Agenda and draft minutes

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 15 April 2025 and the Annual Council meeting held on 13 May 2025.

The minutes of the Ordinary meeting of the Council held on 15 April 2025 were moved by the Lord Mayor, taken as read, approved and signed as correct.

The minutes of the Annual meeting of the Council held 13 May 2025 were moved by the Lord Mayor, taken as read, approved and signed as correct.

The Lord Mayor advised that she had attended 12 events since being elected as Lord Mayor including:

• Exeter College’s under-18s women’s rugby training session;
• Ukrainian Vyshyvanka Day;
• Hong Kongers Dragon Boat Festival;
• The openings of both the LHC office, and the McDonalds in Digby;
• Exeter Comedy Festival; 
• Devon County Show;
• Respect Festival;
• Women’s Rugby World Cup Trophy;
• Bow Lines Maritime Literary Festival; and
• Choral Evensong at the Cathedral following the introduction of the new Bishop of Crediton designate. 

The Deputy Lord Mayor advised that she had attended two events since being elected.

The Lord Mayor also reminded Members of Armed Forces Day on 20^th June, and the Freedom of the City parade by the Royal Marines of Lympstone Marine Camp, and that she hoped to see many Members there.

Details of questions should be notified to the Democratic Services Manager at least three working days prior to the meeting - by 10am on Thursday 5 June 2025. Further information and a copy of the procedure are available from Democratic Services with details about speaking at Council to be found here: Public Speaking at Meetings.

The Lord Mayor reported the receipt of nine questions from members of the public and advised that supplementary questions should be short and directly related. Any questions that cannot be addressed during this Item will be answered in the minutes.

Question from James Diamond to Councillor Wood

“The December ECC motion called on DCC to increase the number of School Street what contribution could this make to the delivery of the 2040 Vision ‘By the time they are an adult, a child born in Exeter today will live in a city that is inclusive, healthy and sustainable?”

Response from Councillor Wood

“School Streets have the potential to increase the amount of walking and cycling achieved by children, young people and families. This would support improved physical and mental wellbeing and enable children and young people to be healthy and active through daily walking and cycling. Children who walk and cycle to school will be more likely to continue with sustainable travel behaviour as they get older, therefore contributing to the 2040 vision and the council net zero ambitions.”

In a supplementary question the member of the public asked the Portfolio Holder if he would commit to meet the new Leader of Devon County Council (DCC) and the new Portfolio Holder for transport to make most of the motion. The Portfolio Holder deferred to the Leader as there was more than one relevant Portfolio, and the Leader advised that there had been meetings scheduled at respective levels.

Question from Harriet Sharp to Councillor Vizzard

“In December 2024, ECC passed a potion calling on DCC to increase the number of School Streets in Exeter and to provide a progress report on this activity to the ECC Transport Member Working Group in six months’ time. Can you please provide a copy of this six-monthly report?”

Response from Councillor Vizzard

“Officers from the Council’s Live and Move team are engaged with Devon County Council sustainable transport team regarding active travel and school streets in particular. DCC maintains an active school streets application process that is open to all schools and we are aware that DCC have recently commissioned a project to support a number of Exeter Schools with Travel Plan measures. A progress report will be taken to the next Exeter Transport member Working Group on 18 September 2025”

In a supplementary question the member of the public asked if there had been any meetings between DCC officers and ECC officers since the motion. Councillor Vizzard advised he was not aware and asked officers to report back.

Question from Mark Hackett to Councillor Bialyk, Leader

“When the Council Tax officer ignores emails sent to the correct address about problems with the council tax what can a citizen do when ignored at Exeter City Council level?”

Response to Councillor Bialyk, Leader

“Citizens can refer to the Council’s corporate complaints policy and can make a formal complaint if they think we have:

• not resolved an issue or problem at the first point of contact;
• done  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

The Lord Mayor invited Angela Martin to speak on behalf of the petition organiser, who presented and spoke on the following petition, entitled “Save Northbrook Pool” which had gained 2231 signatures.

“Lord Mayor, Councillors, no decision can justly be made about closing Northbrook Swimming Pool without data verified as accurate. Leisure services are looking for a £586,000 cut in budget. We have worked out ways to cover this. We are told the three swimming pools have 12,000 members. If only half of them paid a membership fee equal to that charged by other Devon towns the resulting income would be in the region of £590,000. Cuts covered.  In addition, the lease with Northbrook Trust left is much longer than the 15 years needed for ECC to make a commitment to Northbrook swimming pool to receive a grant from Sport England and Swim England. This grant has been approved before but someone in ECC believed the lease was left only 9 years and not the 70-odd our information tells us and so turned it down. This could be re-applied for.

The Willow Grange development increasing the population close to Northbrook swimming pool will yield a CIL of £818,772 this could also be used, even in part for maintenance and upgrading the building which has been sorely neglected. Then there is the matter of managing the income of the pools. £60,000 of club fees were not included in the figures presented in February.  The Leader of WEFTE was left holding £7,000 worth of fees because no one knew how to process it. It is too easy to walk into Northbrook for a pay as you go swim with no one on the desk to take the money. So, we have no idea the total losses made in this way, and it does mean that Exeter City Council has no idea how many people are using the pool because it is not recorded.

Membership is across the three pools, so this is no indicator either of the number of members who use Northbrook. Nor do we know the savings in the long run for the NHS or the care services because people are using Northbrook to help their physical and mental wellbeing often on doctor’s orders.

It is an important facility for the local schools who are bound by the national curriculum to ensure their pupils can swim. Its small size, quietness, calm and closed environment and friendly atmosphere is where the school can provide its own 1:1 supervision. Makes it a safe place for the students of Ellen Tinkham School who are autistic and have sensory disorders. Why seek an alternative when we already have one here.

Because the prescribed characteristics of the majority of the clientele using Northbrook, ECC would need to be very careful it does not fall foul of the 2010 Equality Act. If you want to keep it, you should use it – well it’s difficult if you don’t finish work before three o’clock which is when the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

The minutes of the Planning Committee of 28 April 2025 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Knott, and taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 28 April 2025 be received.

The minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee of 17 April 2025 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Wardle.

In respect of Minute No. 62 Constitutional Changes- City Development Functions and Responsibilities, Councillor Wardle moved and Councillor Knott seconded the recommendation which following a unanimous vote was CARRIED.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee of 17 April 2025 be received.

Councillor Rees, current Chair, deferred to Councillor Parkhouse as Chair at the time of the meeting. The minutes of the Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee of 27 March 2025 were presented by Councillor Parkhouse and taken as read.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Customer Focus Committee of 27 March 2025 be received.

The minutes of the Strategic Scrutiny Committee of 3 April 2025 were presented by the Chair, Councillor Pole.

In respect of Minute No. 65 Portfolio Holder report – Portfolio Holder for Leisure Services and Healthy Living, Councillor Moore stated that she had asked a question regarding the governance models for the Wonford Community Hub, how that decision would be made and whether the answer would be put on the website to enable the community to understand. In response the Portfolio Holder, Councillor Wood stated that a response would be forthcoming and could be placed in the website.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Strategic Scrutiny Committee of 3 April 2025 be received.

The minutes of the Executive of 20 May 2025 were presented by the Leader, Councillor Bialyk.

In respect of Minute 42 (Review of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy), Councillor Parkhouse spoke of the importance of the revision of policies.

The Leader moved, and Councillor Wright seconded the recommendation that the Council approve the adoption of the revised Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy and following a vote was CARRIED.

In respect of Minute 43 (Disposal Report Seeking Authority to Dispose of the Former Clifton Hill Leisure Centre), Councillor Harding felt it important that it would be 100 percent affordable and not designated for student housing. Councillor Harding also raised the point of community engagement and asked how that would be delivered.

Councillor Ketchin raised that the Leader was open to an access strip for the Portland residents that had been promised previously, as a condition of the site sale.

Councillor Patrick delighted to see this site developed and provide much needed housing for older residents. Asked for reassurance from the Leader, that once the site is sold, it cannot be used for other types of housing.

The Leader responded to members comments in the following terms:

• public engagement would be carried out through the planning process;
• the development would be exclusively for over 55s; and
• he was confident that the Council would make sure it was not used for anything other than 72, over 55s affordable homes.

The Leader moved, and Councillor Wright seconded that the Council approve a budget for £50,000 funded by anticipated capital receipts to cover disposal costs, including external agency and legal fees, associated with this sale which following a unanimous vote was CARRIED.

