either solely or jointly a controller with Councillors. Thirdly Councillors could act as Members of a political party and in this capacity they were again controllers in their own right, separate from the Council. It would therefore depend on the relevant circumstances surrounding any breach, as to the capacity that a Councillor was acting in and whether there was also a breach by the Council.

11

Councillor

Jeremy

Goslin

Councillor

Mark

Deacon

In response to Councillor Deacon’s prepared answer, he gave to a previous question outlining plans for improvements for modification to the Library Service. Could he give assurance that as part of any future plans that the Conservative Administration, the Council would not see any further closures of local libraries across the City?  Could he give that assurance?

Response: Councillor Deacon was unable to give an assurance but he would resist any closures to libraries, as far as he was responsible for the service. Hopefully there would not be any closures.

Supplementary: Since Councillor Deacon was the Cabinet Member with control of the Library Service, then surely he would not need to resist these plans.  Would Councillor Deacon give those assurances that no local libraries would be changed under plans for modifications to the service under the Conservative Administration? Can Councillor Deacon give that assurance yes or no?

Supplementary response: Work would take place later this year regarding possible changes to how the Council delivered the Library Service. Councillor Deacon positively said that he did not envisage any library closures.

12

Councillor

Pauline

Murphy

Councillor Mark

Deacon

I asked a question at the last Full Council meeting as to why no poppies were put out across the City and for Remembrance and Councillor Deacon had requested that I email him.  An email was set and a response was still awaited.  Does Councillor Deacon feel that the Armed Forces community did not deserve a response?

Response: Councillor Deacon was deeply respectful of the Armed Forces and the services they provide. The lack of poppies in the Citadel was the responsibility of the Lord Mayor’s Office and was not in his portfolio.

Supplementary: If Councillor Deacon was aware of this, he could have still responded to Councillor Murphy’s email to inform her of that fact.  Councillor Deacon was the Portfolio Holder for events, so he would have been involved.  When would Councillor Murphy receive a response to her question?

Supplementary response: Councillor Deacon had asked the Events Team to respond to Councillor Murphy but if they had not, he would ask them to respond. Councillor Deacon reiterated that he had every respect for the Armed Services in Plymouth and the country.

13

Councillor

Eddie

Rennie

Councillor

Jonathan

Drean

The roads in Mount Gould were of a third world standard with repairs falling apart, would Councillor Drean come around and look at the roads and respond to residents’ concerns?

Response: Councillor Drean was happy to visit the site and he would bring an inspector with him as he was not qualified on the technical side of assessing defects, (he would arrange something in diaries).

14

Councillor

Chaz

Singh

Councillor

Rebecca Smith

He had received emails from people across the City relating to the development at Green Bank where a storey had been over-built. How far had enforcement been progressed?

Response: Councillor Singh had received an email from planning enforcement (in a timely manner).  Councillor Smith was concerned about this development and it was on her radar.

15

Councillor

Sarah

Allen

Councillor

Dave

Downie

In relation to the issue of Covid 19 measures in schools, how many ventilators had been allocated to Plymouth schools?

Response: The number of ventilators nationally was limited.  Councillor Downie had spoken to the Director of Education and he was not aware of any of them being situated in Plymouth schools.

Supplementary: This seems like Plymouth was being left behind and asked that the Council seek to bid for ventilators.

Supplementary response: Plymouth was not being left behind.  There were 6000 ventilators nationally and Councillor Downie was unaware if there was a need for them in Plymouth schools.  The current guidance was to continue to wear masks and open windows but these guidelines could change this week.

16

Councillor

Chaz

Singh

Councillor Mrs Maddi

Bridgeman

His ward and the City had huge amounts of fly tipping across it and he had noticed there had been an increase in enforcement.  Would Councillor Mrs Bridgeman be looking at operating a zero tolerance on fly tipping?

Response:  There had been an increase in the fixed penalty notices to £150 due to the continued drive to tackle environmental crimes, littering, graffiti and fly posting.  Everyone could keep up to date with enforcement activities through the Environmental Enforcement Facebook page on the Council’s website. There was a lot information on these pages, as well as information on the cases that the Council had taken to court.  There was no need for fly tipping as the bulky waste collections were back and the Council was really clamping down on this activity. There had been a slight glitch with recruitment but the team was working incredibly hard. (Figures were available which would be forwarded to Councillor Singh outside of this forum).

Supplementary: Given that you have increased the fines, has there been an increase or decrease in fly tipping across the City?

Supplementary response: This was a recent decision and had only been to Cabinet a couple of weeks ago.  It was therefore hoped that the increase would be a positive move.

17

Councillor

Jemima

Laing

Councillor

Dave

Downie

It is quite glib to say just open the windows, we are in the middle of some very cold weather, we have been in here this afternoon and the windows are not open and it’s freezing. Could I therefore ask that you make the case for Plymouth to get an allocation of these ventilation systems? Please could you make the case for Plymouth schools that need them?

Response: Certainly, let me clarify, I was not being glib, I was actually just reiterating Government information and guidelines.

Supplementary: What action might be taken to make the case for ventilation systems in Plymouth schools, if other schools were getting them in other cities?

Supplementary response: I am sure that the Director of Education had actually lobbied and had put in bids for the ventilators.

18

Councillor Sue

McDonald

Councillor

Dave

Downie

It makes no sense to me why there are four or five times as many schools as there are ventilators. I do not understand the rationale behind this policy at all and I would welcome some information, as this must be completely randomised because I cannot see the logic in the number of schools in Plymouth and in other cities. Could you look more into this matter as it is a crazy policy?

Response: A response would be provided.

19

Councillor

Tudor Evans OBE

Councillor Dave Downie

I am intrigued by Councillor Downie’s statement and I would like to make sure that it is absolutely on the record that there were 7000 ventilator systems (air conditioning units) that were promised to cover the entirety of the UK and was it correct that Plymouth had not been allocated a single one?

Response: that is my recollection of my last conversation with the Director of Education.

Supplementary: What efforts were the Cabinet making to ensure that the MPs for this City were raising this issue as a matter of urgency? Can a review of the bids be made in order to find out why they had been unsuccessful? Are Plymouth children’s lives not worth it, as other children’s in other cities?

Supplementary response: An appropriate response would be provided to Councillor Evans OBE, as soon as Councillor Downie was able to do so.