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From

To

Subject

1

Cllr Stoneman

Cllr

Coker

Should the Council be supporting infrastructure around schools enabling pupils and students to walk to school?

Response: Yes.            

Supplementary: Would Councillor Coker meet with Councillor Stoneman to discuss areas of the city that have expressed concerns?

Response: Yes.

2

Cllr Harrison

Cllr Briars-Delve

There had been lots of complaints received regarding bins damaged by council staff. Was there a mechanism to ensure residents are not expected to pay £25 for a replacement or for one to be fixed?

Response: Yes, this could be flagged online or through Councillor’s Casework. Damaged public bins are also available to be flagged in this manner and have a unique numerical identifier. 

3

Cllr Rennie

Cllr

Haydon

There are large numbers of take away drivers in private cars who are not insured or licenced in the correct way. Are you aware that this is the case and that drivers require correct insurance to undertake this job?

Response: Yes. I am aware of this. Drivers require a specific type of insurance referred to as “carriage of good insurance”. If drivers do not have this insurance, they would be liable. Enforcement of this would fall under a police matter. Furthermore, this is an issue that will be debated in commons.

Supplementary:  Would there be any beneficial quality to speak with relevant authorities in parliament or the Department for Transport to further knowledge and regulation of this matter, specifically when a licensing application is made?

Response: Yes, there would be, and Councillor Rennie would be included in future conversations.

4

Cllr Stephens

Cllr

Cresswell

This authority has been challenged to meet the needs of Childrens with additional health, education, or disability needs. Despite these additional needs, most children would not need to be educated in a special needs school.

Besides the added Capital and Transportation costs, children with special needs deserve to be educated within their community to develop a sense of belonging and forge friendships.

What actions could be enacted to make this happen within our community?

Response: Issues around Children with SEND (Special Needs and Disabilities) and SEND sufficiency is something that is currently being developed within a comprehensive plan. Key, as well, is the issue of early intervention- early identification has been a key part of Labour’s improvement planning and ensures children can be maintained in mainstream schools.

A cultural shift would also be required, which would allow for greater community inclusion and to inspire confidence teachers and support staff to be able to work effectively with SEND children within mainstream schooling. This would require services, resources and training and would inspire confidence in parents and carers, putting less pressure on the seeking of EHCPs (Education, Health and Care Plan) and places in special schools.

Finally, this has been incorporated as part of SEND sufficiency planning, taking advantage of any fall in primary roles, using things like pods or specialist provisions within existing mainstream schools. This does bring inclusion to the heart of the community.

All these options were being explored. It is important to be thinking as broadly as possible as not having a plan is very costly in the long run.

Supplementary: In light of the recent OFSTED inspection of SEND in this city what actions have taken place to share accountability between the city, the local authority, schools, governors and multi-academy trusts and trustees?

Response: The current administration have a SEND improvement Plan, a SEND improvement board and would continue to develop the already existing openness and transparency on all issues related to SEND. Cross-party co-operation would continue to transpire in Scrutiny and within political commitments and the SEND improvement board.

5

Cllr Hulme

Cllr

Penberthy

As you are responsible for the Street Naming, and therefore the proposal, to rename Sir John Hawkins square, could you inform the council what other options were ruled out from this process?

Response: No options were ruled out as the process was followed correctly. Any ward councillor could put forward name change requests for any street or place. Now that one has been made, we would await contributions by members of the public in response to this.

Supplementary: Why was consultation not put out to the public in March 2022 by the then Leader of the Council?

Response: Whilst it would not be for Councillor Penberthy to answer for the previous administration, this current administration has followed the council’s policy. This policy has remained within both the legislation as well as the standards of good practice issued by national government.

6

Cllr Beer

Cllr Dann

Gambling is addiction and affects a huge amount of people. Does the PCC have a policy in HR to cover this addiction?