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Corporate Resources.

The Leader, Councillor Bialyk, presented the report.

Councillor Moore questioned the significant underspend in some areas of the Council budget and asked how the Executive planned to build capacity to deliver against the budget.

Councillor Banyard raised a question regarding the £200,000 put aside to look after leisure buildings and queried whether this could be used to create a proper business plan for Northbrook Pool.

Councillor Wetenhall questioned whether the search for alternative council premises was still underway and whether a move would happen before any development with the potential unitary changes.

The Leader and the Section 151 Officer responded in the following terms:

·         the Executive were meeting frequently to keep an eye on this;

·         the £200,000 had already been spent by leisure;

·         there would be a feasibility study presented to Council regarding any move, and should a further budget be required all necessary information would be provided at that time; and

·         regardless of the future of the authority, it was anticipated that a place in Exeter would always be necessary.

The Leader moved and Councillor Wright seconded the recommendations which following a vote were CARRIED.

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Corporate Resources.

The Leader, Councillor Bialyk, presented the report.

During debate Councillor Moore commented on the Mallinson Bridge, and asked what Exeter City Council (ECC) were doing to request that Devon County Council report to ECC and explain why these delays had been allowed to happen, and whether Mallinson Bridge must be used for walking and cycling.

During debate Councillor Rees asked for updates regarding the schedule of consultation for refurbishment of the pools and play equipment in Heavitree Park.

During debate Councillor Read asked for confirmation on the budget that would be spent in the coming year for the works to the city wall.

Responding to questions from Members, the Leader made the following points:

• Devon County Council had now been in contact with Exeter City Council regarding the funding of the bridge and the Leader would be discussing this with the Directors in order to feedback to Members. DCC owned this project, and the Leader would discuss with the Leader of DCC when the opportunity arose. It was important that Mallinson Bridge was separated and for pedestrians and cyclists;
• the splash pools in Heavitree and St Thomas would be open; the consultation was regarding the play equipment. They were separated to ensure that the splash pools were able to be opened as soon as possible. The Station Road park in Exwick cost £70,000 to refurbish, but it was important that children’s play equipment was long-lasting, and that the appropriate assessments had been undertaken; and
• the budget used for the works on the Roman wall was an operational matter, and he would talk to Directors regarding this and works undertaken during the year.

The Leader moved and Councillor Wright seconded the recommendations and following a unanimous vote, were CARRIED.

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Corporate Resources.

The Leader, Councillor Bialyk, presented the report.

Councillor Moore speaking as opposition co-leader, welcomed some of the items in this budget, particularly the issues surrounding long-term leases to secure temporary accommodation.

The Leader moved and Councillor Wright seconded the recommendations and following a unanimous vote were CARRIED.

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Corporate Resources.

The Leader presented the report and moved the recommendations which Councillor Wright seconded and following a unanimous vote, the recommendation was CARRIED.

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Corporate Resources.

The Leader presented the report.

During debate Councillor Read asked for clarity regarding the ear-marked reserve for ECL, and the report for ECL and what that would be used for. She asked for comment on Exeter Science Park financial viability, and their capacity to plan for future development as stated in the report.

The Strategic Director for Corporate Resources responded making the following points:

• the ear-marked reserve was ECL property support and supported the ECC funding of sales of land to ECL. ECL had been wound down but sales of land had continued and the ear-marked reserve was now being used for its intended purpose; and
• ESVL loss still required high level occupation to break even, and it was just below that at the moment which resulted in loss. The onus was on shareholders to work with the company to enable propositions to come forward.

The Leader moved the recommendation, seconded by Councillor Wright and following a unanimous vote was CARRIED.

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Corporate Resources.

The Leader, Councillor Bialyk, presented the report.

During debate Councillor Wetenhall stated felt there had been a failure to consider alternatives to using the bus station as a car park. The space provided opportunity for a range of uses, and no discussion had been had with an interested party. Would like to note the failure to consider funding for the climate change team outside of building a car park.

Councillor Vizard agreed that this was the only idea that had been brought forward and came forward as part of budget discussions. The Net Zero Team were carrying out great work across a huge number of different areas. The report stated that there would be a loss of 500 parking spaces following the sale of the Mary Arches carpark, and this proposal would add 50 spaces. We do need to provide for business and make sure the city centre is accessible. He would like to see an alternative but at present it was lying empty.

