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1

Cllr Noble

Councillor Stephens

The widening of the A386, also known as Tavistock Road, had been long anticipated by local residents. Based on the experience gained during phase one of the project, what lessons had been learned that could help ensure phase two progresses smoothly and was completed efficiently?

Response: Thank you for your question. Like yourself, I attended one of the recent information sessions at the Widewell Community Centre, where the project engagement team and City Council officers outlined how phase two of the A386 widening scheme would develop. The team reported that attendance for this phase was lower than for the initial stage, largely because residents had already experienced phase one and had seen the benefits now that it was complete. Although phase one faced delays, it was ultimately delivered under budget, and its outcomes were helping inform the approach for phase two.

A key lesson learned had been the value of maintaining strong and consistent communication with residents in and around the Widewell area. While the works caused considerable disruption, not only for local households but also for those travelling through the area, the engagement process helped ensure that many local concerns were addressed. For example, signalling and traffic?light timings were adjusted, and the traffic management arrangements, such as contraflows, were refined. Initially, cyclists were asked to dismount in a 30-mph contraflow, but following representations from the cycling community, the team agreed that cyclists could safely travel in the same direction of flow as motor vehicles. I am pleased with the responsiveness and adaptability demonstrated by the project team. It has taken many decades to reach this point, indeed, some residents who once looked forward to being able to drive more safely and conveniently through Widewell are now, forty?plus years later, nearing eligibility for their bus passes.

Nonetheless, the progress being made was welcome. Phase two was scheduled to commence shortly. I would like to extend my thanks to you and to the residents of Moor View and the surrounding areas for their patience during the works to date. Once complete, the project would deliver substantial improvements for those travelling both north and south across the city. I am also pleased that the Council is continuing to invest in transport infrastructure for the north of Plymouth.

2

Cllr Dingle

Cllr Laing

I am very pleased about our bid to become the UK City of Culture 2029. Could you outline the sector engagement and community involvement that has taken place so far, as well as what further activity was planned ahead of the expression of interest deadline on 08 February?

Response: We held two sector briefings, attended by 175 people, and they proved so popular that we would be putting on a third briefing this week, for which 125 people had already signed up. There was also a waiting list. More than 50 people attended the drop?in session at Saltram yesterday, and there were two upcoming sessions: one at the Beacon in North Prospect on Friday, 30 January, from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm and one at Drake Circus this coming Saturday from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm. There has been at least one of these drop?ins in each constituency.

In addition, our partners including Scrapstore, the 12 Wellbeing Hubs, Barbican Theatre, Waterfront Partnership, Destination Plymouth, Elder Tree, Park Crematorium Café, Arts University Plymouth, University of Plymouth, Photo Now, and Real Ideas were also holding either drop?in sessions or had information available about how people could share their thoughts about this really, really exciting bid.

I very much hope that everybody in the chamber will get behind this bid because it is incredibly exciting, and it could mean a great deal for Plymouth and for Plymothians.

Finally, if people are unable to attend any of the sessions, they could email us with their thoughts and ideas at cityofculture.gov.uk 

Please get behind the bid. Thank you.

3

Cllr Mrs Bridgeman

Cllr Evans OBE

It was over six months since I last asked about the future of Plymouth Airport. Could you please provide an update on any progress or developments?

Response: Thank you for your question. Discussions were on-going with all relevant parties regarding the future of Plymouth Airport. However, for the reasons I previously outlined, I am not able to provide details publicly at this stage.

What I can reaffirm is that we remain resolute in our position and continue to argue strongly for the return of Plymouth Airport to City Council control.

4

Cllr Krizanac

Cllr Stephens

Beryl bikes were used widely by the public across the city, but a number of these bikes were being left on pavements, where they created safety hazards for pedestrians. What measures is the Council taking to remove those bikes when they were left obstructing pedestrian areas and to ensure the safety of our residents?

Response: Beryl Bikes were very popular in the city centre, and usage was particularly high during student term times. On average, users travel around one and a half miles per journey. However, at busy times, when riders reached their end destination, there could occasionally be insufficient docking spaces available.

To manage this, two operational measures were in place. First, Beryl has a dedicated team that travelled around the city to monitor individual docking stations. Where bikes were present but docking spaces were full, the team would relocate bikes to balance capacity. Second, if bikes required repair, Beryl’s maintenance contractor responded promptly to carry out the necessary work.

