Agenda item

Councillor R Denham (Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture) Councillor R Sutton (Portfolio Holder for City Development) and Councillor R Hannaford (Portfolio Holder for Place) to present a year end update for 2015/16 and priorities for 2016/17. (2016/17 priorities to be tabled).

The Portfolio Holders for City Development (Councillor Sutton) Economy and Culture (Councillor Denham) attended to present the achievements for 2015/16.  A report was also circulated which set out targets and milestones showing the aims of the Council during the year and what had been achieved by May 2016. The Portfolio Holder Place (Councillor Hannaford) and Councillor Sutton and Denham presented their priorities for 2016/17.

The Portfolio Holder for City Development highlighted the following achievements for 2015/16, and priorities for 2016/17. There significant issues posed by the retail proposals in the Honiton Road corridor and Junction 27 of the M5.  A final decision on the outcome of the Moor Exchange proposal was awaited from the Secretary of State.

She also responded as follows to Members’ comments:-

·         the continuation of the low carbon work including the District Heating Schemes, with a number of key partners having already signed up.

·         there had been ongoing discussions with the University to encourage provision of student accommodation on the Streatham campus, but any planning proposals would come forward through the Committee process in the normal way.

·         the City’s valley parks should continue to be protected along with other parts of the green infrastructure as they offered such a valuable green environment and habitat.

·         the delivery of IKEA was still progressing as expected on the identified site and was included in the company’s forward plan.

The Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture highlighted the following achievements for 2015/16 and priorities for 2016/17.  The progression of Exeter City Futures with the main themes of Transport, Energy and Health were actively being pursued, as was the Innovation Exeter initiative to address skills development, create more highly skilled and sustainable jobs to raise the profile of the area for inward investment. She also referred to the ongoing future commitment for future investment in the city centre and the wider West Quarter particularly around South Street.

She also responded to Members’ comments as follows:-

·         the work of Exeter City Futures to form partners with the Met Office, the RD&E and other community businesses in the city was progressing together with the development of pilot Active Transport programmes using new technology, with any individual projects coming back to the City Council.

·         a feasibility study would be carried out with local businesses and the wider community to explore ideas for future investment in the environs of South Street, including options for a new city centre performance venue.  There was also a separate strand of work with representatives from the cultural sector to consider the attributes of a suitable venue in the city.

The Portfolio Holder for Place highlighted a number of priorities for 2016/17:-

·         working proactively with Devon and Cornwall Police, local PCSO’s and Devon County Council to help address individuals with more complex needs.  He hoped to continue to look at how new technology could be used to benefit the valued Neighbourhood Watch schemes.

·         work to improve recycling rates with spot checks of areas around the city’s residential areas including working more positively with the university.  He was keen to look at new ways to recycle and develop the work with the school community.

·         they hoped to improve cleansing in the city centre and work with frontline operators to ensure a review for the city centre.

·         to resolve the responsibilities for the management of the Exe Estuary Harbour, Canal and waterways.

·         he was also keen to work with the Exeter Allotments Forum, and consider more sustainable ways of maintaining playing areas around the city.

He also responded as follows to Members’ comments:-

·         the effort made by cleansing staff who worked hard to keep Exeter attractive and tidy. He noted the comment made over the inclusion of bins in the High Street and management of bins in areas such as around the Cathedral. 

·         the relationship with the University over recycling with a variety of approaches made by students and to ongoing engagement over the range of opportunities to recycle. 

·         he would contact the Parks and Greenspace Manager over the state of the grass on the community space in Digby.

The respective reports of the Portfolio Holders for City Development (Councillor Sutton), Economy and Culture (Councillor Denham), and Place (Councillor Hannaford) and priorities for 2016/17 were noted.