Councillor Hughes welcomed the potential for accessible parking near St Sidwell’s Point as they had heard from the petitioners for Northbrook Pool that parking at SSP was an issue for them. It would be great if there were some disabled parking spaces;

Councillor Patrick considered this a pragmatic use of the space. Transitional processes were required whilst the public moved to active travel and public transport. This was a short term, temporary use and low cost to implement and did not prohibit other ideas for the future.

Councillor Moore raised that there was already a car park near the site and stated that in December 2024 the Executive agreed that in early 2025 a proposal would be brought forward for the development of this site. General Fund Report highlighted costs associated with the demolition of the bus station, roughly £46,000 spare. There was money available to turn it into a meanwhile use car park and meanwhile use gives up opportunity to explore other things on the site.

Councillor Ketchin asked if there was potential for different uses at weekends to week-day use.

Councillor Wright reiterated that she was an advocate for people and businesses in the city, who have concerns about the amount of parking in the city. Losing 500 parking spaces would have a knock-on effect on businesses in the city. She was not comfortable with the route taken by an interested party in raising their business plan.

Councillor Read raised her concern about using a car park to fund net zero. There was a car park nearby that wasn’t always full, and officer assessment said it was under capacity. There was no demonstrable need for another car park. Other councils such as Frome, and Barnstaple, have covered markets and she wondered why Exeter did not have one. Once the car park was established, there would be no way of guaranteeing that it would be a meanwhile use. If disabled spaces were needed, these should have been provided when SSP was built. She felt that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Place.

The Leader, Councillor Bialyk presented the report.

During debate Members made the following points:

·         there were issues surrounding the lack of police enforcement of the current PSPO;

·         could it be ensured that the Police used the powers, we have afforded them, as it did not always appear that they did, this could be raised at the next Councillor and Police meeting;

·         this was an important package of measures in the City centre to address antisocial behaviour. If it was not extended residents would be wondering why.

·         It was important to address the reasons why crime and antisocial behaviour took place, as well as provide support for people with vulnerabilities;

·         it was not a crime to street drink in the areas covered under the PSPO, it was enforceable if the police made a judgement regarding criminality to request surrender of alcohol due to behaviour displayed;

·         the PSPO formed part of the bigger picture of tackling ASB, and a subgroup of the CSP were looking at how best to make improvements; and

·         a Member had been told by police that the PSPO was one necessary tool, but it must be seen as one part of a bigger picture. Some individuals were not just creating a nuisance but were deeply vulnerable and he asked the Leader if some money from Fixed Penalty Notices might be used in tackling these issues.

Councillor Moore, as co-Leader of the Progressive Group, stated that when she joined as a councillor she was concerned about how this would affect people, especially those who were street-attached. The data provided was very helpful, and the new community safety team had been learning how to take action under the PSPO. There had been positive feedback from businesses and it would take the whole community to deal with this and provide support.

The Leader responded to Members comments making the following points:

• these measures were introduced 6 or 7 years ago and were amended considerably due to concerns from Members;
• public attitude towards ASB had changed since the PSPO was first introduced;
• there was now more intolerance towards ASB;
• nothing was changing but there would be a review in a few years’ time; and
• he would find out how many people were charged but believed that was not the first step taken. 

The Leader moved the recommendation and was seconded by Councillor Wright and following a unanimous vote, were CARRIED.

Motion: Local Housing Allowance

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates are used to calculate Housing Benefit or universal Credit for tenants renting from private landlords.

Exeter, like other areas, is experiencing a housing crisis and suffered unsustainable rent increases across the private rented sector and loss of homes to Air B&B and HMOs. This situation is recognised in the Devon Housing Commission Report 2024. Average rents in Exeter are, in March 2025, as high as those in the South East of England.

The LHA rates are based on the 30th percentile figures from twelve months' letting information in the Broad Market Rental Area but are insufficient to cover even the cheapest rooms or homes in Exeter. LH Rates have been subject to a freeze since 2020 and the Labour Government has confirmed the rates will be frozen at current levels until 2026.