I will follow this up with the company to ensure these operational checks and relocations were continuing as regularly as expected.

In addition, each docking station displays both an email address and a phone number through which issues could be reported directly to the Beryl support team. Reporting abandoned or damaged bikes helped ensure they were removed or fixed quickly.

I do appreciate that abandoned bikes could be unsightly and create inconvenience, and we would continue to work with Beryl to improve responsiveness and keep our streets safe and tidy.

5

Cllr Tippetts

Cllr Stephens

The introduction of the 60?mph speed limit through the city has been widely welcomed. However, some concerns have been raised with me that the signage was not always sufficiently clear when approaching the zone. I experienced this myself when returning from the Midlands last night, and even with my awareness of its location as a councillor, I found the transition was not entirely obvious. Could you work with National Highways to improve the clarity of the signage, potentially including ‘New Speed Limit Ahead’ notices to give drivers additional warning and support them to slow down safely?

Response: Thank you for your question. I will speak with you after this meeting to identify the specific locations where the signage appears unclear, and I will relay those concerns directly to National Highways. I have also received feedback from residents living nearby. Although we are still awaiting formal data and evidence, many reported that the new speed limit seemed to have reduced noise in certain areas and helped traffic flow more smoothly. Of course, as this is a busy route, occasional congestion will always occur, but overall residents appear to have accepted and indeed welcomed the reduced speed limit. I am happy to discuss your concerns further and ensure they are raised with the appropriate authorities.

6

Cllr Wood

Cllr Evans OBE

The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry was forecasting an average annual loss of £500,000 over the next five years, which will deplete its remaining reserves. The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee voted unanimously in favour of my proposal for the Joint Chairs to write to our local MPs and the Secretary of State for Transport, requesting that the Government introduce a Devon and Cornwall infrastructure revenue grant of £500,000 per annum to support the Tamar Crossings. Is the administration actively supporting this request?

Response: This is not strictly a matter for me, though I wasn't aware of the proposal you brought forward. If you would be willing to share the details of the motion you submitted, I would be happy to review it and give it proper consideration. I can say that our local MPs are actively engaging with the Government on Tamar Bridge matters more broadly, and they continue to press for support at national level. 

7

Cllr Nicholson

Cllr Penberthy

Last Wednesday, I became aware for the first time of a City Council press release regarding the disposal of land at West Park Hill, adjacent to the Plympton St Mary ward, for £7.3 million. I had been familiar with this site for many years. In the press release, Councillor Penberthy was quoted, and it stated that the farmland would continue to be used as farmland. Part of the site, however, is not farmland but is used by a resident of the Plympton St Mary ward to keep horses. Could you provide assurance that the existing use of the land, both by the farmer and by the horse owner would be permitted to continue until any development begins under Homes England?

Response: We are not the owners of the site, and therefore we cannot give any assurances about how Homes England will choose to manage it.

Supplementary: Given that the Council’s Constitution required openness and transparency, could Councillor Penberthy either inform the chamber or provide a written response to the Plympton St Mary councillors setting out the conditions of sale?

Response: I will seek legal advice on whether the conditions of sale could be shared, as those are legal documents and may not be publicly available.

8

Cllr Loveridge

Cllr Lowry

What was the current total level of Council debt, and how had this figure changed over the past five years?

Response: All the relevant papers were published last week as part of the budget scrutiny process, and they were also included within the Treasury Management documentation presented to the committee. All this information was publicly available online.

From memory, the Council’s debt stood at around £709 million. That figure increased in certain years, as the Council made significant investments, including purchasing and building real estate, housing, and business parks over the last five years. We borrowed that money at very preferential rates, in some cases as low as 0.5% and used it to acquire and develop assets.

I am extremely proud of what we achieved as a local authority. These investments delivered substantial financial benefits as well as supporting employment. As I have said repeatedly, the Council’s debt level was well within the range of comparable local authorities. I described it as good debt because it operated effectively as a mortgage: we were using that borrowing to create jobs and generate revenue for the Council.

Supplementary: What is the total amount of interest the Council was paying annually on its current level of debt?

