(a)

the draft prospectus for the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) comprising Plymouth, Devon, Somerset and Torbay had been formulated and submitted to Government ;

(b)

the LEP had a focus on the urban agenda and had strong links to  the City’s Local Economic Strategy;

(c)

in addition to the above, work was also under way with the University of Plymouth and Chamber of Commerce to try and achieve Enterprise Zone status for Plymouth.  The idea behind enterprise zones being to cut taxes and strip back planning rules in small areas to attract new businesses and create new jobs;

(d)

representatives of the Devonport Task Group would be meeting Liam Fox, Secretary of State for Defence, on 4 April 2011 to put forward their views on safeguarding the future of Devonport Dockyard and Naval Base;

(e)

the Life Centre was progressing well and an announcement was expected on the preferred bidder next week;

(f)

the City Council had been working closely with the Chamber of Commerce to support four private sector-led funding bids to the regional growth fund.  If all bids were successful, they had the potential to bring in £16 million of public investment to the City.  An announcement from central government was expected early in the summer;

(g)

Proposals to establish a Plymouth Growth Fund were being presented to Cabinet next week.  The Growth Fund, which would initially be established by ringfencing the New Homes Bonus, and then built up over time, would make best use of available regeneration resources, such as –

• Government initiatives
• Council and wider public assets
• Private sector investment

(h)

Cabinet was due to consider a number of plans and strategies for the City at its next meeting, including –

• Central ParkMasterplan
• Children and Young People’s Plan 2011-2014
• Plymouth’s Third Local Transport Plan

(i)

whilst Plymouth was not among the ten Cities to have been awarded Enterprise Zone status in the first tranche of announcements, it was hoped that the joint submission would have enough credence and strength to be amongst one of the 11 remaining zones yet to be confirmed;

(j)

as part of the New Homes Bonus, the government will match the additional council tax raised on new homes for six years.  Councils that build new affordable homes will receive a higher level of funding;

(k)

like many other cities in the Country, Plymouth had an increasing problem with potholes and a report was being taken to the next meeting of Cabinet setting out proposals to increase the highways maintenance capital and revenue budgets by £750k.  Officers would work with Amey to ensure this money was targeted at the appropriate areas with proper repairs being undertaken rather than short-term, temporary reinstatements;

(l)

the number of applications received in the first round of Growth Fund bids had been higher than anticipated and it was quite possible that the second round of bids may be put back;

(m)

the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People was working very hard to ensure that monies that were earmarked under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme would still be obtained in the city in the future.  However, this would be dependent on the outcome of the James’ review from which a decision was still awaited;

(n)

a social economic study on the Plymouth travel-to-work area in relation to Devonport Dockyard was being undertaken with a view to establishing the possible impact of future changes on the current job market, skills etc.  Whilst this was a private sector initiative being led through the Growth Board there would be opportunity for Member involvement via the scrutiny process;

(o)

a review of the Council’s current scrutiny arrangements was under way and a proposal for a new structure, where the focus of scrutiny work would be undertaken by task and finish groups, was currently being put together.  Consultation with all members would take place prior to any decision being taken;

(p)

consideration was still being giving to whether or not the Council would take on any Regional Development Agency assets.  A decision either way would need to be made by the end of June.