Agenda item

Petition referred from Council on 21 July 2020 - Save Our Historic Exeter

To consider the report of the Corporate Manager, Democratic and Civic Support.

 

Minutes:

The Corporate Manager Democratic and Civic Support presented the report on the petition titled, “Save Our Historic Exeter” which the Council, at its meeting on 21 July 2020, had referred to this Committee in line with the Council’s Petition Scheme. At the Council meeting, the Lord Mayor had ruled that any debate of the issue could be considered as pre-determination of a proposed development in the city and it had therefore been deemed appropriate for the matters raised in the petition to be considered by this Committee.

 

The report detailed the contents of the petition and the policy framework, both nationally and within the City Council itself through the Exeter Local Plan and supporting documents, which set out the existing processes the Council followed in planning matters and in determining planning applications.

 

Councillor D. Moore, having given notice under Standing Order No. 44, spoke on the item. She raised the following points:-

 

·         congratulate residents on a significant petition of 4,000 signatures with over 2,000 by Exeter residents;

·         the essence of the petition relates not to a specific planning application but to planning policy, as residents believe that, notwithstanding the Local Plan and supplementary planning documents, there are gaps in the city’s planning policy. The Local Plan does not meet the city’s current or future needs;

·         although the Local Plan describes Exeter as low rise there are many high rise buildings which fail to respect historic Exeter and these developments benefit only investors. Exeter is one of five historic city centres recognised by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979;

·         residents feel that the Council lacks sufficient resources to scrutinise planning applications, many of which impact adversely on their properties especially when these are listed buildings and require mitigation measures;

·         developer proposals are overwhelmingly about profit and there is little regard for protecting Exeter’s heritage or its long term vision and creating thriving and coherent communities;

·         petitioners seek the right to influence their environment and to encourage developments of flair and imagination with world class architecture and visionary thinking worthy of a historically important city and addressing the challenges of the city becoming zero carbon. People want to engage constructively in the future of the city;

·         the absence of a Council policy on co-living on which there are two planning applications pending. Petitioners are asking the Council to put these on hold as there is inadequate evidence or information about whether these developments are needed or are in keeping with the Local Plan; and

·         residents need to know how communities will be fully involved on the updating of the Local Plan and wish to contribute their local knowledge and to ensure the Council becomes a real advocate for local people

 

Members expressed the following views:-

 

·         impressed with the petition and the thoughtfulness that went into it and agree with many aspects. The Council does seek to support sustainable and environmentally responsible developments but is constrained by its limited resources and national policies;

·         accept growing local concern about the lack of affordable and social housing in the city given the level of student accommodation built. The City Council seeks to build more social and affordable housing in the city but lacks the necessary powers and resources;

·         agree the need for planning policies specific to the needs of a historic city like Exeter;

·         the current White Paper on planning could become a developers’ charter and further erode local checks and balances;

·         the Council seeks to lead on social housing provision and has brought forward its target of building 500 social homes in the next ten years to the next five years;

·         some of issues are broad and relate to generic planning issues and, with the withdrawal of Mid and East Devon District Councils from the GESP, the Council is progressing the review of the Local Plan;

·         Councils are required to undertake extensive public consultation in the development of Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans and will do so in bringing forward the new Local Plan;

·         it is noted that over 50% of signatures are from those outside Exeter;

·         co living can offer a solution to housing problems and these proposals will be appropriately scrutinised; and

·         it is hoped that the two recommendations will address concerns raised and that there will be a positive and structured debate going forward to inform the review of the Local Plan and the preservation of Historic Exeter.

The recommendations were moved, seconded and carried.

 

RECOMMENDED to Council that:-

 

(1)       the contents of the petition be noted; and

 

(2)       the progress being made to ensure robust policies and plans are in place to meet the development demands being placed on the city, be noted and supported.

 

Supporting documents: