Cabinet Update - June 2015

NEW CABINET POST TO HELP DELIVER CITY PRIORITIES

The Cabinet has been strengthened to reflect the Council’s ambitious agenda for Plymouth.

A new position has been created to oversee the safer and stronger communities agenda, while other responsibilities have been changed to enable a strong focus on key areas.

Councillor Philippa Davey has been appointed to the new post of Cabinet member Safer and Stronger Communities and will be responsible for a portfolio that covers volunteering and voluntary and community sector matters, community safety, anti-social behaviour, the public protection service, localities working, community and neighbourhood development, community cohesion and equalities and corporate parenting.

Councillor Davey has represented Stoke since 2011 and has overseen a number of improvements in facilities for cycling in Plymouth.

Councillor Jon Taylor, who has been responsible for overseeing the Council’s transformation programme, now also takes responsibility for customer services, libraries and ICT in the position as Cabinet member for Transformation and Customer Services.

Councillor Brian Vincent’s new Street Scene portfolio includes responsibility for areas such as highways maintenance, as well as waste management and parks.

Councillor Mark Coker is now responsible for development planning and the Plymouth Plan, Destination Plymouth and tackling climate change and sustainability, as well as strategic transport issues and major highways projects.

Council leader Tudor Evans said: “The Council has had a huge and ambitious agenda and all Cabinet members have done an excellent job in delivering it at a rapid pace. We have achieved a great deal despite having a smaller cabinet than most other authorities of this size. We have a huge amount that we want to deliver and these changes will help us maintain the momentum.

“I am delighted that someone of Philippa Davey’s experience and calibre will be joining the Cabinet to lead these critical areas. She has a lot of relevant experience to bring not only to her portfolio but to the Cabinet as a whole.

“The other changes to portfolios bring together responsibilities that naturally sit well together and that experience of the last couple of years show complement each other.”

THE CABINET

Tudor Evans, Leader

Councillor Pete Smith, Deputy Leader

Councillor Mark Lowry, Finance

Councillor Jon Taylor, Transformation and Customer Services

Councillor Sue McDonald, Children, Young People and Public Health

Councillor Ian Tuffin, Health and Adult Social Care

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Co-operatives and Housing

Councillor Philippa Davey, Safer and Stronger Communities

Councillor Mark Coker, Strategic Transport and Planning

Councillor Brian Vincent, Streetscene

The scheme of delegation sets out the full responsibilities of each Cabinet portfolio.

HUGE ROAD IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN UNDER WAY

A three-year programme to resurface two thirds of Plymouth’s strategic road network is under way.

The £11.2 million repair programme is part-funded by the Department for Transport’s Highway Maintenance Challenge Fund, with an additional £2.8 million being invested by the Council.

Twenty main roads and three roundabouts will be given a new lease of life over the next 18 weeks, alongside our day-to-day road repair programme.

While they are on site, crews will also carry out work to enhance walking and cycling routes and improve drainage systems, as well other routine maintenance that may be needed.

In total, we will be spending more than £8 million improving Plymouth’s roads and pavements this financial year. 

For more information please read the full press release.

CHARLES CHURCH SEEN IN A NEW LIGHT

Plymouth’s memorial to the Blitz, Charles Church, is being seen in a new light.

A new set of lights which have been installed on the monument at the top of Exeter Street as part of our pledge to light Plymouth’s landmarks, which recently saw new lighting installed at Smeaton’s Tower.

The church, which dates back to the 1600s, was entirely burnt out by incendiary bombs in 1941 and remains a memorial to the city’s residents who lost their lives during the Second World War.

Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet member for Finance (pictured above with Cllr Chris Penberthy and project manager Gareth Simmons), said: “Charles Church has a very special place in the hearts of Plymouth people. With VE Day only recently celebrated, it is important to remember the sacrifices made by this city during the Second World War. We must never forget and keeping this memorial in the spotlight is a simple way to remind people of Plymouth’s past.”

