(1)

The Director for Place gave an update on his Directorate and informed the panel that –

(a)

there would be a review of the Core Strategy.  This Strategy would become the Plymouth Plan and it was hoped that the review would give the plan a ‘new lease of life’.  The consultation on the plan, which would start in late Summer 2013, and the review following that consultation was a priority for the Directorate;

(b)

following a restructure, the Place Directorate had welcomed arts, culture, events and capital strategy and delivery to the Directorate;

(c)

the Directorate was responsible for delivery of 57 of the 100 Labour manifesto commitments and delivering these commitments would be a key priority;

(d)

ensuring sustainability and reducing carbon footprint cut across everything the Directorate undertook to do;

(e)

the Directorate would be –

• working to deliver the growth agenda;
• driving forward development opportunities in the City Centre;
• taking the Derriford growth hub forward;
• taking the North Prospect regeneration project forward;
• promoting economic growth and marketing the City;
• getting people back into meaningful work;
• working on both transport related and digital connectivity;
• building 3500 – 4000 new homes;
• building new retail space;
• making the most of the strong community capacity through Local Enterprise within the City

(2)

Councillor Lowry, Cabinet Member for Finance gave an update on his area and advised the panel that –

(a)

his portfolio covered building new homes and that there was a big need for new homes in the City that was not currently being met.  There were plans to intervene and ensure that more of the types of properties people need were built;

(b)

there were plans to build up a team of developers, residential landlords, contractors etc. to work together to see the right mix of buildings come into the City and to make the best use of the sites and opportunities already available;

(c)

there were plans to look into all of the developments previously agreed by the Council and which had not yet started as this lack of development was holding back growth in the City;

(d)

a strategic review of assets across the City would be undertaken, this review would include car parks.

(3)

Councillor Coker, Cabinet Member for Transport gave an update on his area and advised the panel that scrutiny input would be welcomed on the following areas –

(a)

subsidised bus routes and cross-ticketing;

(b)

maintenance of cycle tracks;

(c)

on-street parking review.

(4)

Councillor Coker undertook to return to the panel and update members on the plans for the car parks over the next 12 months.

(5)

Councillor Evans, Leader of the Council, advised Members that he considered it vital for Members to make better use of the Plymouth MPs and their time in Parliament in terms of pushing the Plymouth Agenda;

(6)

Councillor Vincent, Cabinet Member for Environment, gave an update on his area and advised the panel that –

(a)

managing the City’s carbon footprint would be a priority;

(b)

work would be undertaken on the Derriford and Seaton Projects;

(c)

exciting projects were on the horizon for Central Park.