Response: That information was available in the documentation published last week and could be viewed online. In comparison with our net revenue budget, the Council was paying in the region of £17 million annually in interest.

9

Cllr McNamara

Cllr Laing

Could you provide an update on when the Efford Youth Centre was expected to reopen to the public? From the outside it appeared close to being ready.

Response: Efford Youth Centre, along with the Honicknowle Youth Centre, would hold a soft launch on Friday 06 February. This would be followed by a managed partial opening.

From 09 February, small groups of young people would be welcomed into the buildings to complete the essential National Youth Agency and Youth Investment Fund participative feedback work. This process ensured that young people had the final say on the design, layout and operational arrangements before we moved to a full public opening shortly afterwards.

I believe everyone would be extremely impressed by the work that has been done, and I want to thank all involved for their patience, we wanted to ensure the centres were absolutely right before opening.

10

Cllr Raynsford

Cllr Evans OBE

Following the recent, well?attended run organised by Run Like a Girl and This Girl Can to highlight the safety of women running in our city, I want to stress that abuse and catcalling are unacceptable and can be frightening.

What actions was the Council taking to improve women’s safety, specifically through enhanced street lighting and CCTV provision? Too many women and girls do not feel safe and cannot exercise without carefully planning their routes, which was not acceptable. Could you set out the measures in place and any further improvements planned?

Response: Thank you for your question. The event you referenced, attended by councillors, our MP Luke Pollard, and many residents helpfully highlighted the ongoing work across Plymouth to keep people safe. Since then, councillors and officers continued to engage with the organisers, both to listen to concerns and to promote the wide range of existing safety measures and interventions in place across the city. These included: the Safe Bus, taxi marshals, Help Points, Plymouth City Pastors, Pubwatch, and Best Bar None?accredited venues.

Plymouth also achieved Purple Flag accreditation for the sixth year, demonstrating our commitment to safety and management within the evening and night?time economy.

Looking ahead, Trevi’s annual Reclaim the Night march would take place on 06 February, providing a further opportunity to focus on women’s safety and to reaffirm our shared commitment to tackling violence against women and girls.

We operated a 24/7 CCTV control centre with close links to the police, supported by:

All new lighting installations were delivered to BS 5489 standards to ensure compliant and effective provision.

99% of street lights benefited from LED technology, reducing energy consumption and lowering carbon emissions. Our central management system (CMS) enabled remote fault detection; approximately 33% of the city’s lighting stock is currently on CMS to minimise outage duration. Full city conversion to CMS was expected by 2026.

Finally, I would highlight the recent Armada Way lighting installations introduced last week, designed quite literally to shine a light in that area and to improve perceptions of safety after dark.

We recognise that safety is a basic right. We will continue working with partners, communities, and event organisers to strengthen practical measures, lighting, CCTV, stewarding, and support services so that women and girls can exercise and move around our city without having to meticulously plan their routes.

11

Cllr Taylor

Cllr Laing

I understand that Cllr Ricketts objected, during budget scrutiny, to family homes being purchased in his ward to house some of the city’s most vulnerable children. What does Cllr Laing think about that position?

Response: I have to say that there was something quite jarring about hearing Councillor Ricketts earlier assert that local people must be prioritised, given that during budget scrutiny he publicly objected to what he described as family homes in his ward being purchased by this Council to provide family homes for children in our care. These were children for whom he and indeed all of us in this chamber were corporate parents.

So his statement that we should put Plymouth people first rings somewhat hollow, unless of course that statement does not extend to children.

Supplementary: If we are mentioning corporate parenting, then perhaps Councillor Ricketts and indeed any other councillor who may not fully understand their responsibilities as corporate parents would benefit from a refresher.

Response: I think that is a very good point. I am not always sure that all councillors fully appreciate the enormity of the role we carry as corporate parents. It may well be helpful for us to arrange additional training or a dedicated briefing session to ensure everyone was absolutely clear about what those responsibilities entailed.

Many councillors in this chamber take their duties as corporate parents extremely seriously, but all of us could benefit from a reminder from time to time. It is an enormously important part of our role as councillors to safeguard and advocate for the children in our care, and we must continue to approach that responsibility with the seriousness it deserves.

12

Cllr Ricketts

Cllr Stephens

Are you data?led when making decisions about traffic flow and the placement of pedestrian crossings in Plymouth?

