From

To

Subject

1

Councillor Lynda Bowyer

Councillor Mark Lowry

Whether consideration could be given to the Councillors’ community grants being carried forward to next year (due to the impact of the pandemic on community events).

Response: this suggestion would be supported in principle and work would be undertaken to look at agreeing a limit to be carried forward to the next financial year; (Councillors could also support crowdfunding opportunities); this matter would be further discussed with Councillor Mrs Bowyer, once a way forward had been established.

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To

Subject

2

Councillor Ian

Bowyer

Councillor

Sue Dann

How many registrations had been received by the Council, for the proposed new garden waste collection scheme for next year?

Response: as of Friday 13 November 2020, a total of over 26,000 registrations had been received.

Supplementary: given the substantial level of demand, whether sufficient bins had been ordered and whether the intended method to structure the collection rounds could be shared with Members once the scheme commenced.

Response: the deadline for registration had been set for January 2021, in order to have a clear picture of the number of bins that would need to be ordered and the rounds required to deliver them; the routes for the garden waste service would be mapped out, similar to the domestic waste rounds (this information would be shared).

From

To

Subject

3

Councillor

Andrea

Johnson

Councillor

Sue Dann

Clarification of the process for registering for an assisted garden waste collection, regardless of whether already in receipt of an assisted collection.

Response:  if an individual was already registered for an assisted bin collection, they would be contacted by Street Services; if not already registered, then they would need to apply for the assisted service.

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To

Subject

4

Councillor

Sarah Allen

Councillor

Jon Taylor

Update on the provision of free school meals over the last half term.

Response: the run up to half term had seen a growing need in the community for food support; applications for free school meals during the pandemic had increased by 16%; it was also anticipated that the impact of the current lockdown and continuing economic situation residents would be facing further difficulties; due to the Government’s rejection of extending support,     the Council stepped into provide a holiday meal scheme over the half term period; eligible families had been able to apply for a grant per child with payment made to a payment card or bank account; almost 5000 children had been supported during half term through the scheme; the feedback from families and schools had been positive; the clear response was that the scheme had made a real difference; the Council officers were thanked for putting the scheme in place at such short notice.

From

To

Subject

5

Councillor

Maddie

Bridgeman

Councillor

Tudor Evans OBE

Whether an update could be provided on the progress with the negotiations to acquire the lease back for the airport?

Response:  a written update (via email) would be provided to Members on 17 November 2020.

From

To

Subject

6

Councillor

Jonathon

Drean

Councillor

Mark Coker

Whether the cycle lane in the city centre was meeting its objectives, being used and was covered by CCTV.

Response: positive feedback had been received by both residents and visitors regarding the walking and cycling lane; the CCTV provision in the city centre covered 95% of the track; the lane was being monitored; (the plastic bollards had been vandalised and should the people responsible for this be identified then they would be prosecuted).

Supplementary: confirmation that the Council had looked into mobility concerns (such as sight issues regarding the plastic bollards) and whether consideration had been given to using symbols or metal plates instead of bollards.

Response: extensive consultations had taken place with various groups; however the Council had to follow strict guidance from the Government on the emergency walking and cycling scheme, to ensure that all the criteria were met; this would be reviewed, as this was only a temporary measure.

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To

Subject

7

Councillor

Nick Kelly

Councillor

Sue Dann

Were there plans in place to install electric charging points in the various taxi ranks in the city?

Response: new taxi ranks in the city centre would be fitted with electric charging points; a meeting had been held with the taxi representatives to discuss this issue; when further funding became available, electric charging points would be installed in the major ranks across the city.

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To

Subject

8

Councillor

Eddie Rennie

Councillor

Tudor Evans OBE

Would the Council welcome the election of President-Elect Biden and consider inviting him to attend the Mayflower 400 celebrations next year?

Response: a congratulatory letter would be sent to the President-Elect Biden and Vice-President-Elect Harris; there was a standing invitation to President Trump to attend the Mayflower 400 celebrations, it was therefore presumed that the current invitation would still be open.

From

To

Subject

9

Councillor

Chaz Singh

Councillor

Sue Dann

What was the total number of covert CCTV cameras and how long was the waiting list to get the cameras installed to prevent fly-tipping in high density areas?