Response: Not specifically. There is a general information guide to support addiction as well as specific pages for Alcohol and Drug addictions. Occupational Health would usually be contacted as well encouraging citizens to work with Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

As part of the Cost-of-Living Action Plan, the current administration would be looking at, during the Christmas period, the dissemination of messages about gambling addiction in addition to other addictions and would be highlighting the support offered throughout the city and online. Finally, there is an NHS Website called “Qwell” which has mentoring support.

Supp: Could you ensure the links are provided online on all our websites to gambling addiction support sites?

Response: Yes, it would be checked.

7

Cllr Dr Mahony

Cllr Evans (OBE)

The reprovisioning of the Mayflower Medical Group has taken place and there will be new administration and delivery of this next May. Was it that the Leader or any members possessed pre-knowledge or were involved in any input into this process?

Response: The Leader was not aware, however Councillor Aspinall, the portfolio holder, would respond when available. 

Supplementary: Do you believe it were relevant for us to have had a briefing from the NHS and do you think whether this has been managed satisfactorily by One Devon and the NHS?

Response: A conversation would be had with the Portfolio Holder and a response would be issued.

8

Cllr Lugger

Cllr Allen

On 21 November 2022, the Council voted for public consultation on the subject of moving the electoral cycle from 1/3rds to “all-out” elections.

Could it be explained as to why this consultation did not take place immediately when Council asked for it to be, who has had it brought back for discussions from Southampton, and why was this not brought back to full council for discussion?

Response:  Councillor Lugger was referred you back to Councillor Allen’s announcement; under the scheme of delegation, this issue was reverted back to the Audit and Governance Committee.

Supplementary:  would this be an attempt by the current administration to keep the status quo as far as the Electoral Cycle is concerned without consulting the people?

Response: Full Council delegated the issue back to Audit and

Governance Committee. Therefore, the Audit and Governance committee would carry out the request of full council.

9

Cllr Wakeham

Cllr

Briars-Delve

The SUDs (Sustainable Urban Drainage) scheme project was due to be finished in July. It is As of this meeting, it is nowhere near completion. As winter would be coming, conditions would become increasingly wet and boggy. What would be the completion date and what was the delay?

Response: Councillor Wakeham has referred to the Central Park SUDs scheme.

The scheduling for this programme was altered a long time ago. The aim was for the majority of the works to be completed before Christmas. There are aspects of the scheme that can't be done, or wouldn’t make financial sense to be done, during the winter such as some of the landscaping works but the bulk of the works would be done by December and would be working to budget.

Supplementary: The work would have taken twice as long as estimated to complete. Does this mean it would have cost twice the amount?

Response: Financial projections would not be based on odd predictions and ratios. The current administration would be working to the budget to which the officers have been instructed and it has been assured that, at the moment, this would remain the case.

10

Cllr McLay

Cllr

Dann

In light of the Cost-of-Living Crisis, would any festive-specific guidance or signposting be issued by Plymouth City Council, ranging from bin-collections and the recycling of Christmas trees to mental health and domestic abuse support?

Response: From a cost-of-living perspective, there would be communications released regarding free events during the period and guidance around managing a budget and thriftiness. Warm Spaces hubs were being rolled out and these local community-based organisations were sharing advice from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau as well as operating as a network for citizens. The proceeding six weeks would be focussed on what support could be offered to households struggling in the lead up to Christmas.

11

Cllr Tuffin

Cllr Penberthy

Could you provide an update on the current situation with regard to the condition of the Tidal Pool at Firestone Bay?

Response: This administration has allocated £150,000 from the Capital programme to repair the pool in Early 2024. The structural Integrity of the pool would be strengthened using techniques for the repair of

marine structures. A combination of pre-formed and reinforced concrete with marine grade stainless steel reinforcement would ensure that the pool is fit for years to come. The environmental implications would be

reviewed and a construction Environmental Management plan produced prior to the commencement of any work on site. The works would not duplicate anything in the National Marine Park program but would complement it in terms of work being done elsewhere at Devil's Point.

Supplementary: Could Councillor Penberthy provide some additional information about any other projects that would be occurring in that area of Plymouth in reference to the tidal pool?

