Agenda and minutes

To sign the minutes of the Special and Ordinary meetings held on 24 February 2009.

The minutes of the Special and Ordinary meetings of Council held on 24 February 2009 were taken as read and signed as correct.

The minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee of 23 February 2009 were taken as read.

Members declared the following personal (*prejudicial) interests:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 23 February 2009 be received.

The minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee of 23 March 2009 were taken as read.

Members declared the following personal interests:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 23 March 2009 be received.

The minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee of 17 February 2009 were taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 17 February 2009 be received.

The minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee of 14 April 2009 were taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 14 April 2009 be received.

The minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee – Community of 10 March 2009 were taken as read.

A member declared the following personal interest:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee – Community held on 10 March 2009 be received.

The minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee – Economy of 12 March 2009 were taken as read.

A Member declared the following personal interest:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee – Economy held on 12 March 2009 be received.

The minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee – Resources of 25 March 2009 were taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee – Resources held on 25 March 2009 be received.

The minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee of 25 February 2009 were taken as read.

In relation to Minute 4 (Member Development Charter and Councillors’ Learning and Development Strategy), Councillors discussed the role and purpose of the Learning and Development Strategy.  In response to concerns expressed by some Councillors, the Portfolio Holder Business Transformation and Human Resources assured them that the purpose of the Strategy was not to measure Councillors’ competence but to provide a Framework through which the learning and development needs of Councillors could be identified in order to provide them with the skills to undertake their role effectively.   Members acknowledged the importance of learning and development opportunities in view of the complexity of Council business and particularly in relation to regulatory functions such as planning and licensing. They also considered the Strategy to be significant in attracting new candidates and supporting new Councillors.

Whilst there was some support for identifying a “champion” as a focus for developing initiatives, some Councillors expressed reservations about the usefulness of the role. Councillor Taghdissian moved that the proposal to appoint a champion be noted rather than welcomed, a vote was taken and this was agreed.  

RESOLVED that, subject to the substitution of “noted” for “welcomed “ in Minute 4(3),  the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 25 February 2009 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

The minutes of the meeting of the Local Government Review Committee of 19 March 2009 were taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Local Government Review Committee held on 19 March 2009 be received.

The minutes of the meeting of the Local Government Review Committee of 30 March 2009 were taken as read.

The Council re-affirmed its support for the position set out in the recommendation in respect of a two-unitary pattern of local government in Devon.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Local Government Review Committee held on 30 March 2009 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

The minutes of the meeting of the Executive of 24 March 2009 were taken as read.

Members declared the following personal (*prejudicial) interests:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 24 March 2009 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

The minutes of the meeting of the Executive of 7 April 2009 were taken as read.

Members declared the following personal (*prejudicial) interests and left the room where appropriate:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 7 April 2009 be received and, where appropriate, adopted.

“That the City Council is aware of the effects of the present economic situation on the publication of local newspapers many of which have ceased publication or continue on a much reduced frequency. We have no reason to suppose that Exeter’s “Express and Echo” will not feel the impact of the deteriorating financial situation. If Exeter were to lose its local paper we believe this would have a devastating effect on community cohesion, job engagement, business promotion, the operation of the housing market and many other aspects of city life in all of which the City Council has a significant interest and responsibility. We are also aware that the local paper is itself an important employer providing a wide variety of opportunities for people in the City.

The City Council therefore expresses its support for the continuation of the “Express and Echo” as a local six day a week publication. It requests that the proprietors invite the City Council into discussions with them if the proprietors were to consider significant changes in publication arrangements. The City Council additionally invites the editor of the “Express and Echo” to meet with local councillors to brief them on the situation.”

