Agenda item

To receive a report from Councillor Morse, the Portfolio Holder for City Development.

Councillor Morse reported on her Portfolio for City Development and detailed the issues relating to achieving the Council’s published priorities, major ongoing programmes of work, issues impacting delivery, financial performance, budget requirements and potential changes being considered.

Councillor Morse responded to advance questions from a Member as follows:-.

The Liveable Exeter Placemaking Charter and given that this will prioritise “sustainable development principles” aligning with Exeter’s vision 2040 for a sustainable urban future, can the Portfolio Holder set out what requirements are proposed to be placed on developers for green energy production for all developments.

There are a series of draft policies in the emerging Exeter Plan covering new zero Exeter, renewable and low carbon energy generation, district heating, solar, and future energy efficiency standards. It should also be noted that energy performance of buildings is predominantly managed by Building Regulations.

In the update on any major ongoing programme of work and in the context of the preparation of the local cycling and walking infrastructure plan can the Portfolio Holder provide an update on plans for the replacement of Mallison Bridge as a major link in cycling routes for the city.

The replacement of Mallison Bridge is included within two route proposals in the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. It has also been noted in the draft infrastructure plan accompanying the Exeter Plan. Delivery would be determined by future funding being available.

The City Council’s Engineering team were working with their counterparts at Devon County Council to access Active Travel funding streams from the Department for Transport.  A well-developed bid was submitted and we are currently waiting to hear the result.  An official announcement was expected imminently.

In a further response, the Portfolio Holder was unable to provide any more details on the timetable.

The Portfolio Holder responded to the following questions :-

·       the recent High Court challenge did not overturn the Planning Committee decision, but provided the opportunity for the planning application to be reconsidered by the Planning Committee.

·       she was unaware of the length of vacant posts in the Planning team, but one issue is that the wage may not be competitive with the private sector. She would obtain a written response.

·       she would also obtain a response on the pattern of planning enforcement.

·       she thanked the Member for the positive comments on the Article 4 Direction which will need to be monitored when it comes into being next year. Further reviews will be made alongside the Local Plan.

·       Exeter had a strong affordable housing provision policy of 35% included in the Local Plan. Officers would continue to work with developers and despite being bound within viability regulations would aim to achieve the best affordable housing provision.

The Service Lead (Planning) responded to a Member’s comment on the requirement by the Health and Safety Executive for Building Control officers to be assessed for professional competency by 6 April, and the date for registration had been extended until 6 July to allow those officers to take the necessary exams.

·     the CIL and Section 106 position had improved with a valued and dedicated officer in place. She would ensure a written reply was given to the Member on the breakdown for Section 106 specific to the St David’s ward. The CIL contributions were put into a centralised fund.

·     officers would continue their dialogue with Devon County Council and their support in relation to the recent High Court challenge.

·     the police had decided not to take any action with regard to the fictitious representations for a specific application and officers will work together to ensure a basic check of the application and addresses.

·     it was anticipated that a report proposing a format for pre-application charging would be presented to the next Executive and Council.

The Assistant Service Lead (Local Plan) advised that they were duty bound  to consider any sites that come forward but the areas around Matford and County Hall are were not consulted on in the autumn.

·     she was unaware of the numbers of developers taking up the services of the Design Quality Partnership, but many more applications have met with them. She welcomed the input of the Council’s Urban Designer which had resulted in a much better quality of application.

·     the current planning system allows for the submission of outline planning applications but efforts can be made to discourage this practice. It can be frustrating when some work has been done on a site the application had to be heard.

·     the approval of the Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon and Teignbridge Joint Strategy whist not legally binding offered good intentions and should benefit Exeter City Council when making approaches to Government for funding.

The Portfolio Holder report was noted.