Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Planning and Building Control.

(Report circulated)

Councillor P.J.Brock declared a personal interest as a member of Devon County Council.

Councillor Prowse declared a personal interest as a member of Devon County Council.

The Head of Planning and Building Control presented the planning application for the variation of condition two to allow minor alterations to the elevations of the approved building and condition eight to allow the first floor to be used for retail / restaurant / cafe purposes (Ref: 09/2050/03 granted 23/02/2010) at The Exebridge Centre, Cowick Street, Exeter.

The Head of Planning and Building Control informed Members of the comments received from the Devon County Council Head of Service for Communities and whilst they were committed to maintaining a library service for use by residents of the West Exe area, they had not agreed an acceptable rent with the developer and no longer had an interest in occupying the space.

The recommendation was to approve the application subject to the conditions as set out in the report.

Councillor R Hannaford, having given notice under Standing Order No.44, spoke on this item. He raised the following points:-

• concern as there was not even a temporary library until mid-February
• Devon County Council had been extremely unhelpful
• the library at Exebridges was well used not only by local residents but those from neighbouring wards such as St. David’s
• there was a desperate need for a community facility and library in the West Exe area
• local residents were angry about the loss of the library
• the application should be refused.

In answer to Member’s questions, Councillor Hannaford stated that as a County Councillor he had been progress checking the position with County Council and would be raising the matter at the Council meeting this Thursday. Other sites for a library had been looked at including Bowhill Primary School, the Children’s Centre and the Showman Pub but none of these locations had been suitable. The education establishments were unsuitable due to the Health and Safety risk of the public entering the premises. He stated that the feeling amongst local residents was that the County Council were not serious about the provision of a library in the West Exe area.

The Chair was of the view that the County Council should be called to account on the matter of the provision of a library in this area.

The Planning Solicitor advised that Planning Committee would need to determine the application before them and in doing so would need to take account of the comments of Devon County Council.

Mr Bell spoke against the application. He raised the following points:-

• 71 objections had been received on this application
• 160 people had joined the Facebook page ‘Save St.Thomas Library’
• the application should be refused as it was contrary to Devon Structure Plan policies ST1 &ST3 and advice contained in the Exeter Local Plan section on Community Services
• approval would result in the loss of the library and no alternative site had been agreed
• the site was in a sustainable location, close to bus and train routes
• community needs should be put before commercial interests.

During discussion Members raised the following points:-

• difficult situation as Devon County Council stated that negotiations with the developer had broken down
• there was a need to find a permanent site for a library in St Thomas
• concern regarding any costs if the application was refused and the applicant went to appeal
• was contrary to policies in the Devon Structure Plan and Exeter Local Plan
• could a private benefactor or the local community take over the running of the library?
• very concerned that there was no provision for a library in St Thomas and that a library facility could be lost as had happened in other parts of the City
• need to call Devon County Council to account on this matter.

In response to Members’ questions, the Head of Planning and Building Control stated that the site was in a local centre therefore the use proposed of retail and restaurant was acceptable in planning policy terms; it was Devon County Council’s responsibility to find a location for the library, not the applicants; the provision of a retail/restaurant unit would not generate any more traffic than a library.

The Planning Solicitor stated that the City Council could not force the County Council to provide a library facility in this location.

Members had very serious concerns regarding the provision of a library in the St. Thomas area and were of the opinion that the application should be deferred to ask Devon County Council to clarify its position on the provision of a library in St. Thomas and to see if there was a private benefactor or community group that could provide a library facility in this area.

RESOLVED that the application for variation of condition two to allow minor alterations to the elevations of the approved building and condition eight to allow the first floor to be used for retail / restaurant / cafe purposes (Ref: 09/2050/03 granted 23/02/2010) be deferred so that Devon County Council could clarify its position with regards to the provision of a library in St. Thomas and to investigate the possibility of a private benefactor or community group providing a library in the area.

(Report circulated)