Plymouth people expressed overwhelming support to improving the lighting for the church following a number of trials last November. 

Plans for lighting the Mayflower Steps and Mount Batten Fort are also being prepared.

BONAPARTE RETURNS TO PLYMOUTH

It’s not often Plymouth gets a visit from a Bonaparte – the last time was in 1815 when hundreds of people rowed out to a ship in the Sound to look at the fallen emperor.

But this time Charles Bonaparte, who is chair of the European Federation of Napoleonic Cities, came in peace and came face-to-face with a famous image of his ancestor at an event in the Plymouth City Museum.

Monsieur Bonaparte, a direct descendent of Napoleon Bonaparte, was invited to the exhibition at the City Museum and Art Gallery about the dramatic visit of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815.

Deputy Council Leader Peter Smith (pictured above with Charles Bonaparte) said: “We are delighted to have Monsieur Bonaparte to hear his thoughts on the federation and look forward to exploring this idea. It’s fantastic to see him here in Plymouth.

“This exhibition relates to an extraordinary episode in Plymouth’s history when the French Emperor, a long-time enemy of Britain, was actually here – defeated at the Battle of Waterloo and a prisoner on board HMS Bellerophon. 

“Many people don’t necessarily realise how much the Napoleonic Wars shaped the city of Plymouth – or the ‘Three Towns’ of Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport, as they were then known.”

The exhibition is open 10am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays. Admission is free.

NEW LOOK LAIRA RAIL BRIDGE REOPENS

Plymouth’s iconic Laira Rail Bridge has reopened after lying derelict for 28 years.

A £3.5 million scheme funded through the Department for Transport Local Sustainable Transport Fund has breathed new life into the former rail bridge by converting it into a walking and cycling route over the River Plym.

Built in 1887, the Laira Rail Bridge stopped carrying passenger trains in the 1960s and freight trains in the 1980s.

Thanks to DfT funding for the Council's Plymotion Project, the familiar local landmark has been brought back into use as a safer, traffic-free link for walkers and cyclists.

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport and Planning, said: “It will be great to see the iconic rail bridge back in use. The Laira Rail Bridge scheme has delivered an important part of our east to west cycling route and will soon be enhanced by improvements between Saltram and the Plym Valley, thanks to funding from the DfT’s Cycle Ambition Fund.

“We have also brought forward work to provide a new bridge over The Ride as part of this project and, in the longer term, we plan to extend the pedestrian and cycle path further along the old railway alignment to Saltram Meadow and beyond.”

Pictured below: Councillor Coker opens the new Laira Rail Bridge path with Stuart Mee (Plymouth Cycling Campaign), Sue Jennings and David Hext (Sustrans) and Colin Woodman (Cyclists’ Touring Club).

RAISING CITY'S PROFILE WITH NEW GOVERNMENT

We are making sure key Plymouth issues are high on the agenda of new Government Cabinet members.

Councillor Evans has written to key members of the new Cabinet setting out some of the most pressing issues for Plymouth and asking for meetings at the earliest opportunity to discuss them.

They include support for the Mayflower 400 celebrations, addressing underfunding in areas such as public health, progressing the City Deal, investing in rail infrastructure and support for Devonport Naval Base.

In a letter to Greg Clark, the new Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Councillor Evans set out the huge financial challenges facing the City Council and how it is addressing them proactively with an ambitious transformation programme. He called for Mr Clark to support this transformation with greater flexibility over finances.

In his letter to Penny Mordaunt, Minister of State for Armed Forces, Councillor Evans also welcomed the support for Plymouth’s Enterprise Zone bid for South Yard, which will enable the city to fast track developments to create a marine production campus employing 1,200 people, but told the Portsmouth MP that Plymouth needed to be treated fairly over the Dockyard and Naval Base.

And in his letter to Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills, Councillor Evans asked for further talks on further support for Plymouth’s plans to match skills with employers’ needs, particularly in growth areas such as the marine sector.