Response:  (Councillor Dann was not the portfolio holder responsible for CCTV but responded); 20 additional cameras had now been ordered; the cameras were placed in areas where offences took place and also in hotspot areas; an email would be sent to Councillor Singh detailing the number of covert CCTV cameras.

Supplementary:  sought clarification on how to get onto the waiting list for the installation of covert CCTV cameras.

Response: the waiting list was drawn up in an evidence based way, using intelligence gathered from refuse collectors, street cleaners, residents and Councillors; care was required when locating the cameras due to data protection issues; (a camera had been installed in Stoke car park which had resulted in a prosecution); any further intelligence would be helpful in achieving positive outcomes.

From

To

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10

Councillor

Andrea Loveridge

Councillor Sally Haydon

Whether the Council would encourage the Government to restrict fireworks (given the massive impact on animals) to 5^th November and New Year.

Response: cross party working would be supported in order to encourage the Government to restrict the sale of fireworks.

Supplementary: whether consideration could be given to lobbying the Government through the Local Government Association regarding this issue.

Response: this matter would be investigated.

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To

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11

Councillor

Kevin Neil

Councillor

Chris

Penberthy

What affordable meant in relation to plan to building 440 affordable homes and confirmation that all the rented properties would have rent set at or below the local housing allowance?

Response: affordability included a range of options, social rent, affordable market rent (80%), shared ownership rent, rent to buy (full range of affordable options as defined nationally); as this was a long term deal it would be difficult to confirm the proportion of the local housing allowance; both Plymouth Community Homes and the Council would be looking to bring forward as many properties at social rent but this would depend on land values and the availability of appropriate subsidies, as social rent would be unable to guarantee the lending that was required.

Supplementary: clarification as to how many affordable properties would be rented in total.

Response: these figures were indicative on the variety of schemes that had yet to go through final feasibility; there was an agreement on the proportion   of affordable homes but this would be worked out on a site by site basis; however, there was the long term commitment that this agreement would provide more than two thirds of affordable housing.

From

To

Subject

12

Councillor

Andrea

Johnson

Councillor

Mark Coker

How many of the cycle lockers had been rented out to users.

Response: additional lockers were currently being installed; these would be monitored over a period of time; Councillor Johnson’s constructive ideas for the lockers usage were welcomed and would be please do discuss any further ideas.

From

To

Subject

13

Councillor

Mark Deacon

Councillor

Sue Dann

How often could the people of Plymouth expect to see a road sweeper sweeping the streets?

Response: there were currently two projects taking place; one to cleanse the back lanes and the other to work through the neighbourhoods; Street Scene and Highways were working collaboratively to undertake work in the hotspot areas where there was leaf fall and regular flooding (extra gully teams would also be working); work to clear as much of the leaf fall as possible would be undertaken.

From

To

Subject

14

Councillor

Glenn Jordan

Councillor

Mark Coker

Whether health and safety and reviews had taken place prior to the installation of the temporary walking/cycling lane and after, and whether the quality of the plastic bollards had been assessed (as several bollards had been witnessed laid across the pavement)?

Response: a full risk assessment had been provided to the Government, as part of the Council’s bid; it was however disappointing to hear that several bollards had been seen laid across pavements in the city centre; the plastic bollards were fit for purpose but had been vandalised; this situation was being closely monitored.

Supplementary: how realistic would the impact of the scheme be with the reduced footfall in the city centre and whether an assessment had been done in the events area to look at the impact of potential accidents with people riding bikes through the large crowds of people?

Response: all relevant Council departments and stakeholders had been consulted regarding the walking/cycling lane; a scheme that affected every area of the city centre would not have been implemented without consultation; this was a temporary scheme which would need to be evaluated prior to making it permanent; due to the pandemic there were not as many people in the city centre but the instruction from the Government had been to implement a temporary scheme and review it over its life time.

From

To

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15

Councillor

Terri Beer

Councillor

Sue Dann

Whether green garden waste bags could be provided for properties that could not accommodate the proposed wheelie bins (in Plympton Erle Ward).

Response:  households that could not accommodate a wheelie bin would be asked to contact the Council; once residents had completed the registration form, Street Services would contact them to investigate ways of how best to support them (there were however, health and safety issues to consider with the use of garden waste bags).