Response: Yes, we are. All our decisions were evidence?based. They relied on data held within the City Council’s Highways Department, along with evidence gathered and communicated by local councillors. In relation to highways matters, the police also played a significant role, which is why Vision South West was an important partner for us in supporting Devon and Cornwall Police’s road safety work. So, in short yes, our approach was data?led.

13

Cllr Wood

Cllr Stephens

I am concerned that, without sensible changes, the Manadon Roundabout project may not achieve the Council’s stated aims. In my view, the scheme must be expanded to include coordinated traffic?signal sequencing along Outland Road and Tavistock Road, and a thorough review of the effectiveness of existing junctions. Without a properly joined?up traffic?management approach from Outland Road to Milehouse and along Tavistock Road to Derriford Roundabout, the Council could be putting up to £150?million of taxpayers’ money at risk. Scope changes between an Outline Business Case and a Full Business Case were common indeed, this occurred when proposals for new traffic signals across Crownhill Road were introduced.

Will you now reassess the scheme to ensure it was fit for purpose and evidence?led?

Response: I will give you the same answer I gave at the meeting in Eggbuckland, in case it has slipped your mind. Outland Road and Ham Drive were recognised pinch points, and the volume of traffic moving through those junctions was a concern shared by everyone in this chamber. However, a major intervention at the traffic signals along Outland Road was not within the scope of the current scheme. The funding is specifically allocated for the A38 Manadon Interchange and the immediate surrounding area.

That said, the Council is fully aware of the issues you have raised. As I explained previously, Plymouth City Council would review the design of the improvements to determine whether anything could be achieved within scope that would benefit the Outland Road, Ham Drive, and Morrisons junctions. Those locations were very much on the radar of our Highways officers, and this review would form part of that on-going assessment.

However, it remained the case that the Manadon scheme funding was strictly tied to that locality and could not be expanded to cover a wider corridor redesign. Nonetheless, we continue to monitor and consider traffic flow both north and south of the interchange to ensure the broader network operated as effectively as possible.

14

Cllr P. Nicholson

Cllr Evans OBE

Do you believe that all Cabinet Members, where significant matters affected the residents of individual wards, should consult all ward members as a matter of course?

Response: It depended on the scheme.

Supplementary: In the Plympton St Mary ward, as I mentioned earlier, there was the potential for 500 to 550 new homes to be brought forward, with uncertainty over whether a primary school would be included. Decisions relating to this proposal, decisions for which Councillor Penberthy was quoted in the press last week, were made without any consultation or advance notice to the ward members affected by the potential development. Do you believe this was the right way for Councillor Penberthy to conduct himself?

Response: The land in question was within South Hams, but was owned by Plymouth City Council. But to address your broader point: are you seriously suggesting that we must consult or effectively hold a referendum on every land sale that took place?

There would be an appropriate moment for the voices of residents in your area to be heard when a planning application comes forward. At that stage, I would fully expect there to be clear opportunities for public engagement, and I would expect you, as an experienced former Leader of this Council, to encourage local residents to make their views known. As for the determination of that application, depending on the timing and the outcome of Local Government Reorganisation, it may fall to our planning committee or it may remain with South Hams. The timescales were not yet certain. But when the application does come forward, I would strongly encourage you to ensure your residents participated and made their views clear.

15

Cllr Krizanac

Cllr Cresswell

My colleagues and I recently visited Compton School in our ward, and the Headteacher praised the local authority for its SEND support. What, specifically, do you feel had been key in bringing about this positive response, especially at a time when we are hearing so much nationally about SEND pressures and challenges?

Response: Thank you, it was genuinely very gratifying to hear that positive feedback from Compton School. As you all know, we recently had a SEND monitoring inspection visit from Ofsted and the CQC at the end of November and beginning of December 2025. Their report would be published on the Ofsted website next week, so I am unable to comment further on that at this stage.

However, the positive response you referenced was, I believe, the result of a combination of factors. First, the leadership within the Council’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities service had been strong, and our close working relationship with headteachers, schools, SENCOs and wider partners created a genuinely exceptional partnership across the city. Our work with parents and carers, particularly around co?production, helped to rebuild and strengthen confidence. Tools such as the Graduated Approach to Inclusion, developed by the Council’s SEND team, have also been widely welcomed. The targeted funding model, devolved directly to schools, supported provision for around 380 children, enabling strong support to be delivered within mainstream settings wherever possible.

