Agenda

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 16 June 2026.

Councillors are reminded of the need to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests that relate to business on the agenda and which have not already been included in the register of interests, before any discussion takes place on the item. Unless the interest is sensitive, you must also disclose the nature of the interest. In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, you must then leave the room and must not participate in any further discussion of the item. Councillors requiring clarification should seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer prior to the day of the meeting.

It is considered that the Council would be unlikely to exclude the press and public during consideration of any of the items on the agenda, but if it should wish to do so, the following resolution should be passed:

RECOMMENDED that, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of the particular item(s) on the grounds that it (they) involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Act.

Or

RECOMMENDED that, under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for item X  and X on the grounds that it/they involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs X of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To receive official communications of the Lord Mayor.

To receive questions relating to items on the agenda from members of the public and responses.

Details of questions should be notified to Democratic Services by 10am at least three clear working days prior to the meeting which for this meeting will be Wednesday 15 July 2026.

Further information about speaking at a committee can be found here: Public Speaking at Meetings.

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

Planned redundancies by the Royal Devon University NHS Foundation Trust and Exeter University.

The Council on behalf of the citizens of Exeter are concerned about the recent decisions of the Royal Devon University NHS Foundation Trust and Exeter University to each embark on a staff redundancy programme to stabilise their financial positions. 

Both NHS Foundation Trust and university play a key role in the city, as employers, as service providers, as institutions and they have made Exeter a centre of excellence in both their respective fields.

Council is concerned about the wider implications to the city and residents of proposed cuts by both bodies.

Council resolves to:

Seek appropriate communication with the university and hospital trust with regards to the proposed cuts to departments and the impact on the services they provide to the wider community; and

Requests that the Leader ask that both organisations participate in a meaningful consultation process and listen to the views of staff and other key stakeholders such as students and health service partners.

Proposer: Councillor Michael Mitchell

 Protecting Exeter's Public Sector Institutions and Local Economy

 Council notes that:

1. Public sector organisations, including the University of Exeter, the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter City Council and Devon County Council, are major anchor institutions within Exeter and the wider region, providing employment, education, healthcare and essential public services while making a substantial contribution to the local economy and civic life.

2. Recent announcements demonstrate growing financial pressures across the public sector, including:

? the University of Exeter placing around 500 members of staff at risk of redundancy;

? the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust seeking substantial voluntary staffing reductions as part of major financial savings;

? the ongoing reorganisation of local government in Devon, which is expected to lead to significant changes in employment across local authorities.

3. These developments take place against a wider national context of prolonged financial pressures affecting higher education, the NHS and local government, including reductions in public funding, the increasing marketisation of higher education, restrictions affecting international student recruitment, and continuing pressures on local government finance.

4. The cumulative impact of these developments has the potential to reduce employment opportunities, weaken local economic resilience, diminish Exeter's internationally recognised research and educational capacity, increase pressure on local communities, and adversely affect demand for local businesses and services.

 Council believes that:

1. Strong public institutions are fundamental to Exeter's long-term prosperity, economic resilience and social wellbeing.

2. Decisions affecting major public employers should be informed by meaningful consultation with staff, recognised trade unions, students, patients and local communities.

3. Public sector restructuring should seek wherever possible to minimise compulsory redundancies, retain valuable skills and expertise, and protect the long-term capacity of public services.

4. International staff and students make an invaluable contribution to Exeter's economy, culture, research excellence and public life, and should be welcomed and supported.

Council resolves to:

1. Express its concern to the Government and Exeter MPs regarding the scale of proposed and anticipated job losses across Exeter's major public sector institutions and the potential consequences for the city's economy and communities.

2. Call on the heads of anchor public sector organisations to work constructively with recognised trade unions and staff representatives to minimise compulsory redundancies, explore all reasonable alternatives to job losses, and engage transparently with stakeholders throughout periods of organisational change.

3. Request that the Leader reports to Council on the potential economic implications for Exeter arising from significant reductions in employment within major public sector organisations, including impacts on housing demand, local businesses, employment, skills, and economic development, together with any actions that the Council and its partners may take to mitigate those impacts.

4. Reaffirm the Council's commitment to working with local public sector partners, employers, educational institutions, businesses and community organisations to support employment, skills development, economic resilience and inclusive growth across Exeter.

5. Share the content of this motion with residents through council communications.

Proposer: Councillor Chelvanayagam

Historic CIL allocations

“This council notes that:

• the recently strengthened process agreed by Council in June this year, for reaching decisions on Community Infrastructure Levy allocations.

• that previous decisions were made using a process characterised, in the words of SWAP Internal Audit as follows : “the absence of an overarching governance framework for the prioritisation of CIL receipts poses a risk of inconsistent decision-making and potential non-compliance with legislative requirements. The lack of a structured framework may also lead to ambiguity and lack of transparency in the allocation and expenditure of CIL funds.”

• projects on the Infrastructure List are ones which “could benefit from CIL funding in future. It does not however provide financial commitments to any project set out in the Statement.” Also, that:  It should be noted that while this Infrastructure List is a statement of the Council’s intentions, it is subject to review and does not commit to funding a particular project. Budget commitments regarding how CIL is spent are made via the capital programme which is determined by the Full Council.

This council therefore believes that:

• Given the acknowledged flaws in the previous regime for CIL allocation, CIL allocations made before June 2026, should be subject to a review process using the new CIL governance process to ensure that significant sums of public money are allocated in a fair and transparent way.

This council resolves to:

• Carry out a review of CIL allocation decisions covering those made before June 2026

• Bring a report based on the review process to the Councillor CIL Governance Forum as soon as possible, which will include any proposed changes arising from applying the new criteria-based system.

Proposer: Cllr Wetenhall

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