(a)

Former Councillor Peter Berrow

referred to the recent death of former councillor Peter Berrow who was elected to the City Council in 2008 as a Conservative councillor for the Southway Ward and served until 2012 when he stood down after joining UKIP.   Councillors were advised of the funeral arrangements for 11 March 2015 and the Council stood in silence as a mark of respect;

(b)

Lord Mayor Designate 2015/16

congratulated Councillor Dr John Mahony on his nomination by the Lord Mayor’s Selection Committee, as Lord Mayor for 2015/16.  The Council was advised that the recommendation would be formally considered at the next meeting of the Council to be held on 23 March 2015; 

(c)

2015 Councillor Achievement Awards

congratulated Councillor Evans on his shortlisting by the Local Government Information Unit and the CCLA (Church, Charity and Local Authority Investment Management) for Leader of the Year as part of the 2015 Councillor Achievement Awards and wished him well at the Awards Ceremony in London on 2 March 2015; 

(d)

Improvement and Efficiency Awards

reported that the Council had been shortlisted in two categories of the national Improvement and Efficiency Awards 2015.  He advised that the Council’s approach to being a partner had been recognised in the Working Together category where the partnership with the social enterprise sector had been acknowledged as being exemplary.

The Lord Mayor thanked the Plymouth Social Enterprise Network and the Council’s Economic Development Team for their work.

The Council was also advised that its work in supporting the development of Plymouth Energy Community had been recognised in the Innovation category and the Lord Mayor thanked all of the Plymouth Energy Community members, volunteers and staff together with the Council’s Climate Change team for the difference they were making to the city;

(e)

2014 UK Social Enterprise Award for Investment Deal of the Year

announced that Plymouth Energy Community (PEC) and PEC Renewables had been awarded the UK Social Enterprise Award for ‘Investment Deal of the Year’, in recognition of their first community share offer in 2014 which resulted in free solar panels for 21 city schools and community buildings.

The Council was advised that the second share offer had now been launched which hoped to raise a further £950,000.

The Lord Mayor congratulated Dave Garland, Chair of PEC Renewables, Peter Flukes, former Chair of PEC and Andrew Shadrake, Member of PEC Renewables and presented the award to them;

(f)

Fair Trade Certificate

sought support from councillors for the various events that were taking place over the next fortnight to celebrate Fair Trade fortnight and in particular for the ecumenical celebration of Fairtrade being held at St Andrew’s Church on 5 March 2015 to which they had all been invited.

The Lord Mayor thanked supporters of the Fairtrade initiative as follows –

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staff and students at Plymouth University and the City College;

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pupils, staff and parents at the Council’s schools and the  education catering lead Katie Fremlin;

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Andy Hawkins (Absolute Recycling);

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Fairport (local worker’s co-operative);

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Local churches and faith groups, especially Hope Baptist, St Andrews and CAFOD;

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Local retailers, particularly the Coop, Sainsbury and Lush for their ongoing support;

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members of the Plymouth Fairtrade Network Steering Group.

The Lord Mayor presented the certificate to Clare-Louise Mains, on behalf of the Steering Group, in recognition of the support the Council gave and her hard work in taking us through Plymouth’s re-accreditation as a Fair Trade City.

(g)

referred to a Sports Summit that had been hosted by the College of St Mark and St John with speakers which included representatives from Sport England.  He thanked all the Council staff who had been involved in the event and also the College and their staff for their work;

(h)

reported that he had attended part of the British Diving Championships which had been held at the Life Centre over the weekend.  He thanked all the participants and all concerned in the event with particular reference to John Bird (Vice President of Amateur Swimming Association).  He also congratulated Plymouth divers: Rhea Gayle, Tonia Couch, Sarah Barrow and Matthew Dixon and also Tom Daley.