Equally important has been a culture of openness and transparency, which helped to foster positive and trusting relationships with schools. Never underestimate the importance of relationships. There was also clear, consistent political commitment to SEND improvement, a commitment I would say was shared across this chamber and we benefited from constructive external support through the SEND Improvement Board.

Finally, I wanted to extend my thanks to Compton School and indeed to all our schools. The progress we were seeing is the result of their hard work, day in and day out, alongside the dedication of parents, carers, and Council staff. Improving SEND is a collective effort across the whole city, and I am grateful to everyone involved.

16

Cllr M.Smith

Cllr Penberthy

Earlier, Councillor Ricketts suggested that the Labour Government reduced the allowance we received for homelessness. My understanding, however, is that the Council received an uplift on last year’s funding. Could Councillor Penberthy clarify the position for us?

Response: For many years, Budget Scrutiny asked Government to stop providing homelessness funding in small, ad?hoc pots, often without continuity between key grants such as the Homelessness Prevention Grant and the Rough Sleeper Prevention and Recovery Grant. This inconsistency made delivery extremely difficult.

Last year, Government provided one?year funding, and added an additional amount which, for administrative ease they placed into the same pot rather than issuing a separate grant. That additional funding amounted to £856,000, for which we said thank you, and which gave us a full year of stability.

This year, Government provided three?year funding, and placed that money into our core grant, giving us flexibility within the requirements of the devolved responsibilities. The increase from last year’s grant to the coming year’s allocation was £47,000. So, our baseline had gone up.

No, we did not receive the bonus we received last year for a second time, but you did not get a bonus every year, that is the nature of a bonus. We received extra money last year, and we are grateful for that. I am actually more grateful that we had three years of certainty, meaning we could tell our partners where the money was coming from and they could secure contracts for staff, who would no longer be waiting to find out whether they’re on a three?month or six?month arrangement with breaks in between. That instability was not good for services.

Supplementary: Given that Councillor Ricketts was apparently informed of the correct homelessness funding position at Budget Scrutiny last week, yet has presented it here as a cut, does he perhaps also need to consider undertaking further Code of Conduct training, given that councillors were required to act with integrity and honesty in all that we did? In this instance and possibly in others that did not appear to have been the case. Should this be added to his list of recommended training, alongside the suggested refresher on corporate parenting?

Response: I think it was extremely important that we were honest and accurate when talking about what the Government was doing, as well as about what is happening here in the city. We should not be creating or spreading misinformation, that helped no one.

I also agree that it was important for all of us to be reminded of the Code of Conduct from time to time. With that in mind, rather than singling out any one councillor, it may be more appropriate to arrange refresher training for all members on the Code of Conduct.

17.

Cllr Holloway

Cllr Stephens

Thank you for the recent announcement of funding for the new pedestrian crossing at the North Hill end of Mutley Plain. Residents had been genuinely delighted by this news. I heard from women, parents with pushchairs, and pupils from Plymouth High School for Girls who welcomed this improvement. This was a clear example of the Council responding to everyday concerns raised by local councillors and aligning with police evidence that this was one of the most potentially dangerous crossings in Plymouth.

So my question to Councillor Stephens is when can these delighted residents expect the new crossing to be installed?

Response: Thank you for your question. It was a very good one, and I also appreciate the way you set out the importance of this improvement. I am grateful whoever you are, whatever party you represent because when councillors stand up for their residents, they are doing exactly what they were elected to do. That is what you have done, and what Councillor Holloway, Councillor Penrose, Councillor M. Smith and your MP have all done on this matter.

The work undertaken so far had been based on clear observation. I have stood at that crossing with you and have seen first?hand how unsafe it could be, with pedestrians forced to rely on the sequencing of nearby traffic?light changes simply to get across. All the residents you mentioned would benefit from these improvements.

Work was now under way on planning, procurement and securing the required equipment. These processes would take time, as you would appreciate, but the intention was to begin installation over the summer holidays, when traffic volumes were lower and the impact of the school run was reduced.