When a local authority places a household in temporary accommodation (TA) it can claim back the incurred costs associated with the provision of the TA from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Apart from households placed in council-owned stock outside the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), for which a local authority can reclaim up to the current Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates, the local authority can generally reclaim up to 90 per cent of the January 2011 LHA rates, which were set based on the rental costs at that time. These rates are now outdated and do not accurately reflect current market conditions. The gap in financing between what local authorities initially pay and what is eventually reimbursed by the national government is known as the Temporary Accommodation Subsidy Gap. The current reimbursement system, which largely relies on these outdated 2011 rates, exacerbates this Subsidy Gap.

As such Council:

• Acknowledges the endemic housing crisis affecting our communities across Exeter and the current inadequacy of Local Housing Allowance, frozen since April 2020;
• Notes that Local Housing Allowance has not kept pace with rising rents;
• Expresses concern that Temporary Accommodation Subsidy Gap places additional strain on local authority budgets.
• Implores Government to commit to immediate interventions to alleviate the housing and homelessness emergency in the short term; and
• Notes the anomalies in the LHA guidance in relation to the Shared Accommodation Rate, for example:

• The rate applies to single people without children aged 25-34 - which limits opportunities and lifestyle choices;
• Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) limitations apply from age 25;
• Pregnant women under the age of 35 pregnant are expected to be accommodated in an HMO and can only apply for a higher rate for a one bed property after the birth of the child.

• Notes that the Exeter Broad Rental Market Area for Exeter covers a very large rural area, so drags down the LHA making rental properties in the urban area unaffordable.

Government to

1.    Unfreeze, relink and consistently uprate the Local Housing Allowance levels so they cover rents for the 30% cheapest private rented sector properties4 in every local authority area; and address the Temporary  ...  view the full agenda text for item 53a

Councillor Moore moved and was seconded by Councillor Banyard, a Notice of Motion in the following terms:

“Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates are used to calculate Housing Benefit or universal Credit for tenants renting from private landlords.

Exeter, like other areas, is experiencing a housing crisis and suffered unsustainable rent increases across the private rented sector and loss of homes to Air B&B and HMOs. This situation is recognised in the Devon Housing Commission Report 2024. Average rents in Exeter are, in March 2025, as high as those in the South East of England.

The LHA rates are based on the 30th percentile figures from twelve months' letting information in the Broad Market Rental Area but are insufficient to cover even the cheapest rooms or homes in Exeter. LH Rates have been subject to a freeze since 2020 and the Labour Government has confirmed the rates will be frozen at current levels until 2026.

When a local authority places a household in temporary accommodation (TA) it can claim back the incurred costs associated with the provision of the TA from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Apart from households placed in council-owned stock outside the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), for which a local authority can reclaim up to the current Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates, the local authority can generally reclaim up to 90 per cent of the January 2011 LHA rates, which were set based on the rental costs at that time. These rates are now outdated and do not accurately reflect current market conditions. The gap in financing between what local authorities initially pay and what is eventually reimbursed by the national government is known as the Temporary Accommodation Subsidy Gap. The current reimbursement system, which largely relies on these outdated 2011 rates, exacerbates this Subsidy Gap.

As such Council:

1)    acknowledges the endemic housing crisis affecting our communities across Exeter and the current inadequacy of Local Housing Allowance, frozen since April 2020;

2)    notes that Local Housing Allowance has not kept pace with rising rents;

3)    expresses concern that Temporary Accommodation Subsidy Gap places additional strain on local authority budgets.

4)    implores Government to commit to immediate interventions to alleviate the housing and homelessness emergency in the short term; and

5)    notes the anomalies in the LHA guidance in relation to the Shared Accommodation Rate, for example:

6)    the rate applies to single people without children aged 25-34 - which limits opportunities and lifestyle choices;

7)    Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) limitations apply from age 25;

8)    pregnant women under the age of 35 pregnant are expected to be accommodated in an HMO and can only apply for a higher rate for a one bed property after the birth of the child.

9)    notes that the Exeter Broad Rental Market Area for Exeter covers a very large rural area, so drags down the LHA making rental properties in the urban area unaffordable.

