Agenda item

To consider the report of the City Surveyor.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 17 January 2019 and its comments will be reported.

The City Surveyor advised that following on from Place Scrutiny Committee he had discussed matters further with the Exeter Homes Trust. He had been advised that the Trust’s architect had not said that the proposed scheme could be accessed from Fairpark Road. Discussions with planning and highways officers had suggested that this might prove problematic and the additional costs would put pressure on the scheme’s viability, requiring a significant wall breach and retaining structures. Devon County Council highways advice was that a Fairpark Road solution would not add the highway benefits of the turning head solution.

The Trust had also advised that the funding allocation from Homes England which underpined the scheme viability assumed completion of the scheme within the current grant programme. The Trust had advised that this implied a target completion date in December 2020 which, with a projected build programme of 18 months required a summer 2019 start. In view of the fact that a redesign was required to access from Fairpark Road before submission of a revised scheme, there was a danger of the funding allocation being lost.

Councillor Sills, Chair of Place Scrutiny Committee, having given notice under Standing Order No.44, spoke on this item. He commented that Place Scrutiny Committee opposed the sale of the land and that little new information had been presented since the Committee had taken place. The object of the sale of land was the impact on the volume of traffic to area and there were still alternative options that Exeter Homes Trust could explore. He asked for all options to be explored and that Place Scrutiny Committee were clear that they did not want this piece of land to be sold.

The Portfolio Holder for Support Services moved an amendment to the recommendation that the land should only be disposed of to create an extension to the highway if planning permission was granted.

The City Surveyor clarified the Council position with regards to the delegated powers in relation to the disposal of park land.

Councillor N Vizard, having given notice under Standing Order No.44, spoke on this item. She referred to the views of Liveable Exeter that streets, spaces and parks that link neighbourhoods to the city centre should be safe and attractive and encourage active and healthy lifestyles. Whilst the majority of residents and ward councillors, supported the development of the  Almshouses by the Exeter Homes Trust they opposed the sale of Council land for the sole purpose of creating a turning circle and three visitors parking bays. Given road safety concerns and the impact of construction traffic she supported a pedestrian access only solution suggesting that three dedicated car parking spaces for Fairpark Almshouses could be set aside in the adjacent Council owned car park. With letters from 211 local residents and petitions of 300+ and 400+ signatures, opposition was significant. She advocated support for the Place Scrutiny Committee recommendation to refuse sale of the land and to work with Exeter Homes Trust to bring forward the development as car-free in line with Exeter City Council’s sustainability strategy for city centre developments.

Councillor M Vizard, having given notice under Standing Order No.44, spoke on this item. He supported this important housing development but not the sale of the area of land in Bull Meadow Park. He advocated continued pedestrian access from Fairpark Road with the creation of a level access walkways to the building. Referring to the Exeter Homes Trust’s desire to create a vehicular access point and parking for visitors etc allied to a road safety improvement to Temple Road he pointed out that use should be made of the nearby Council car park for visitor parking and that the residents of Temple Road had not raised road safety issues. He continued that as a planning application had not been submitted could the plans not be redrawn and the developer should not be setting a deadline for the Council. He asked Members to consider their decision very carefully and listen to local residents and Place Scrutiny Community and save this park.

The City Solicitor and Head of HR clarified the amendment from the Portfolio Holder for Support Services to read as follows:-

Executive delegate authority to the City Surveyor to sell the parcel of land necessary to create an extension to the highway only if planning consent is granted for a scheme that requires it.

The Leader seconded this proposal.

The Portfolio Holder for Support Services in speaking for his proposal stated that the proposals would be dealt with through the planning process and this would then formulate what Council land would be required to facilitate the development.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 17 January 2019 and its comments were reported.

RESOLVED that delegated authority be given to the City Surveyor to sell the parcel of land necessary to create an extension to the highway only if planning consent is granted for a scheme that requires it.