I would keep you updated on the precise start date, the expected completion timetable, and the point at which the new crossing would be operational.

Supplementary: I think that was a completely reasonable concern, particularly for those who did not follow the detailed work the Council had been doing on traffic management and flow in that area. I can absolutely provide assurances that the crossing would be installed in a way that both maximises pedestrian safety and maintains effective traffic flow along what was, as you say, a key arterial route through Plymouth.

Response: Our Highways engineers were designing the scheme to balance both priorities. As with all such projects, they would assess pedestrian movement, vehicle volumes, signal timings and queuing patterns to ensure that the final installation improved safety without creating unnecessary congestion. This was standard practice across all major junction interventions in the city.

So yes, residents could be reassured that the crossing would be delivered in a way that kept people safe and kept the traffic moving.

18.

Cllr P. Nicholson

Cllr Lowry

Since our last Council meeting, we had seen the sad closure of House of Fraser, one of many businesses that folded during the period since the city?centre regeneration works were introduced by the former Conservative administration and then continued under the current Labour administration. Does the Council accept any responsibility for the impact that these regeneration works had on city?centre businesses?

While the works may be welcome in the longer term, we are clearly witnessing a continued decline in the city centre’s retail offer. Many shops closed, and despite Councillor Laing stating that footfall increased over the Christmas period, the quality of the retail offer in Plymouth was deteriorating. Many residents feel that they were being put off by what they regard as the mismanagement of the city?centre works by the Labour administration.

Given this, would he take this opportunity to apologise to the public for the mismanagement of the public?realm works?

Response: I am actually very proud of what we were doing in the city centre. I am very proud of the progress being made. We were delivering the largest play space in the country in the city centre. We had Armada Way on programme and on budget, Royal Parade was reopening, and New George Street was complete and proving very successful. We were hosting more events, and we had one of the most successful malls in the country operating. Footfall was increasing, and there was much more to come.

So no, I am not going to apologise. We were working very, very hard, and the results of that work were already visible to everyone in our city centre.

Supplementary: Is Councillor Lowry therefore proud of the fact that the first contractor withdrew, causing delays to the programme? Is he content that the scheme on Royal Parade had taken significantly longer than it should have, and that the planned bus shelters had still not materialised?

Will Councillor Lowry reflect on this after the meeting?

Response: All those projects were challenging. The city centre was built 80 years ago, and during the works I visited the site almost every week. In several parts of the city centre there were voids large enough to fit trucks, and those had to be addressed. There were also services that were not in the right place, and they too had to be dealt with.

We had to manage these projects through COVID, and then through the pressures of the cost?of?living crisis that followed. So yes, it was a very challenging programme but the rewards were now clear to see.

We were seeing far more events in the city centre. There had been a 300% increase in events on Old Town Street and New George Street. And you were incorrect in your assertions,  which seemed to be a recurring theme in the agenda you and your colleagues were pushing. As you already heard today, Royal Parade was on programme, ahead of schedule, and on budget. The same is true of Armada Way. So I am not quite sure what point you are trying to make, other than to take a swipe at something that most of us recognise has been delivered well.

19.

Cllr Ricketts

Cllr Briars-Delve

We have previously had discussions about net?zero madness, where you wanted to make residents cold and poor by 2030. At last year’s Scrutiny meeting, you stated that you would cycle to all your Council meetings, though you did not say you would stop driving a petrol car altogether.

Are you still committed to that pledge to cycle to all your Council meetings?

Response: I do not understand where Councillor Ricketts obtained that notion. He is welcome to look through any minutes or recordings of this Council, I never stated that I would only ever cycle to Council meetings, nor that I would only ever cycle in my personal life. That claim was simply false.

This was yet another example of the kind of fake news we heard repeatedly from him today. You also indicated at the start of your question that you see the climate emergency as nonsense, which again reveals your true priorities when it came to nature and the climate, both here in Plymouth and across the globe.

You repeated the claim that achieving net zero would make people colder and poorer. In reality, I am proud that this Council was delivering a multi?million?pound retrofitting programme that would make homes healthier, warmer, and reduce people’s energy bills, saving them money.

For my part, I regularly cycle and walk, I enjoy it, and it saves me money. But have I ever said that I would never step foot in a car? I most certainly had not.