From

To

Subject

1

Councillor Sam Leaves

Councillor Evans

Will you undertake to publish minutes of Cabinet Planning meetings and invite the public to attend?

Councillor Evans explained that Cabinet Planning was a pre-meeting with Council Officers before the Cabinet Meeting to plan the agenda.  These were not public meetings and as such meeting notes were not provided.

2

Councillor Mike Leaves

Councillor Vincent

Can you confirm that you wish to extend the Garden Waste collection pilot into November?

Councillor Vincent advised that once an evaluation was complete Councillor would report the results to Council.

3

Councillor Mrs Bowyer

Councillor McDonald

Do you propose to implement your pledge to encourage the voluntary sector to provide independent advocacy services to vulnerable customers?

Councillor McDonald reported that this was part of encouraging all sectors across the city to contribute to advice, information and advocacy focused on vulnerable people.  We will encourage independent advocacy from the best providers.  The tendering exercise will soon be complete. The budget earmarked for advice and information would be in the region of £550,000.

4

Councillor Browne

Councillor McDonald

How will the Older People’s Charter add value to safeguarding adults in the city?

The Older People’s Charter was a statement setting out what the council would do for older people so there was clarity in expectations.  Older people had been invited to contribute through a consultation process. It was hoped that the Charter would be presented to Cabinet in October.

5

Councillor Darcy

Councillor Coker

Are you satisfied that you are achieving your pledge to keep streets clean and drains clear?

Councillor Coker explained that a review was underway to look at how drainage was maintained.  A schedule of maintenance works would soon be published on the council’s website.

6

Councillor Beer

Councillor Lowry

How far have we got in transferring Plympton St Maurice Guildhall to a Board of Trustees made up of local residents?

Councillor Lowry was not aware of the request for a community asset transfer and requested that Councillor Mrs Beer forwarded more details to him.

7

Councillor Bowyer

Councillor Smith

Given the experiences in Stoke-on-Trent and Coventry with webcasting would you take more time to consider this issue before deciding to confirm or extend the current network in Plymouth?

Councillor Smith explained that this was the first webcast and there had already been 600 people viewing.  Councillor Smith confirmed that the Council would not pay the amounts Councillor Bowyer quoted from Stoke-on-Trent Council and that webcasting costs would be met within current budgets.

8

Councillor Churchill

Councillor Vincent

You have not invited the waste project team to this meeting to be recognised for their work, why is that?

Councillor Vincent informed the Council that officers were on holiday and could not attend the City Council meeting.  Councillor Vincent had arranged for a presentation to the team by the Lord Mayor at the last South West Devon Waste Partnership Meeting.

9

Councillor Mrs Pengelly

Councillor Evans

When will the bid for Central Park to be a Jubilee Park be submitted?

Councillor Evans responded that nobody was aware of the bid for a Jubilee Park. Councillor Evans referred to letter written by Councillor Mrs Pengelly which offered Central Park to the ‘Fields In Trust’ group.  There was no bid going forward to designate Central Park as a Jubilee Park.

10

Councillor Monahan

Councillor McDonald

How will you deliver more support for people to stay in their own home?

Councillor McDonald informed the council that the policy of keeping people in their homes includes supporting carers and the extension of information and advice services. The adult social care restructure was complete, staff were fully trained on the personalisation agenda and feedback from users was good. Councillor McDonald was confident that they could deliver on the pledge to help support people to stay in their own homes despite the ageing demographic and reducing budgets.

11

Councillor Michael Leaves

Councillor Lowry

Could you confirm that you have received £500,000 from the £2,000,000 for a district heating system provided through planning obligations relating to the Energy from Waste Plant?

Councillor Lowry informed the Council that the money had not been received due to applications for judicial review.  The money when received would be used for a district heating system as required in the section 106 agreement.

12

Councillor Churchill

Councillor Vincent

Had there been a reduction in the amount of grass cutting in the city? Please could you arrange the removal of the dangerous Ragwort plant from the verge of Novorossik Road?

Councillor Vincent asked to be informed of any issue relating to dangerous plants immediately, and that he would arrange the removal of the plant immediately after the meeting.   There had been some redeployment of staff that would normally cut grass to deal with the back log of tree maintenance.

13

Councillor Darcy

Councillor Coker

When will you update us on what is being done to alleviate of congestion on Cot Hill?

Councillor Coker would provide Councillor Darcy with a written response.

14

Councillor Bowyer

Councillor Lowry

Have Cabinet agreed capital investment in ICT and customer service improvements business cases within three month deadline that you set in your amendment of 16 April 2012?

Councillor Lowry confirmed that the business cases had not been agreed.  This was because further work had been requested to identify tangible savings and benefits, business cases will go to Cabinet in September.  When agreed, work would be frontloaded to deliver improvements as soon as possible.

15

Councillor Parker

Councillor Evans

What would have been the consequences to the community of Plymouth and the financial impact, had the designation of Central Park as a Jubilee Park taken place?

Councillor Evans responded that the community would have suffered a negative impact as the council would have lost control of Central Park and the financial implications would have been incalculable. 

16

Councillor Stark

Councillor Coker

What number or proportion of parking contravention notices (PCN) have resulted in formal representations and of those representations which have resulted in PCNs being cancelled? Was Councillor Coker aware that Plymouth City Council is not following guidance on the enforcement of the Traffic Management Act 2004 and what did he propose to do about it?

Councillor Coker understood that guidance was being followed.  Councillor Coker undertook to provide Councillor Stark with a written response and invited Councillor Stark to join him in a meeting with officers to discuss the matter.

17

Councillor Ball

Councillor Vincent

Is it a policy to keep pavements clear of wheelie bins?  If so why does one of your officers say that this policy will not be enforced?

Councillor Vincent responded it remained a policy of the council to keep pavements clear of wheelie bins and requested that Councillor Ball provided details of the officer concerned.