Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director Economy and Development – report circulated

The Director Economy and Development made a presentation and also submitted a report, ‘A City Centre Vision for a Green Capital’ to consider whether to adopt the document for engagement with key stakeholders. It had been commissioned to provide a development context for the City Centre Transportation Strategy and other potential studies and projects in the city centre and formed the basis of a vision for any future city centre Action Area Plan.  A total of 17 principles were also listed for future guidance, with the aim of creating a flexible framework for the growth of the city centre over the next 20 to 30 years.

Members made the following comments:-

• welcome for a very positive document;
• what impact the extension of pedestrianised areas in the city centre might have, particularly if that included the Paris Street/New North Road junction, adjacent to the development of the John Lewis At Home store, which was an arterial route to Crediton. The Director referred to the need to address such challenges, but with the current and predicted footfall of that particular junction, a solution would have to be found.  Some transport modelling would be carried out to understand all the implications including cost.
• support for the Vision, but concern that a predicted growth of 50% of the city’s working and local population should include improvements to the transport infrastructure to facilitate movements both in, and to and from the city, and include rail. The Director agreed that desired transport outputs had to include new railway stations at Newcourt, Monkerton and Marsh Barton, as well as additional services on the existing lines and better rolling stock.  The case for such improvements needs to be continually made to business and the local MP’s.
• an extension of pedestrianised areas to allow further development of the night time economy should allow for more CCTV and good quality downward street lighting and the public engagement exercise should be as wide as possible.
• the consultation should include workshops and public exhibition as well as investigating the possibility of a roving exhibition to community halls for greater access. The Director stated that the consultation would be as wide reaching as possible.
• the reduction of cars within the urban extension of Exeter should be welcomed, but the Member hoped that the outlying areas such as Pinhoe would not be used for additional Park and Ride facilities. The Director advised that city wide Park and Ride had to be part of the transport solution as well as trains and buses.  Other initiatives such as Park and Change (to a bus) were being developed to serve rural areas. The Director advised that every effort was continuing to find suitable locations for any further Park and Ride schemes.

Scrutiny Committee – Economy supported the report and recommended that Executive approve the contents of the City Centre Vision document for the purpose of a public engagement exercise with key stakeholders, and subject to the engagement endorse the use of the document to inform decision making by the City Council specifically in relation to future City Centre Action Plans; and that Members commend the document to the Exeter Vision Partnership.

(Report circulated)