Agenda item

Questions on the following topics were put to the Board under the Open Forum arrangements.

Traffic Congestion - Mr Preist

In addition to the circulated answer, the concerns expressed that there was a need for a long rather than a short term approach to congestion was acknowledged.

It was stated that, following a full debate on traffic congestion at the March meeting of the City Council’s Scrutiny Committee - Community, the City Council’s Principal Project Manager would report back to the next Scrutiny Committee - Community on the way forward 9 June 2015. The Chair also undertook to meet again with Mr Preist and the Exeter Civic Society.

Anti Social Behaviour and Students – Mr Brownbridge

Mr Brownbridge highlighted:-

·         considerable disturbance and distress caused to residents by students during freshers week and beyond and the need for the University to act to curb this unacceptable behaviour including sanctions on guilty students, increased Estate Patrols, effective police presence in residential areas and use of CCTV cameras for real time feeds to the Police on the ground;

·         lack of sanctions or charges brought to date against students;

·         positive action by the University to manage the situation next September/October; and

·         introduction of a “Late Night Levy” on the alcohol trade.

Superintendent Perkin acknowledged that the October 2014 freshers week had been more raucous than normal and that there had been an anti social behaviour summit with the University Chief Operating Officer, the Head of Security and City Council staff. Following refusal of entry to university staff at certain licensed premises, three licensed owners had been advised that this was unacceptable. A plan was being developed covering the City Centre and residential areas regarding this time of the year and would be considered by the Community Safety Partnership.

Phil Atwell acknowledged the value of the summit, referred to the Best Bar None initiative to which a number of licensed premises had signed up and confirmed that the University would be robust in addressing excessive behaviour and transient noise issues. He advised that students were written to at home before leaving for University, briefed on arrival on desired conduct and that three levels of sanctions could be imposed on students, the most severe being expulsion from University. He undertook to respond further to Mr Brownbridge, including figures on the number if sanctions.

Meals in School Holidays – Saxon Spence

Saxon Spence updated the Board on progress with the Exeter hub of the Devon and Cornwall Food Association and the work undertaken with the Exeter Food Hub on exploring provision of meals during school holidays for children in need. She circulated the Association newsletter and a paper she had presented to the County Council and its response as well as that of the Exeter Food hub. The County Council’s Head of Education and Learning had reported to the Devon Education Forum on local authorities and partners supporting families with children in food poverty who did not receive Free School Meals out of school and would report back when further information had been received from Schools. The County Council would then give consideration on whether to introduce a project in Exeter.

Saxon Spence asked for Board support on an initiative to provide meals and activities in the summer holidays for Exeter children in need.

RESOLVED that the Exeter hub be invited to submit an application form for grant support.

Disabled Parking Bays in Residential Areas – Tony Langmead

In addition to the circulated answer, it was noted that the County Council did not consult on the location of advisory bays but that complaints received on this issue were low. There was no planning or regulatory process involved and complications occasionally occurred, usually involving neighbour disputes. In this instance, the questioner was the owner of a property in respect of which a bay had been secured by one of his tenants without his knowledge.

Members supported the suggestion that the Exeter HATOC be asked to consider the broader implications associated with this issue.

South West Exeter Development – Juliet Meadowcraft

In addition to the circulated answer, Members acknowledged the concerns expressed by the Alphington Village Forum and the Campaign for South West Smarter Travel regarding the forthcoming developments and the impact on this relatively unspoilt western approach to Exeter. Councillor Barker, as Deputy Leader of Teignbridge District Council, confirmed that there was collaborative working with the County Council and City Council with the three authorities working through mechanisms on identifying infrastructure needs, solutions and a programme for their delivery and that it was essential for full co-operation to continue as the full detail of the housing plans came forward. He remarked that much of the CIL contributions would be utilised to fund the associated infrastructure and that it was unfortunate that the developers had come forward as quickly as they had.

Members recognised the concerns regarding elements of the infrastructure proposals and referred to the debate over the most appropriate Park and Ride solution acknowledging the preference expressed for a site at the Peamore business centre rather than the A30/Alphington intersection as well as the inherent difficulties for both bus and car travel along the Alphington corridor. A Member remarked that it was unfortunate that the same joined up approach with a formal structure had not been adopted as was the case for developments around the east of the City.

The questions and answers are appended to the minutes.