Agenda item

Questions by Councillors

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.

Minutes:

#

From (Cllr)

To

(Cllr)

Subject

1

Blight

Coker

A petition had been received requesting a review of half-hourly provision of Bus Number 28. Was this going to be looked into?

Response: Councillor Sproston (bus champion) had been tasked with facilitating a meeting with the Public Transport team and with City Bus.

2

Ricketts

Coker

A wall and pathway on Central park Avenue remained in a dangerous state of disrepair and a resident had been injured in the area.

Response: There had been movement on this, and it would appear the repair should commence on the week commencing 23 September 2024. 

Supplementary: Would correspondence be made directly to the complainant and resident?

Response: Yes.

3

Beer

Briars-Delve

It had been reported that the hedges in and around Plympton were at least a metre thick in parts and encroaching on the public highway. Would this be looked into?

Response: As the cutback for hedges is in the fast-approaching Autumn, the hedges would be cut back shortly.

4

M. Smith

Coker

The crossing in which Mutley Plain meets North Hill remained without a sequence of traffic lights and emails had been received to Ward Councillors indicating the danger of the crossing. What was being done in order to rectify this?

Response: The Highways Team had previously been tasked to find a solution to the issue, looking into funding options which could be sourced externally.

5

Raynsford

Evans OBE

Concerning the recent myriad of events operated on the Hoe- what benefit did these bring to the City?

Response: Tens of thousands of people had attended events on the Hoe in 2024, which had included some of the most popular musical acts in the world. The facilitation of the event included hundreds of Plymouth residents, providing jobs for the local economy. During the National Fireworks championship, foster caring was advertised to the over 100,000 people in the audience and across social media engagement was reached with 548,000 people. 41,500 people tuned into the lived stream. It has been estimated that this event was worth over £9 million to the local economy. 

6

Allison

Laing

When was it that work was due to begin on the Frederick Street Youth Centre in Stonehouse as amongst others?

Response: Both Frederick Street Youth Centre and Honicknowle Youth and Community Centre had recently been awarded £4 million pounds; £2.4 million from the Youth Investment Fund, £600,000 from the Capital fund and an additional £1 million pounds from the Emergency Climate Investment funding. In August, the contract was awarded and the date of the 23rd September has been scheduled for the commencement of works. 

7

Ricketts

Penberthy

Angela Rayner had recently said that “every town and city in this country will take their fair share of illegal immigrants” what was Plymouth’s fair share?

Response: Plymouth had always “stepped up to the plate” in reference to taking a fair share of refugees and asylum seekers. The numbers are small and are issued by central government.

Supplementary: ‘Small Boats’ arrivals had been in the news recently, how was provision for these being built into the homelessness strategy for Plymouth?

Response: There were government definitions for refugee and asylum seeker, if after 28 days these people had not found housing, they could approach us for homelessness duties, however not all would be entitled.

8

Watkin

Penberthy

Landing stage at Mount Batten had been ‘out-of-action’ for a considerable period of time. When would provision for the larger ferry return and the landing stage be fixed?

Response:  The Council were combining two facilities between the water sports centre and national Marine Park. This would increase the capacity of vessels which could approach. The aim was to install this over the winter season.

Supplementary:  How could it be ensured that residents would receive proper shelter on this pier during the winter?

Response: The water sports facilities would remain open and contained a particularly good café.

 

 9

Loveridge

Coker

When were the double yellow lines to be installed in the requested lanes in Plympton?

Response: These were agreed and to be initiated two weeks ago, a meeting would be placed with the team to ascertain a date.

 

10

Wood

Coker

It had been reported by school leaders and ward councillors a lack of road safety near St Edwards School, mainly Fort Austin Avenue and St Peter’s Road. Would a meeting be possible to discuss these issues?

Response:  Yes.

11

Poyser

Briars-Delve

Plymouth has some of the least energy and fuel efficient homes in the Country. What action has taken placed to promote home insulation and other options?

Response: Retrofitting was at the heart of action within the current plan and the council had been working closely with Plymouth Energy Community and national government departments. There were a number of schemes available. Money has been received from social housing decarbonisation fund from central government and door-to-door grant funding has taken place.

 

12

Beer

Penberthy

 It had been observed that the state of Charles Church, in the City Centre, had deteriorated with weeds and foliage present.

Response:  The area was one of “Minimal Mow” - edge trimmed and priority works were checked.

Supplementary: The State of the roundabout was also unacceptable

Response: There were differing opinions on this, many preferred the “wild meadow” that was evident.

 

 

Please note that questions, answers, supplementary questions and supplementary answers have been summarised.