Supplementary: whether a discussion could take place to look at ways of accommodating garden waste wheelie bins across the city.

Response: Street Services would be looking at these issues.

From

To

Subject

16

Councillor

Patrick

Nicholson

Councillor Mark Coker

Whether an update could be provided on the proposal, as part of the capital programme, to undertake work in 2020/21 to strengthen the bridge at Cott Hill and to remove the redundant railway bridge along the Embankment.

Response: a written update would be provided to Councillor Nicholson.

From

To

Subject

17

Councillor

Chaz Singh

Councillor Chris

Penberthy/

Councillor

Sally Haydon

Whether other religious celebrations such a Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas would be included when looking at restricting the sale of fireworks.

Response: from a equality perspective, Councillor Penberthy wished to be involved with these discussions to ensure that all appropriate faith events were included and not just 5^th November and New Year.

Response: Councillor Haydon would include the appropriate faith events as part of the discussions to restrict the sale of fireworks.

From

To

Subject

18

Councillor

David James

Councillor

Mark Coker

Whether consideration would be given to reviewing with South West Highways the completion date of 23 December 2020 for the road improvements at Coypool Road and Woodford Avenue, by investigating seven day working and longer working hours, in order to mitigate potential congestion at the Coypool Retail Park.

Response: this matter would be raised with the Service; (Ward Members to advise Councillor Coker if they wished to be involved with these discussions).

From

To

Subject

19

Councillor

Glenn Jordan

Councillor

Sue Dann

Whether those households already registered for the garden waste collection service, had been contacted to register for the new service next year and if not, why had this not happened?

Response: comms had been sent out last week; a comparison of data was being undertaken to determine whether those people already registered had re-registered; an email would be sent out to all those households that had registered last year (where an email address had been provided).

Supplementary: would it not have been logical to send an email out to the people that were already registered for the service, prior to sending out the comms.

Response: there was an IT technical issue that prevented the email from being circulated (an email would need to be sent to approximately 37,000 people).

From

To

Subject

20

Councillor

Jonathan Drean

Councillor

Mark Coker

Whether Highways England had contacted the Council regarding the safety of the A38 particularly from Marsh Mills to the Tamar Bridge where there had been several accidents.

Response: consultations would be held with Highways England with particular focus on Deep Lane to the Tamar Bridge (A38).

From

To

Subject

21

Councillor

Nick Kelly

Councillor

Mark Coker

Whether there was a plan in place to resurface the car parks at Devil’s Point and Jennycliff given their state of disrepair.

Response:  Devil’s Point car park was under the responsibility of Strategic Planning and Infrastructure, whilst Jennycliff car park was the responsibility of Corporate Property; the plans for both of these sites would be discussed with Councillor Lowry and a response would be provided to Councillor Kelly.

Supplementary: what was the criteria for resurfacing such areas as opposed to making temporary repairs?

Response: a review of the cost analysis was undertaken to determine whether it was cost effective to undertake temporary repairs or resurface the area; information on this process would also be provided to Councillor Kelly.

From

To

Subject

22

Councillor

Chaz Singh

Councillor

Tudor Evans OBE

Whether all Councillors would receive equality training to ensure that the Council was representative and inclusive.

Response: would be supportive for training to be provided for all Councillors, in order to tackle anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and Sikhism, in order for the Council to better reflect the community it served.

Supplementary: whether the training would occur within the next 12 months.

Response: the training should form part of the induction programme for Councillors at the start of the municipal year; all members (existing and new) would be able to access training opportunities.

From

To

Subject

23

Councillor

Terri Beer

Councillor

Kate Taylor

Whether the Council would encourage nursing homes to undertake Covid testing for key family members, in order for visits to take place.

Response: currently there was a national movement towards allowing key family members to be tested, so they could visit; however, this was not without risk and this would need to balance the needs of all individuals within the home whilst also protecting them and staff members; support would be given to care home to take any measures to allow visiting to take place but would need to be done in a safe way; there was also a pilot scheme trialling testing, where visitors were treated as key workers; if this scheme was successful the Council would look to replicate it in Plymouth.