Minutes:
In accordance with Standing Order No. 8, the following question was put by Councillor Bennett to the Leader
Will the Leader confirm what actions the Council and the relevant Portfolio Holder are taking to support Devon County Council regarding the Heavitree and Whipton Active Streets trial to ensure the best outcomes for the city and its residents, to tackle the climate emergency and air pollution and to make Exeter a city where safe active travel can be a reality?
Response
Officers, the Portfolio Holder and many elected Members from Exeter City Council attended the public engagement events in Heavitree and Whipton during August and September. This involved listening to around 2,000 local residents over four events. All would continue to listen to residents’ views and would await the findings of the review of the Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) trial.
Councillor Bennett, asked a supplementary question as to whether the Leader would support the residents of Heavitree and Whipton as part of the LTN project in the same manner as the support given to the County Council during the Newtown Travel Campaign?
The Leader responded that the Active Streets proposals as part of the Live and Move initiative in the Newtown area was a separate issue being developed with Sport England, details of which would come forward in due course. There was no influence on the LTN trial at this stage other than through City Council Members on Devon County Council’s Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee.
In accordance with Standing Order No. 8, the following questions were put by Councillor Ketchin to the Leader
Valuations:
Are the valuations only for the land sold to Exeter City Living or will the valuation also include the green space, ski slope and golf driving range which are still owned by the City Council?
Response
Officers are preparing a range of valuations to give Members all the information required to make an informed decision. It is not the role of officers to self-censor the information that Members see when taking a decision. Decisions around future Affordable Housing provision is a matter for the Planning Authority to determine as and when a new scheme comes forward.
Will the Council ensure that 35% of the housing on the site is affordable in line with the Council’s own planning policy?
Response
Decisions around future Affordable Housing provision is a matter for the Planning Authority to determine as and when a new scheme comes forward. The Council policy is 35% affordable housing, including social housing, but will depend on the Section 106 Agreement as part of any development.
Will the homes still be built to passivhaus standard?
Response
Decisions around future design standards is a matter for the Planning Authority to determine as and when a new scheme comes forward.
Site uses:
Can you confirm that the site will only be sold for development of housing for long term residential occupancy?
Response
Officers are preparing a range of valuations to give Members all the information required to make an informed decision. It is not the role of Officers to self-censor the information that Members see when taking a decision. Decisions around future Affordable Housing provision is a matter for the Planning Authority to determine as and when a new scheme comes forward. It is not the intention to provide anything other than homes.
Viability:
Given your previous personal commitment not to allow the construction of PBSA on the site - please can you state which type of viability assessment will be used to assess viability of the site?
Response
A range of housing types and tenures are normally modelled when testing viability of housing sites for comparative purposes.
The viability issues on the Clifton Hill scheme had been agreed through the Planning process, so the scheme had been approved with no requirement for affordable housing to be provided, so this had facilitated the eligibility of the 11 flats on the scheme, to bid for Homes England grant - subject to complying with the grant requirements.
Councillor Ketchin, asked a supplementary question that, as the monies related to Homes England did not relate to PBSA, can the Leader provide an undertaking that PBSA would not be a focus for the site.
The Leader responded that proposals for the site would be brought forward for consideration. The site had been sold to ECL following approval by the Secretary of State. It was advantageous that the site now had planning permission.
In accordance with Standing Order No. 8, the following question was put by Councillor Wright to the Leader
St. Thomas Library is due to close this Saturday after many years providing not just literary services to the community west of the Exe, but also many social support services that are essential now that Devon County Council under this Conservative Government, have made so many cuts to funded social services.
What can the Leader tell me about any efforts the City Council have made to work with the County Council and Libraries Unlimited to find an alternative accommodation for St Thomas Library?
Response
The St. Thomas Library is about far more, than just lending books. Their work with local children and a range of community groups is fantastic. The Library also serves as a warm space and community meeting point, as well as providing important facilities for the community to hire.
I very much support all of the work that everyone connected with the library does, and I appreciate the important role it continues to play at the heart of the local community in St. Thomas. That is why I am anxious for your current situation to be resolved and for the library to be able to secure new premises. Libraries Unlimited is in contact with Devon County Council, who I believe have some responsibility in this matter to assist your organisation.
