From

To

Subject

1

Councillor Evans

CouncillorMrs Watkins

Question at the last meeting of the City Council, concerning the Council’s response to the Ministry of Justice Green Paper on access to justice and the response by Councillor Mrs Watkins.  Subsequent response had been received indicating that the Council had decided not to respond to the Green Paper.   

CouncillorMrs Watkins indicated that she had responded to Councillor Evans and that clarification was being sought before a response could be made to the Green Paper.                                       

The Lord Mayor asked that the Head of Legal Services contact Councillor Evans after the meeting, to discuss a potential formal complaint.

2

Councillor Haydon

Councillor Bowyer

Local Government Pension Scheme – request for the Chief Executive to allow members of the scheme up to one hour off to be briefed by trades’ unions on the proposals and implications of opt out.

Councillor Bowyer indicated that proposals on levels of contributions next year, had not been agreed.   He agreed to take advice on the specific enquiry about one hour off and to respond to Councillor Haydon on this and on the latest perception of the proposals and their implications.

3

Councillor Williams

CouncillorWigens 

Criteria for subsidising bus routes and what was an acceptable distance to access transport?

CouncillorWigens responded that the criteria were available from the transport department on request.  He indicated that acceptable distances depended on the individual and the transport officers tried, where possible, to make sure that people could get to certain places within a reasonable distance.

4

CouncillorRennie

CouncillorWigens

Lack of consultation with councillors, residents and traders on forthcoming disruption from works to gas mains at the Barbican. 

CouncillorWigens responded that the works were being undertaken by a statutory undertaker and that the City Council had little control. Although he knew about the works around Christmas time, he was waiting for the details to be finalised.  Clive Perkin and Tom White would be happy to provide reasons, in writing, if required. He was hoping that there would be some flexibility on when the works were carried out.

With regard to future works, he had no objection to the transport department liaising with ward councillors or businesses when details of schemes were known.

5

Councillor Haydon

Councillor Bowyer

With reference to his earlier question on the Local Government Pension Scheme, the figures quoted by Councillor Bowyer on the impact of the proposals (72% people would not be affected by the changes, where earnings were  under £24k) were challenged

Councillor Bowyer confirmed the figures and agreed to share details with Councillor Haydon as and when they were available.

6

Councillor Williams

Councillor Sam Leaves

Was Councillor Sam Leaves seeking to provide a Devon wide emergency planning service for Devon? If so, could she assure that Plymouth would not be left with an officer on call, out of hours, in Barnstaple

Councillor Sam Leaves confirmed that proposals were under negotiation at the moment and staff were being consulted. 

7

Councillor Williams

Councillor Sam Leaves

Asked for assurances that Plymouth would not be left with an officer on call, out of hours, in Barnstaple

Councillor Sam Leaves responded that she had no firm plans to change the service at present, as nothing had been agreed and she could not confirm either way.

8

CouncillorMrs Nelder

CouncillorWigens

Number 45 bus service to be withdrawn from Coxside and Cattedown.  When would a decision be taken on the possibility of subsidy for the service?

CouncillorWigens indicated that where a service was withdrawn, the public transport department would review the service independently.  He could not give an assurance that it would be supported but would ensure that the service was reviewed.  He was not aware of the timescale and asked Clive Perkin to look at the issues raised.

9

CouncillorDann

CouncillorWigens

What was he going to do to reduce inequality, to make sure residents had a bus and had access to services and opportunities through transport provision, as agreed in the corporate plan.

CouncillorWigens responded that he could not support services that had very few passengers using them.  It was not an acceptable use of public money.

10

Councillor Vincent

CouncillorWigens

Sometimes the buses were well used but income was not generated because they were used by senior citizens or were school buses.  The transport section looked at loadings and social need.

No response was made as a question had not been asked. 

11

Councillor Evans

CouncillorMrs Pengelly

Three incidents last Wednesday: a new policy about handling confidential information; a bomb scare and nearly losing the Leader.  Members of the public were at the meeting in the Council House where no evacuation procedures were in place.  He asked that she undertook an immediate review into the circumstances.

CouncillorMrs Pengelly responded that the redacted information had been dealt with during the scrutiny process.  She had asked about emergency planning and would get a report in time, but the police were in command of the incident.  In a previous bomb alert, advice was not given to people to pick up their bags.  

In response to Councillor Williams’ question, she reported that gold command was in Exeter and there were silver and bronze commands.  It was a team effort and no one person would be left to deal with an emergency.