Government to

1)    unfreeze, relink and consistently uprate the Local Housing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53a

Proposer: Councillor Ketchin

Seconder: Councillor Wetenhall

Background

England is the second most densely populated major country in Europe.  Consequently, with huge pressure on land England is also cited as one the most nature deplete country in Europe and has the lowest 'nature connectedness'.

Regarding Exeter, many of the finest and most appreciated public assets are its river and valley parks.  They provide recreational and natural amenity. These important elements of a liveable city are captured in some of our guiding documents, the with Corporate Strategy 2022-26 and new Exeter City Council Local Plan.  Once greenspace is developed it is typically lost to the public and natural domain permanently.

The development hierarchy of habitat loss is avoidance-reduction-mitigation. Where the council chooses on balance to develop green space, it can follow the second principle of harm reduction.

However, this motion recognises Exeter City Council does not have a robust mechanism to mitigate. There is a practice to intensify biodiversity in land through development design, the practice of "biodiversity net gain". This can be viewed as improving the quality of existing biodiversity in a given space. In the case of green space development, in effect nature quality is expected to compensate for the loss of space.  This may have validity, but clearly the practice of pushing natural habitat into every smaller and smaller but better-quality parcels has rapidly apparent limits. This is particularly the case in our urban setting  Biodiversity net gain is arguably a concept best applied to brownfield and greenfield sites.

Perhaps even more importantly for an urban setting, this model of concentrating nature, says nothing for public access to green space for recreation and wellbeing.  For these reason that is why this motion has come forward. As Exeter rapidly runs out of development space, the loss of greenfield space to the public domain is increasingly aired by residents and apparent to all.

This Council resolves that capital receipts from the sale of ECC owned greenfield sites or land that is for all intents and purposes a greenfield site, be used solely for the purchase of other greenfield sites within the Exeter City Council boundary or immediate adjacent vicinity.

Councillor Ketchin moved and was seconded by Councillor Wetenhall, a Notice of Motion in the following terms:

“This motion proposes that capital receipts from the sale of ECC-owned green field sites or land never developed that is for all intents and purposes green field site, be used solely for the purchase of other green field sites within the Exeter City Council boundary or immediately adjacent vicinity.

Background
England is the second most densely populated major country in Europe.  Consequently, with huge pressure on land England is also cited as one the most nature deplete country in Europe and has the lowest 'nature connectedness'.

Regarding Exeter, many of the finest and most appreciated public assets are its river and valley parks. They provide recreational and natural amenity. These important elements of a liveable city are captured in some of our guiding documents, the with Corporate Strategy 2022-26 and new Exeter City Council Local Plan.  Once greenspace is developed it is typically lost to the public and natural domain permanently.

The development hierarchy of habitat loss is avoidance-reduction-mitigation.  Where the council chooses on balance to develop green space, it can follow the second principle of harm reduction.

However, this motion recognises Exeter City Council does not have a robust mechanism to mitigate.  There is a practice to intensify biodiversity in land through development design, the practice of "biodiversity net gain". This can be viewed as improving the quality of existing biodiversity in a given space.  In the case of green space development, in effect nature quality is expected to compensate for the loss of space.  This may have validity, but clearly the practice of pushing natural habitat into every smaller and smaller but better-quality parcels have rapidly apparent limits.  This is particularly the case in our urban setting Biodiversity net gain is arguably a concept best applied to brown field and grey field sites.

Perhaps even more importantly for an urban setting, this model of concentrating nature, says nothing for public access to green space for recreation and wellbeing.  For these reason that is why this motion has come forward. As Exeter rapidly runs out of development space, the loss of greenfield space to the public domain is increasingly aired by residents and apparent to all.”

 In presenting the Motion, Councillor Ketchin made the following points:

• Exeter was one of the most pressurised cities in the UK as the boundaries were tight, and the rate of growth was high;
• green land which was immediate and accessible to residents was being squeezed and this motion aimed to mitigate this; and
• there were areas within the city boundaries that were not developed and could be bought to improve wellbeing and increase recreational facilities like the Valley Parks.

Councillor Wetenhall, as seconder spoke in support of this motion, making the following points:

• the local nature recovery strategy of Devon was to be published soon, and ECC were a partner; and
• biodiversity net gain could be put by developers anywhere in the country.

Members speaking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

To receive questions from Members on any matter for which the Council has powers, duties or affects the City.

There were no questions from members.