National Citizen Advice Bureau's Council Partner of the Year Award

The Leader reported that the City Council was ‘voted highly commended by the judges’ at the National Citizen Advice Bureau's Council Partner of the Year Award and the award was presented to Jo Hambly, on behalf of the Financial and Social Inclusion Team, at their Annual General Meeting.  The Leader congratulated all those involved.  

Building for Life

Councillor Fry advised councillors that twenty housing developments nationally had been awarded the highest industry standard for quality and design in new homes and five of these were in Plymouth. They were:

·              Cargo, English Cities Fund with Ferguson Mann Architects (134 units)

·              Astor Court, Cedar Homes Limited with the Architects Design Group (24 homes)

·              Friars Lane, Pemberley Developments with Rogers and Haynes architects (15 homes)

·              Grainey’s Joinery, McAleer and Rusher Ltd with architects Lacie, Hickie Caley. (64 homes)

·              Mills Bakery, Urban Splash with Gillespie Yunnie architects (78 homes)

The initiative was led by CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment)and the Home Builders Federation and awards were given to new housing schemes that demonstrate a commitment to high design standards and good place making. The awards were judged by a panel of experts each year.

Other Silver standard winners for 2010 were:

·              Evolution Cove, developers Standerton House with the Architects Design Group with 58 homes

·              James Place, University of Plymouth with Willmore Illes Architects Ltd (329 homes)

·              Middleton’s, Stevenson Homes Ltd with Roger and Haynes Architects (11 homes)

·              Plymstock Library, Signpost Housing with Rogers and Haynes Architects (27 homes)

Matthew Coombe, Urban Planning Co-ordinator was thanked for his work and asked to take back to his colleagues, the Council’s congratulations for their contribution to this tremendous achievement.

Customer Services Excellence Award for Library Services

Councillor Brookshaw reported that the library services had been awarded the Customer Services Excellence Award from G4S Assessment Services on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Alistair MacNaughton (City Librarian) and the library services team were thanked for all their hard work. 

Council of the Year Award for Customer Services

Councillor Jordan reported that the customer services team has been awarded the Council of the Year Award 2010 from Govmetric, a company that specialised in gathering customer feedback.

Katie Harris, representing the Customer Services team, was congratulated on this achievement. 

South West in Bloom

Councillor Michael Leaves referred to Plymouth’s achievements in the Royal Horticultural Society South West in Bloom competition.

Plymouth won gold in the large city category; Jude Miller (aged 7) won the School Painting Competition and Plymouth won the South West in Bloom Discretionary award Best Portfolio.

Plymouth also achieved the most neighbourhood awards – 24 in total.

There were five categories in the RHS 'It's your neighbourhood' award and Plymouth came away with four 'outstanding' - the top award given.

These awards recognised the work of local people improving their environments.  The Community projects to receive an ‘outstanding’ were Diggin' It and the East End Community Allotment project. Two other outstanding awards were given to a communal garden at Shaftesbury Cottages in North Hill and Chichester Flats on West Hoe. Altogether Plymouth projects won seven thriving awards, five developing, seven improving and one in the establishing category.

Among the community projects winners in the regional competition were the Freedom Fields Youth Project, Jigsaw Garden, East End Community Allotment, Diggin It and Moor View.

The Parks Team was congratulated on their contribution towards this achievement.