(a)        To receive announcements from the Lord Mayor, Chief Executive, Service 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:

a)    Jane Elliott Toncic had won the 2024 National Safeguarding Adults Board ‘Lifetime Award’, recognising Jane’s long standing and significant contribution in support of the people and communities of Plymouth;

b)    Two of the city’s most prominent new developments have been shortlisted for three awards in the national RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence; 

                                I.            InterCity Place had been shortlisted in the Health and Wellbeing category;

                             II.            Melville Phase 1, in the Royal William Yard, had been shortlisted in the Heritage and Culture category and Successful Economy category. 

                          III.            The Council's Net Zero Team’s innovative “Climate Decision Tool” was also announced as a finalist. 

c)    At a recent ceremony, the Local Council Road Innovation group presented a special life-time achievement award to Councillor Mark Coker. He had demonstrated unwavering dedication, leadership, and a relentless commitment to improving our community's infrastructure. His innovative approaches and tireless efforts not only enhanced the safety and efficiency of our roads but set a benchmark for excellence in public service. The award was a testament to his contributions to the community and supporting others in the Local Government Family.

Councillor Evans OBE (Leader of the Council) made the following announcements:

d)    19 November had marked 1000 days since the start of the War in Ukraine;

e)    The Ukrainian Flag had been raised outside the Guildhall and the Ukrainian Consulate Assembly for Citizens had been hosted as a show of commitment and support;

f)     The Homes England Board was to be hosted 27 November 2024 and was an opportunity to show the ambition for growth and regeneration in the city;

g)    There had been numerous successes during the previous 205 days in respect to the completion of growth and investment projects across the city. More than £120 Million had been committed, including:

                          I.        £23 Million in port facilities at Millbay;

                         II.        £25 million into the Community Diagnostics Hub in the City Centre;

                        III.        £18 million had been handed over to the Derriford district centre;

                       IV.        All £25 Million seed capital for the Freeport project had been committed

                        V.        £7 Million pound had been committed for innovation bonds at Oeansgate;

                       VI.        Planning permission had been secured and procurement completed on the £8 million Beaumont Way development;

                      VII.        Demolition had commenced on Tavistock place to enable future cultural investment;

                    VIII.        £10 million Waterfront Regeneration Scheme had commenced at Tinside;

                      IX.        Contracts had been awarded for the Mount Batton Centre Improvement Scheme.

h)     The City Centre Company had voted to renew its business improvement district plans following a ballot of all business the previous week. The ballot yielded a 91% majority in favour of the plans and represented a major endorsement for the Council’s plans for the City Centre;

i)     The draft Port Strategy had been completed and would be brought before City Council in 2025. The Port Strategy was integral to the facilitation of growth as Plymouth possessed the greatest marine employment within the UK: 20,100 Jobs and £1.2 billion of Gross Value Added (GVA) in the sector, with the potential to grow another 2,600 jobs directly, 4,200 jobs indirectly before 2030;

j)     The Marine Steward Council had been hosted in the City within the last Month, provided a boost to the Fishing industry.

Councillor Briars-Delve (Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change) made the following announcements:

k)    Significant progress had been made regarding food waste collections across Plymouth;

l)     Commitment to the project had been formalised in the most recent iteration of the Net Zero Action plan in February. In March recruitment had initiated for a Senior Project Manager and, during the previous week, Councillor Evans OBE had signed an Executive Decision to approve the purchase of food waste collection vehicles and household containers;

m)  The intention was to award Supply Contracts in 2025.

Councillor Laing (Cabinet Member for Children's Social Care, Culture and Communications) made the following announcements:

n)    Plymouth City Council's in-house fostering team had enhanced the financial support and retention offers to existing Foster carers and revitalised the approach to Foster care recruitment;

o)    Foster Plymouth had joined a growing partnership of Councils across the country to produce a short film promoting local authority fostering, which launched on 17 October 2024.

Councillor Dann (Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Sport, Leisure & HR, and OD,) made the following announcements:

p)    Money had recently been invested into Plymouth Active Leisure, in order to promote active lifestyles and overcome inequalities in the City;

q)    Plymouth Active Leisure were to launch, during the upcoming Spring, a new strategic plan intended to support people to be healthy and active, a key element of the Councils strategic development;

r)    In partnership with Plymouth Football Community Trust and Brickfields Football Club, the £22 million new grounds had been built, this had been named “Foulston Park”, celebrated the architect who developed iconic Plymouth landmarks.

Councillor Cresswell (Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships) made the following announcements:

s)     Examination results had been returned from the academic year 23/24, providing a strong indication of achievement within the city.

                       I.        The Year One phonics check indicated 81.2% achieved the standard score, up by 1% from last year and 2.2% above last year’s national average;

                      II.        Children in their final year of primary school achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics had improved on last year’s result. Last year, Plymouth was level with the national benchmark of 60%, early data indicates a 1.6% increase in 23/24.

                     III.        Key Stage Four results early indications displayed that Plymouth will draw closer to the national benchmark, if not matching, with 46% achieving these benchmarks compared to 45% the national average.

t)     A pioneering programme had been launched for the City’s children led by the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. The programme will engage 970 children in the first year, reaching 2500 over the lifetime of the project.

Councillor Stephens (Chair of Scrutiny Management Board) made the following announcements:

u)    The Scrutiny Management Board, as well as various members, had received complaints regarding bicycling within the City Centre from the Plymouth Senior Citizens Forum;

v)    The numerous dubious and dangerous behaviours expressed by bicyclists would be investigated by the Scrutiny Management Board early in 2025.