This meeting's agenda included a petition about the Central Park Ponds Project, a report on city centre car parking, and an update on homelessness in Plymouth.

Central Park Ponds Project

The committee was scheduled to consider a response to a petition about the Central Park Ponds Project. The petition was started in July 2024 when work on the project had been stopped due to extreme rainfall during the winter of 2023. The petition had 4 requests:

1. "Understand why this project has left people dissatisfied.”
2. “Communicate with and listen to the park community to plan and agree something better.”
3. “Remove temporary fencing and reinstate access to public spaces.”
4. “Commission an independent review to facilitate improvements.”

The report responding to the petition explains the timeline of the project and why there had been delays. The report argues that because work has now resumed, and because the project was widely consulted on, no further action is needed other than to complete the project. For example the report says:

It is not deemed good value for money to commission an independent review of the project as the improvements are now progressing in line with the approved plans. The focus is now on completing the works.

Central Park is a park in Plymouth.

City Centre Car Parks

The Committee were also scheduled to be provided with an update on the state of the council's car parks in the city centre. The report explained that the council owns 19 car parks in the city centre with a total of 3077 car parking spaces and that demand for parking is generally lower than the number of spaces available.

The report describes challenges of anti-social behaviour and the need for investment. For example it says:

As with any aging assets, there is the potential for the costs of maintaining such structures to increase and it is not possible to guarantee that any, or all, of these car parks will be operation beyond the next 15 to 20 years.

The report concludes by arguing that because the city council is committed to providing more sustainable forms of transport than the private car, the car parks could be repurposed to support new housing developments.

Homelessness in Plymouth

The committee was scheduled to receive a verbal update on the number of homeless people in Plymouth and the council's plans to accommodate them. The report to be discussed explains that the council had purchased the Royal Building to provide temporary accommodation for homeless families. It also explains that there were 347 households in temporary accommodation and B&Bs in September 2024. Finally, the report describes the council's plans to provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers during the winter. For example:

During very adverse weather where there is a yellow, amber or red weather warning, or/and three consecutive days of below zero degrees, PATH and PCC lead on the delivery of SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Provision) with organisations working with rough sleepers.

PATH is an acronym for Plymouth Access to Housing. They are a charity that works to prevent and address homelessness in Plymouth. PCC is an acronym for Plymouth City Council.

Household Waste and Recycling

The committee was scheduled to receive a report on household waste and recycling in Plymouth.

Customer Services Strategy

The committee was scheduled to receive a report on the council's customer service strategy. This is significant because the council is currently consulting on a new customer services strategy.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The meeting was also scheduled to receive the minutes of the previous meeting, which took place on 16 October 2024. During this meeting, the committee discussed a report on bereavement services. Councillor Haydon explained that the new crematorium had been well received by the public. She explained that the old crematoria at Weston Mill and Efford would be closed, but that the memorial books, toilets and water for flowers would still be available at those sites. The committee was also due to be given an update about the performance of the council's street services team. Councillor Briars-Delve explained that street services were responsible for a wide range of services. He explained that there had been a review of grit bins in the city, and that the results of this review would be brought back to the committee at a future meeting.

Work Programme

The committee was also scheduled to discuss its work programme for the coming year. The work programme includes items on serious violence, public toilets, and the cost of living. It also notes that the council has a duty to improve public connectivity with the council and to promote equality.