The following question was submitted by Greg Black:

Question: Some residents in this city are on the cusp of being considered mentally competent to make decisions and care for themselves. Meaning these people are very vulnerable and at risk or harm or self neglect. How does the council support these people and what support is there for them?

Response: We understand that it is a worrying time for families and individuals when a loved one appears to become unwell or seem unable to make decisions for themselves. This can be caused by many factors, including their physical or mental health. It can mean they struggle to make decisions about their health or care needs, or their finances. We know that having the capacity to make decisions is not fixed and for some people does change and fluctuate depending on how well they are at the time.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (known as the MCA) is the legislation that sets out how we should approach assessments in these circumstances. The MCA starts with the assumption that people have the capacity to make decisions for themselves and sets out the process when there is a need to challenge that fundamental assumption. There are a range of health and social care professionals that carry out Mental Capacity Act Assessments (MCA). These are grounded in our best understanding of people’s needs and wishes. Often people are supported by family and friends through this process.

We do also have support for people who are going through this process via advocacy services like those provided by the Highbury Trust. We have support for the family or friends of the person via our carer’s services, which are provided by Improving Lives Plymouth and also support and advice available from other VCSE partners including Age UK.

The following question was submitted by Chaz Singh:

Question: After the horrific fire at Luton Airport have PCC carried out their own fire and risk assessments for their multi storey and ground level car parks owned by them. Can you provide these and when they were carried out?

Response: Thank you for your question.

All Council car parks are subject to risk assessments. These risk assessments review a wide range of

risks and hazards alongside the measures that are in place to mitigate risk, for the purpose of helping

to keep people safe. Risks assessments are reviewed at least annually, and additionally upon any occasion that a car park may be subject to a change or where we may have had a report of a near miss or accident.

These risks assessments include checks such as the operation of fire doors and that access and

egress routes are clear.

Risk assessments can be updated at any time where, at the time of writing, the last risk assessment was reviewed and updated on 21st October 2023. We can provide you access to any of the car park risk assessments that you would like to see.

The following question was submitted by Saranjit Kaur:

Question: Can the council confirm who will pay any additional costs if there is an increase to the amended plans for Armada Way after the consultation by ECF and when detailed scale plans will be available?

Response: Thank you for your question. Once the design for Armada Way scheme is agreed, following consideration of the response to the consultation, the City Council will evaluate the overall financial impact and determine the best sources of funding to enable the scheme to proceed.

In relation to the provision of scaled plans, considerable detail is already set out in the plan and supporting documents that form part of the current consultation.

The following question was submitted by Grace Strickland

Question: Electric vehicles bring additional safety concerns in relation to Plymouth’s Multi Storey Car Parks. Can the council advise if any surveys have been undertaken including, new fire risks and other associated risk assessments regarding electric vehicles using the car parks to reassure residents the car parks are safe to use?

Response: Thank you for your question.

 Whilst we understand there has been some focus of attention on electric vehicles following the tragic fire at Luton airport, it is worth pointing out that this fire started with a diesel-powered vehicle, which Bedfordshire’s Chief Fire Officer then advised ‘quickly and rapidly spread’.

There is a range of new and emerging guidance coming out in relation to car park design and fire safety guidance for electric vehicles, and Plymouth City Council will review all this information as it becomes available and consider how this can help inform how we deliver such services.

 All of our car parks are subject to regular risk assessments which, in the case of fire safety, include looking at areas such as ensuring pedestrian routes remain clear and fire doors are routinely inspected. Following the Luton car park incident, we have had further inspections by the Fire Brigade, all helping to ensure we can continue to provide safe parking.

The following question was submitted by Kevin Treweeks.

Question: Given the appalling collective punishment being inflicted on the people of Gaza by the Israeli military and the complicity in this by western arms industries facilitated by Barclays Bank. Will Council take a stand for peace and divest from Barclays before the Government removers its discretion to take ethical decision?

Response: Thank you, Mr Treweeks, for your question and we are very mindful of the situation.

In terms of the practical question of PCC’s relationship with Barclays Bank. I would like to assure you we do not hold investments with the bank. We do use Barclays for our day-to-day banking requirements, but this does not extend to direct investments.

The banking sector, available to large organisations such as this authority, is very narrow given our need to protect taxpayers’ money.

We have limited divestment options as Barclays mainly provides day to day banking under a previously agreed contract and we hold no long-term investments with Barclays. Short term investment through use of a Barclays Premium Account is used to manage our immediate liquidity to cover any ad hoc emergency or one-off payment and this account is generally limited to <£1m. We are always mindful of our need to ensure the Councils approach to the delivery of services is an

ethical one and this will of course continue to be the case.

The following question was submitted by George Wheeler:

Question: My question is about three bus shelter sites in-bound on Victoria Road, St Budeaux. The DeCaux shelters at Row Lane and Verna Road have been removed. When will Clear Channel replace them and can you say why the Clear Channel shelter at Evelyn Street has no seating, please?

Response: The Row Lane bus shelter will not be replaced with a Clear Channel shelter but has instead been replaced with a bus stop pole and flag.

The shelter to the north of the Verna Road junction is currently programmed for replacement in February 2024. We are aware that the old shelter was removed in October, and the team are therefore working with Clear Channel to see if installation of the new shelter can be brought forward in the programme, although this cannot be guaranteed at this stage.

The inbound shelter to the north of Evelyn Street has not yet been replaced and the original JCDecaux shelter is still in situ. The seating had to be removed as a result of vandalism, to prevent injury to users of the shelter. Given the JCDecaux contract had ended, replacement seating was not an option in the old shelter. There are currently no dates programmed for either the removal of the old shelter or installation of the new one, but when the new one goes in, bench style seating will be provided at this location.

The following question was submitted byDave Cann:

Question: In Peverell two Street signs have been removed one in Meredith Road the other Beauchamp crescent both streets off outland road. Can someone clarify if this is temporary or permanent?

Response: Beauchamp Road – street sign was removed the week of 20th July 2022. The sign was on the left-hand side as you look into Beauchamp Road from Outland Road. Due to the flow of traffic, a sign was required on the right-hand side rather than the left-hand side, a new sign was made up and put on the railings instead.

The Meredith Road street-sign was removed the week of 5th June 2023. It was reported as broken so naturally removed for safety reasons. There is a ‘Meredith Road’ street sign on the opposite side, which is more visible to traffic approaching from Elphinstone Road via Montpelier Road. The City Council’s protocol is to ensure at least one street nameplate exists at a junction that is not part of the major network. Neighbouring streets, Belair Road and Onslow Road each have a single street nameplate at their junctions with Elphinstone Road.