In accordance with Standing Order No 6, Councillor D.J. Morrish, submitted a Notice of Motion in the following terms:

“That the City Council is aware of the effects of the present economic situation on the publication of local newspapers many of which have ceased publication or continue on a much reduced frequency. We have no reason to suppose that Exeter’s “Express and Echo” will not feel the impact of the deteriorating financial situation. If Exeter were to lose its local paper we believe this would have a devastating effect on community cohesion, job engagement, business promotion, the operation of the housing market and many other aspects of city life in all of which the City Council has a significant interest and responsibility. We are also aware that the local paper is itself an important employer providing a wide variety of opportunities for people in the City.

The City Council therefore expresses its support for the continuation of the “Express and Echo” as a local six day a week publication. It requests that the proprietors invite the City Council into discussions with them if the proprietors were to consider significant changes in publication arrangements. The City Council additionally invites the editor of the “Express and Echo” to meet with local councillors to brief them on the situation.”

Councillor D Morrish, seconded by Councillor Gale moved the Notice of Motion, identifying the importance of a daily local newspaper and the adverse impact on City life should the newspaper cease or become less frequent. He urged the Council to be proactive in supporting the newspaper.  A number of Councillors spoke in favour of the Notice of Motion, acknowledging the role of the Express and Echo as an important community resource.   Some concerns were expressed about the misrepresentations and inaccuracies sometimes printed by the newspaper and the corrosive effect on public confidence caused by negative reporting.  Whilst wanting the paper to continue, it was noted that the newspaper was part of a large national group and that many other businesses and families faced hardship in the present financial climate.

A number of Councillors supported the principle of the motion but urged caution in how the Council intervened since it was not in a position to, nor was it appropriate for, the Council to assist the paper financially. The Council already supported the paper through the placing of public notices, advertisements and media releases.

The Notice of Motion was put to the vote and agreed.

“In view of the congestion and disruption resulting from the introduction of one-way vehicular traffic in Paris Street, Exeter City Council calls on the Highway Authority to abandon its futile attempts to mitigate the problem by further ad hoc measures and to re-instate two-way traffic in Paris Street.”

In accordance with Standing Order No 6, Councillor M.A. Baldwin, submitted a Notice of Motion in the following terms:

“In view of the congestion and disruption resulting from the introduction of one-way vehicular traffic in Paris Street, Exeter City Council calls on the Highway Authority to abandon its futile attempts to mitigate the problem by further ad hoc measures and to re-instate two-way traffic in Paris Street.”

Members declared the following personal interests:

Councillor M Baldwin moved the Notice of Motion, drawing attention to the detrimental impact that the vehicular system in Paris Street was having on local residents, trade and the environment. Whilst supporting public transport, she acknowledged that many people still needed to travel by car.

The Portfolio Holder Sustainable Development and Transport reported that the volume of traffic passing through the city centre reduced by a third following the introduction of the one-way system in Paris Street.  The increased footfall arising from the reduction in traffic volumes was significant in relation to the success of the planned re-development of the bus station site. He understood that Exeter Business Forum and the Chamber of Commerce had stated that they did not want a two-way traffic system to be re-instated. He urged the Council to await the outcome of further improvement works to Cheeke Street which were integral to the scheme, prior to making a judgement on the effectiveness of the system as a whole.

Other Councillors considered that there was insufficient evidence of an overall reduction in traffic and felt that the one-way system had merely displaced traffic to other roads.  They felt that it was unacceptable for residents and City workers to have to sit in traffic queues for long periods.    The police, fire service and taxi drivers were understood by some Councillors to have expressed support for reverting to two-way traffic.

The Leader of the Council considered that there were many benefits in retaining the one-way system including the improved movement of buses which enabled them to keep to timetables and encouraged more people to use public transport. Whilst the system was understandably controversial he felt that the views of the silent majority were not necessarily reflected in calls to re-instate 2-way traffic.

A number of Councillors considered that Devon County Council lacked an overall strategic traffic plan for the city and that piecemeal changes created problems elsewhere in the City.  A number of other suggestions for improved traffic flow were made including the introduction of part-time traffic lights on Paris Street roundabout.

Councillor Shepherd, a member of the Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee, commented that the one-way system reflected the outcome of public consultation and extensive consideration of the issues. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.