The City Council already had high level discussions with Government about the city’s plans for the Mayflower 400 celebrations. In his letter to John Whittingdale, the new Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Councillor Evans asked to continue the discussions about Plymouth’s plans to celebrate the anniversary, which provides an outstanding opportunity to act as a catalyst for major economic growth and cultural enrichment on both sides of the Atlantic.

Following Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin’s re-appointment Councillor Evans reiterated the need to address decades of underfunding and create a South West Peninsula railway that is fit for purpose through a programme that provides a resilient and reliable railway, faster journey times, better connectivity and sufficient capacity and comfort.

He also called for the Secretary of State to ensure one of his priority decisions is to confirm approval for First Great Western to go ahead with the procurement of the build and financing of a new train fleet for the South West.

Councillor Evans has asked Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health, calling on his support in addressing the very low levels of funding the Government provides Plymouth for public health compared to other parts of the country.

Councillor Evans said: “We have worked hard over the last few years to build relationships with Government ministers and make sure the city is much higher up the national agenda. We absolutely have to address decades of underfunding in areas such as rail infrastructure, funding to roads and for vital services such as public health. We cannot afford to lose momentum and will be making sure we maintain Plymouth’s profile in Westminster. Along with our partners we will be knocking on their doors and continuing to bang the drum for Plymouth.”

The full letters are available on the Council's website.

WORK ON NEW CCTV CENTRE UNDER WAY

Work to provide Plymouth with a more powerful CCTV system is under way.

An old unused kitchen in the basement of the Council House is being transformed into a base for the city’s new CCTV control centre.

At the moment there are two distinct sets of cameras – the CCTV and those that belong to the Traffic Control Unit. Under the new system the different teams will be able to share infrastructure, which not only makes financial sense but offers increased visibility within the city.

There are over 300 cameras across the city, those in parks, at Chelson Meadow, the Park and Ride sites, St Budeaux Square, as well as the city centre.

A bank of screens will be installed which will enable staff to view images from these cameras. The new technology will mean they will be able to call up images from many cameras at once if there is an incident – as well as instantly playback events – something staff are not able to do at the moment.

The Traffic Control Unit, which currently has fewer cameras, but can change traffic light sequences, will also have equipment in the new control room, and will be able to monitor traffic better as staff will access a wider number of cameras.

As well as monitoring public safety and general surveillance, the system is linked to the city’s pubs, clubs and shops radios.

The new control room will have more responsive technology, capacity to link with other external alarm systems; increased CCTV visibility, a break-out space for staff, additional services to partners, a purpose built workshop and presentation/monitoring room.

The CCTV facilities will be moved from its current location in Mayflower Car Park which will be demolished to make way for the new coach station.

The outdated Bretonside bus station is to be redeveloped by British Land, the owner of Drake Circus and will be home to a new leisure development including a cinema complex, 13 restaurants and parking for over 400 cars, as well as extensive improvements to public areas. 

TOP DJ TO HEADLINE MTV CRASHES DAY TWO

One of the most in-demand DJs in the world is to headline day two of MTV Crashes Plymouth event next month.

20-year-old Dutch wonder-kid Oliver Heldens will play a special exclusive South West show to the MTV crowd on Thursday 23 July.

The line-up for Day Two mixes some heavyweight performers alongside outstanding emerging superstars, along with Club MTV residents R3wire and Varski.

With more names still to come, MTV Crashes Plymouth Day Two is shaping up to be an unforgettable outdoor summer dance party.

The last remaining tickets – priced just £10 –  are available on the See Tickets website.

MTV Crashes Plymouth is organised by MTV in collaboration with the City Council. It will be broadcast on MTV’s flagship UK music TV channels, showcasing Britain’s Ocean City in over 35 countries.

MTV will be announcing more names for Day One soon – stay up-to-date on the Visit Plymouth website, follow @MTVPlymouth on Twitter or see the What’s On Plymouth Facebook page.