The report of the Director Economy and Development was submitted, reviewing current conditions in the City Centre, setting out a framework for the longer term and proposing a range of short and medium term priorities.
Executive recommended that:-
(1) the transportation element of these proposals be submitted to Devon
County Council as input to the LTP3; and
(2) work proceeds on the draft strategy and key projects with a
view to its incorporation into the City Centre Area Action Plan to be
prepared later this year.
The report of the Director Economy and Development was submitted, reviewing recent progress and trends in the City in terms of transportation and proposing a number of major priorities for Devon County Council to consider as part of the preparation of their Local Transport Plan.
Executive recommended that:-
(1) the core objectives outlined in Section 4.2 of the paper be agreed;
(2) the measures proposed in Section 6 of the paper be supported;
(3) a submission based on the above is made to Devon County Council as input to the preparation of LTP3;
(4) a joint ECC/DCC city centre transportation strategy should be prepared in the first half of this year;
(5) a review of the City’s Parking Strategy be completed in parallel;
(6) a joint ECC/DCC strategy on providing for electric and hybrid vehicles be prepared and the prospect for a City trial be brought to a meeting of the Scrutiny Committee - Economy later this year; and
(7) recommendations 4, 5 and 6 above be the basis for the preparation of a CLEAR zone strategy for the City Centre linked to the designation of a Low Emission Zone.
The report of the Director Economy and Development was submitted, looking at the changes that are needed in our land use policies and actions if we are to address the challenge of climate change set out in the previous paper.
Executive recommended that:-
(1) the change in land use planning priorities and design philosophy outlined in Section 4 and 5 of the report be endorsed, in particular relating to the co-location of uses and adopting higher densities;
(2) the development of a sustainable energy supply strategy for the City’s growth areas be endorsed with an implementation plan based on advice from the Centre for Energy and the Environment;
(3) the Local Government Association (LGA) be lobbied to ensure that:
· the Government provides a comprehensive policy and funding regime for delivering whole house/neighbourhood enhancements to secure substantial reductions in CO2 emissions
· the Government maintains a firm line on the Code for Sustainable Homes and for the parallel tightening of Part L of the Building Regulations for commercial premises
· the Government addresses the lack of an effective tie up between Approved Inspectors and the Local Planning Authority in delivering low carbon designs;
(4) the draft responses to consultations on zero carbon in new non domestic buildings at Appendix 1 to the report and on permitted development rights for small scale renewables at Appendix 4 be approved;
(5) the need for appropriate training for staff and, if desired, Members be agreed to ensure they are skilled in this new area of work; and
(6) the finalised Residential Design Guide adequately addresses all of those issues relating to sustainable design.
The report of the Director Economy and Development was submitted, looking at the longer term strategy for reducing carbon emissions in the City and proposing a range of short and medium term measures in respect of planning and transport issues.
Scrutiny Committee – Economy considered the report at their meeting of 21 January 2010 and their comments were noted.
Executive recommended that:-
(1) the considerable challenge facing the City and County Councils in
securing the major reductions in carbon use that are necessary be noted;
(2) the strategy and measures proposed by the Turner Committee be supported, with the exception of the views expressed on nuclear energy;
(3) the actions set out in the attached papers be endorsed as the City’s contribution to meeting its carbon reduction obligations; and
(4) six-monthly progress reports be submitted to Members.
Councillor Edwards declared a personal interest in this item as an employee of Stagecoach Devon.
The report of the Director Economy and Development was submitted, introducing four reports which outlined the challenges facing the City in reducing carbon emissions over the next two decades and beyond. The report summarised a set of actions for the short and medium term which were proposed for adoption.
Scrutiny Committee – Economy considered the report at their meeting of 21 January 2010 and their comments and general support were noted.
The Director Economy and Development introduced the report identifying the main challenges and the catastrophic consequences of global warming, including unstable weather patterns, rising sea levels and significant loss of species.
Councillor Martin attended the meeting and spoke on this item under Standing Order 44. He welcomed the visionary nature of the papers and emphasised the Council’s responsibility to plan a City for future generations. He outlined his vision of a pleasant pedestrianised City Centre with additional public spaces and an efficient high-tech public transport system. He referred to a letter from the Exeter Vision 20:20 Group who were keen to participate in the development of ideas.
Executive members welcomed the visionary nature of the documents and the opportunity to open the debate on the Council’s contribution to a low-carbon Exeter. Members commented on individual elements of the papers but acknowledged that the radical nature of some proposals required serious and detailed debate and hoped that there would be plenty of opportunity for Members to do so, including regular progress reports and possibly a Member briefing. They spoke of the various “carrot” and “stick” methods of controlling car use and the need for a reliable, integrated and affordable public transport system to provide a real alternative. They discussed the consequences of traffic control systems and referred to the debate on payment for workplace parking. Whilst supporting increased pedestrianisation, members drew attention to the access needs of less mobile people. They regretted that “public” transport had been privatised and was not under local authority control.
In response to a query regarding the mechanism for imposing a workplace parking levy, the Director Economy and Development reported that the legislation was in place to do so but there was a set procedure which required public consultation and Government approval. One member expressed concern about the potential impact on businesses if this were to be implemented. Other members commented that the Council should not start with a presumption that businesses would be against such proposals and many employers would recognise the wider environmental benefits of such a tax.
Members welcomed the proposals with regard to energy efficient homes and radical building design. They felt the Council should keep an open mind and explore all possibilities for low carbon living. A number of members commented that whilst they supported the strategy and measures proposed by the Turner Committee in relation to building and transport, they did not support proposals for generating nuclear power.
The Director Economy and Development undertook to bring forward a planned timetable for further consideration of the proposals. He urged Councillors to take a long-term view of the City’s needs with an incremental approach to implementation and not rule anything out at this stage.
The Chair welcomed the vision for the future of the City and thanked the Director for bringing forward the comprehensive papers. He referred to the significant environmental and economic pressures facing the city and the country and the need to consider all options with an open mind. He noted that many of the proposals were already underway and cited the Cranbrook development as a model for sustainable energy provision and energy efficient housing. He looked forward to working with a wide range of interest groups to develop the proposals.
Executive recommended that the actions set out in the following minutes be approved.