(a)        To receive announcements from the Lord Mayor, Chief Executive, Service Director for Finance or Service Director for Legal;

(b)        To receive announcements from the Leader, Cabinet Members or Committee Chairs.

The Lord Mayor made the following announcements:

a)    The first award was presented to Jane Elliott?Tonic, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Safeguarding Adults Sports Excellence Awards, in recognition of over 40 years of service;

b)    The second award recognised Plymouth GATI (Graduated Approach to Inclusion), which was runner?up in the National SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Resource of the Year category at the NASEN (National Association for Special Educational Needs) Awards. The award recognised the collaborative approach between schools, young people and partners in developing a graduated response and resource directory. The award was received by Tina Brinkworth;

c)    The final award was presented for Supported Internships, which won the Co?Production Award at the NASEN Awards 2025 for the Supported Internship Programme delivered with Discovery College. The programme has supported young people into paid employment, achieving outcomes significantly above national averages. Tina Brinkworth and Jane Hunt accepted the award.

Councillor Laing (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Culture and Communications) made the following announcements:

d)    Thanked Members for their kind wishes regarding Councillor Tudor Evans OBE (Leader of the Council) and confirmed that he was recovering well;

e)    The launch of Team Plymouth, including events held in Plymouth and Westminster which were well attended and focused on funding and inward investment. Discussions were ongoing and workstreams were being mobilised, alongside the development of business cases for an initial £50 million investment;

f)     A cultural roundtable was hosted in Westminster, attended by national cultural organisations including Arts Council England, Creative UK and Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Culture was confirmed as a central element of Team Plymouth, supporting talent attraction and city living;

g)    Homes England had confirmed £18.44 million of investment into the Civic Centre, completing the funding package. Progress included asbestos removal, design consultation and installation of new hoardings. Structural surveys and concrete repairs would begin in 2026, with cladding replacement commencing in 2027;

h)    Updates were also provided on capital projects including completion of the Derriford District Centre, Tinside enhancements, ABP (Associated British Ports) Port improvements, shore power delivery, Freeport investment, Ocean’s Gate development, Mount Batten Centre works and progress at Langage;

Councillor Aspinall (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care) made the following announcements:

i)     Safeguarding Week, focused on prevention and empowering safer cultures. Councillors were reminded that safeguarding was everyone’s responsibility and concerns should always be reported;

j)     Councillors were also encouraged to promote flu and COVID19 vaccinations, noting uptake remained below desired levels;

k)    Congratulations were extended to Paul Caston, who had been named Newly Qualified Adult Social Worker of the Year, with thanks also extended to the Principal Social Worker.

Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet Member for Housing, Cooperative Development and Communities) made the following announcements:

l)     An update was provided on housing delivery, including confirmation of a £33 million Homes England grant in partnership with Plymouth Community Homes to deliver 80 new social rent homes at Bath Street, creating a new community. Works were expected to start in the new year;

m)  An update was also provided regarding the Guildhall, outlining its historic context and the discovery of structural and fire safety issues during internal works. Further investigations and surveys were underway, alongside a review of the business case, to ensure long-term viability. It was confirmed that delays were not due to contractual issues.

Councillor Haydon (Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Events, Libraries, Cemetries and Crematoria) made the following announcements:

n)    She congratulated the Bereavement Services team on winning Building of the Year for The Park Crematorium;

o)    Marked the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender?Based Violence, reiterating Plymouth’s commitment to tackling violence against women and girls through prevention and partnership working, with activities available via the Council’s website.

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

p)    Plymouth had been designated a Sport England Priority Place, with £1 million of initial funding secured following successful Pathfinder work;

q)    The funding would support schools, children and families, with benefits for both physical and mental health, highlighting improvements at Foulston Park, including the opening of a new dual?use pitch supporting community and elite sport.

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

r)    Plymouth had launched the Plymouth Plan for Nature and People, developed through extensive collaboration. Plymouth had been accredited as the second Nature City in the UK;

s)     Achievements including expanded wildflower planting, community bulb planting, tree planting schemes, expansion of the community tree nursery at Poole Farm, and successful grant bids exceeding £26 million in the past month alone.