There is a worrying increase in the number of young people in Plymouth vaping and addicted to nicotine.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill currently going through Parliament is a world leading piece of legislation. Given we know around one in ten young people in Plymouth use vapes, as far as I am concerned, this Bill cannot come soon enough.

I welcome the government’s ambitious plans to bring about a smoke-free generation by banning the sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 and to introduce new restrictions to reduce the appeal of vaping to young people.

Some will argue there is nothing that can be done. That young people will always get their hands on vapes even though under-18’s can’t legally buy them. I strongly disagree with this hand wringing and defeatism. We should all rightly be proud of Plymouth’s innovative work with local schools and other citywide partners to tackle harmful vaping at schools.

We have made real progress, but we can, and we must go further.

That is why I introduced a Motion on Notice at Full Council in February to call on Ministers to introduce the new tobacco and vape rules as soon as possible.

But my message at Full Council could not be clearer. We do not have to wait to act locally. I am calling on local businesses to act now to voluntarily end the sale of vapes on shop floors. This would mean vapes would be behind the counter just like cigarettes have been for many years. By keeping vape products out of sight and out of the hands of young people, we can help stop them getting hooked on nicotine.

I am pleased to report my motion received unanimous support from all Councillors. This sends an unmistakable message; Plymouth will continue to be at the forefront of the fight to protect young people’s health.

There has been lots of good news concerning moving about in the Plymstock Dunstone and Radford wards recently, topped by the announcement that new bus services will soon run between Plymstock Broadway, Sherford and Plympton Ridgeway.

Plymstock’s Labour councillors have made ongoing representations to Plymouth City Council over the past two years and when meeting weekly with Cllr. Mark Coker, the Cabinet member responsible for bus services, I have been able to share our message loud and clear on behalf of local people. I am pleased Rebecca Smith MP has also raised this issue. These new services have been possible because of the new Labour government’s record funding of £4.5 million to help improve bus services in Plymouth.

The new services will link Plymstock and Plympton including stopping at The Park Crematorium, and Plymstock, Sherford, Langage and The Ridgeway in Plympton. These return services, along with existing ones, will benefit shift workers, school children, shoppers and, in fact, everyone to get around the city and contribute to fewer cars on the road. Route details and timetables will be made public as soon as all necessary processes, including installing bus stop infrastructure at The Park Crematorium, have been completed.

As a result of an increase in bus passenger numbers, and welcome financial support from Plymouth City Council, the evening bus services to and from Saltash / Mountbatten will also be retained after March. Like all bus services, it is vital that people use it or lose it.

Other good news is that the final stage of the Sherford Road traffic-calming project will start mid-February to the middle of April. This will improve the junction lay-out with Gemini Road, create an off-road cycle and walkway at the un-pavemented section to link Elburton and Sherford, add a direction priority section at a narrow section of the road, a dropped-kerb crossing point and a mini roundabout. After several delays, I am glad this will bring about safer active travel and a reminder to all drivers to drive considerably along this road.

Work will start this year to continue the Laira Bridge to Sherford off-road cycle link under Colesdown Hill bridge onto the Elburton Road cycle lanes. The creation of a pedestrian and cycle controlled crossing on Elburton Road near the motorcycle showroom will benefit residents’ and cyclists’ safety. Discussions continue about plans to make a better off-road cycle and walking route between Elburton and Brixton.

Residents in Staddiscombe may have noticed the preliminary stage of works to add a dropped kerb crossing from one side of Staddiscombe Road into The Staddy car park and also onto the nearby bus stop where a hard standing will be installed to bring an end to muddy feet for bus passengers using this stop! This is a measure originally raised by residents and will be paid from Dunstone Councillors’ Living Streets grant.

And finally, it has been good to relay residents’ appreciation that PCC’s Street Services Team has increased the regularity of sweeping paths, pavements and roadsides of autumn and winter debris. And yes, I know, there are still areas that could do with a sweep too!

As always, my fellow Plymstock colleagues and I, are grateful to residents who report concerns and appreciation to Plymouth City Council and to ourselves. [ENDS]

I feel passionately that as elected councillors, we should strive to make a difference in the ward in which we serve and to the city of Plymouth. We have been fortunate recently that some of our aspirations and hopes have come to fruition. There is always more to do. Sometimes the small changes we make can have a big impact.

As the deputy chair of the Child Poverty Committee, I was shocked to hear that there are approximately 1,600 households in Plymouth who are entitled to free school meals and are not claiming them. This effects approximately in the region of 2600 children. As well as missing out on a free, nutritional hot lunch every school day, these families will also be missing out on additional support available throughout the school holidays. Schools are also missing out on Pupil Premium grants associated with free school meals. There is a simple fix to this; to move to an automatic enrolment when families meet the criteria.

To make this change I submitted a motion on notice at the council meeting on the 27 January calling for Plymouth City Council to write to Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education and Liz Kendall MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, requesting that:

​• ​Auto-enrolment for free school meals be added to the anticipated Children’s Wellbeing Bill

​• ​Local education authorities are given the powers necessary to obtain and exchange the information necessary to identify and register all children eligible for free school meals.

​• ​For Plymouth City Council to review the schemes put in place by some other local authorities and consider adopting an opt-out system for 2025/26, in the event that a national scheme has not been delivered.

The motion was carried unanimously demonstrating that Plymouth City Council is committed to reducing child poverty and this change will inevitably have a positive impact on the 16.3% of Plymouth children living in poverty.

I am being kept very busy as usual with the day-to-day work of councillors – potholes, street lights, planning and many other issues are just a sample of things we deal with on our residents’ behalf on a regular basis.

I really enjoy this role and it was brought home to me just how much last year when I had a health scare. I was rushed to the Emergency Department at Derriford Hospital. I had to wait for some time to be admitted onto a hospital ward, which I know will have been the experience of many of you and your families.

The media locally and nationally were reporting on the A&E crisis in the NHS and Derriford was one of the hospitals frequently in the spotlight. This year two fantastic Plymouth MPs, Fred Thomas and Luke Pollard, delivered on their promise to get the investment we need to rebuild our Emergency Department. I am so proud of these two hard-working men, securing millions of pounds of investment needed.

Fred Thomas had invited Health Secretary Wes Streeting, to visit Derriford to see first hand the challenges doctors, nurses and paramedics were facing while caring for people across Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall.

I’m grateful that I got the care I needed which means I get to carry on being your councillor and am fit for the future. Now it’s time for our Emergency Department to get the same.