I have received an update from our City Surveyor who advises me that the City Council, as a landlord in the city, is of course open to accommodating the library if suitable premises become available. I know that senior officers from the Council have met with Libraries Unlimited to discuss property requirements. Although we do not currently have anything suitable in the neighbourhood, officers have indicated to Libraries Unlimited that we could consider the practicalities of a temporary pop up at the Riverside, should it be necessary ahead of securing longer-term premises.
One unit we were able to offer, in Cowick Street, was not progressed and that has now been let to the Exeter Food Bank.
I hope this answers the question, and I remain hopeful that suitable long-term premises can be secured in the near future, which is something that everybody wants to see especially residents to the west of the River Exe.
Councillor Wright, advised that Exeter Estate Holdings had offered a three year lease to Devon County Council in respect of the property they were currently occupying at double the existing rent but which had been rejected. Could the Leader consult with the Leader of Devon County Council to clarify this issue to help secure the future of this much loved Library?
The Leader confirmed that he would raise this matter with the County Council Leader on 19 October 2023.
In accordance with Standing Order No. 8, the following question was put by Councillor M. Mitchell to the Leader
Can the Leader of the Council explain whilst meeting all the criteria and matching exemplars contained in the Council’s recently updated Public Consultation Charter his administration decided not to proceed with a Public Consultation about the changes in service provision impacting the whole of the city regarding waste bins?
Response
The recommendation to reduce the number of litter bins provided by the Council was agreed at Executive and Full Council in February 2023. This formed part of a number of proposals submitted to reduce costs over the life of the Medium Term Financial Plan.
The rationale for the removal of these bins was that there were a number of legacy litter bins placed in areas of low demand and that this was drawing unnecessary resources away from high litter, high demand locations, reducing the effectiveness of street cleansing in those areas. It was therefore agreed to reduce and consolidate litter bin stocks based on current demand requirements, an approach outlined as a necessary consideration in the Waste Resources Action Programme (2020) - Right Bin, Right Place.
The Strategic Management Board discussed whether it was necessary to consult on these proposals and decided that it was not necessary to undertake a large-scale consultation because the proposal related to a logistics matter. The litter bin service is universal and was not being withdrawn, just made more efficient and the bins identified for removal were in areas of low demand. It was, however, agreed to discuss the proposal with the affected Ward Councillors. The proposal was also discussed with Portfolio Holders as part of the budget setting process.
I acknowledge that the Consultation Charter is silent on the issue of what constitutes a logistical matter in relation to universal services this will be included in the next revision of the Charter. The Portfolio Holder for Place and City Management and officers will be responding to the large number of emails received on this issue.
Councillor M. Mitchell, asked a supplementary question relating to a comment of the Plymouth City Council Leader on his Council’s consultative processes.
The Leader stated that decisions on changes to the cleansing regime had been agreed by Executive and Council with due regard to budget considerations. He would also be meeting with the Plymouth City Council Leader on the 19 October 2023.
In accordance with Standing Order No. 8, the following questions were put by Councillor Read to the Leader
Has the Portfolio Holder for Place and City Management approached South West Water regarding their timeframe of 10 years being an unacceptable length of time to wait for them to install equipment to record real time data on volume of sewage outlets into the River Exe and the Canal?
Response
The Leader advised that the Portfolio Holder letter and response had been circulated on 14 August 2023.
In asking a supplementary question, Councillor Read enquired if the Leader thought that the public would consider 10 years an acceptable time to wait?
The Leader advised that the City Council did not have a responsibility on this matter but that if the question could be sent to him again he would consider the appropriate action to be taken.
Response
Please can the Portfolio Holder for City Development set out what reply has been received from South West Water regarding Exeter City Council’s request for an evidence base to be compiled that assesses the cumulative impact of sewage discharge on ecological river health, and the impact of polluted water on wildlife and biodiversity on the river banks? (As stated in the Notice of Motion 21 February 2023)
Response
The Leader advised that, in relation to the impact of any overflow spills on wildlife and biodiversity, South West Water had stated that it undertook impact assessments for storm overflows using the Storm Overflow Assessment Framework developed jointly between the Environment Agency and the Water Industry. South West Water was set to embark on over 300 of these assessments by 2025.
Councillor Read, asked a supplementary question enquiring if the impact on river bank biodiversity could be raised with South West Water?
Response
The Leader asked Councillor Read to confirm her question in an email for it to be followed up with South West Water.