Response: Some essential upgrades would be needed immediately around the tidal pool. The jetty, which is one of the supporting walls to the pool and where there has been a sea breach, would be looked into. The steps are to be repaired and the railings replaced. Lockers would be installed for swimmers and the improvement of signage on safety and usage of that part of the bay would be investigated. In relation to what local communities have been saying- any budget remaining would be spent improving seating. Works would begin in March 2024 and would take approximately 10 weeks.

12

Cllr Nicholson

Cllr

Bingley

On the 19th of June Council debated a motion

in relation to fixing Plymouth’s

roads. During the debate, an amendment was moved in which the Growth and Infrastructure

Scrutiny Committee were requested to review the effectiveness of the current procedures for maintaining the City's roads and pavements. Despite three sittings of the committee, this has not appeared in the work programme.

Given the announcement of £1.4 Million for Plymouth roads very recently could it be ensured that this is placed into the work programme and would be given urgent consideration?

Response: Councillor Bingley issued apologies that this was not done; the committee were awaiting the confirmation of the aforementioned funding. Given that, as of the day of this sitting, Councillor Bingley was more certain about where the Scrutiny Committee were in terms of central government funding, it would be put into the work programme.

Supplementary: Was the Councillor prepared to hold additional meetings of the scrutiny panel to ensure that the important business would be activated and that recommendations were made to the Cabinet Member?

Response: Councillor Bingley was currently appointed as the chair and would be working within a team. This would be raised at the next committee and, according to their agreement, this would be done.

13

Cllr Smith

Cllr Briars-Delve

The contract for the processing of garden waste

is would be up for re-tendering during the time of this sitting. When would that process start, how close to home would the Council prefer the processing to take place and what would the target be for emissions?

Response: Councillor Briars-Delve would investigate and get back Councillor Smith.

14

Cllr Loveridge

Cllr Coker

What would be the overall strategy for improving traffic FL traffic flow and keeping our residents safe in the community?

Response: The question was broad-based and could not be answered sufficiently in this meeting. The council has had a long-term local transport plan which is up for renewal. This information would be available on the website but if there are any more specific questions Councillor Coker would be contactable.

15

Cllr Bingley

Cllr Coker

In terms of community and passenger safety, what would the coverage for CCTV at bus shelters be and could the City be provided with clear bus shelters, as opposed to opaque ones? When would the council be able to have these delivered by the contractor?

Response: The new shelters are clearer and help with visibility. The long-term aspiration would be to investigate areas of particular concern and to provide funding for CCTV in these areas. The focus would be on adding CCTV to certain areas. Not every shelter would have CCTV installed as the budget would not allow this, but the current administration would be undertaking a strategic approach to the installation of these. The process of installations under the previous administration’s contract would needs to be actioned first. From a transport perspective, the focus is to “do more”, however currently there is a requirement to complete the installation of camera and bus stops outlined by the previous administration. 

16

Cllr Tippetts

Cllr Coker

The printed timetabling by Stagecoach on Route 31 is too small, elderly people have struggled to read these. Could you liaise with Stagecoach to rectify this?

Response: Councillor Coker was unaware of this and would commit to speaking with Stagecoach.Peverell and Compton wards were working hard to promote Route 31, however its continued operation would require the assistance by Ward Councillors to promote it.

17

Cllr Mahony

Cllr

Dann

Could you speak to the conflict in casework: are we meant to be referring cases directly to Officers?

Response: Most work should go through casework, however sometimes, if a piece of casework were to be particularly complex or time sensitive such as safeguarding or police matters, it would be prudent to contact an Officer or Manager directly. A sensible approach would be required.

Supplementary: Would it be possible for the original cases or phone numbers for officers to be attached?

Response: Casework is an imperfect system, however it should be used as the cases are then able to be tracked. A trial is currently being undertaken to identify ways in which casework could be improved. Budget cuts had affected three Business Support positions, which has impacted response times.