THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #28: Exeter election results - Council leader code conflicts - Community grants cuts redux

Read all about the 2023 Exeter local elections in our in-depth analysis then check out Maketank's Make Your Own Book festival and a retelling of Romeo and Juliet at Poltimore House.

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TOP STORIES

EXETER ELECTORAL TECTONIC PLATES RUMBLE AS POLITICAL LANDSCAPE SHIFTS

Labour takes second Conservative seat in Topsham but loses in St Thomas to Liberal Democrats as Green wins in Heavitree, St David’s and Newtown & St Leonards place party second in 2023 city council elections. Full story here.

HOW FAR DOES THE COUNCIL LEADER HAVE TO GO BEFORE HE SEES A PLANNING COMMITTEE CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

Phil Bialyk led charge against application to develop site 160 yards from his house despite conduct codes and LGA planning probity guidance. Full story here.

COUNCILLOR FALSELY LABELS COMMUNITY GRANTS CUTS STORY “MISINFORMATION”

Labour’s Martin Pearce brands Exeter Observer “opposition propaganda” at full city council meeting, earning rebuke from Lord Mayor and putting council at risk of code of practice breach during pre-election period. Full story here.

LOCAL NEWS THAT MATTERS

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You can invest in community shares to help finance a three year growth plan we have developed with support from Co-ops UK and the Reach Fund. Please purchase your shares on our website.

HMRC has given us advance assurance that our share offer is eligible for 50% tax relief under its Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme, minimising risk by enabling investors to claim half their investment back while keeping all their shares. Capital gains tax and loss relief is available too.

You can read more about our community share offer, download a PDF with full details or reply to this email with any questions you may have.

ON OUR RADAR

TUESDAY 2 TO SATURDAY 12 MAY // MAKETANK

Make Your Own Book festival: an exhibition exploring local independent book and art creators with a weekend of storytelling, illustration and book-making workshops. More info here.

WEDNESDAY 17 MAY // ST SIDWELL’S COMMUNITY CENTRE

How can Exeter Observer help our city to thrive? Come along to one of our informal events and share your ideas on how we might grow the independent journalism Exeter needs. More info here.

SATURDAY 27 MAY // POLTIMORE HOUSE

Romeo and Juliet: Troubadour Stageworks presents an accessible, family-friendly production of Shakespeare’s tragic romance. More info here.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

ALPHINGTON WORST REPRESENTED WARD AS COUNCILLOR ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC MEETINGS VARIES WIDELY ACROSS CITY

Consistent commitment to participation in democratic decision-making by some councillors in contrast with poor attendance rates of others. Full story here.

DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL ADMITS “SERIOUS, MATERIAL, WELL-EVIDENCED” GOVERNANCE FAILURES

Deficient SEND and children’s services combine with threat of section 114 bankruptcy notice to prompt “root and branch” review aimed at restoring “external confidence in the council’s democratic legitimacy”. Full story here.

EXETER CLIMATE ACTIVISTS SUBVERTISE BUS SHELTERS WITH SATIRICAL NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGES

City centre posters promoting “The Big One”, a mass gathering in Parliament Square on 21 April that began four days of climate action in Westminster involving 100,000 people. View gallery here.


Recent headlines
St Thomas library

St Thomas library forced to relocate when lease expires in November

Exeter City Council litter bin

Council to remove a quarter of city's 800 litter bins

The remains of the Royal Clarence Hotel in Cathedral Yard

Royal Clarence Hotel rebuild finally granted planning permission

Empty Co-Cars parking bay in College Road, Exeter

Co-Cars liquidation expected to leave creditor and shareholder losses of more than £1.3 million

Illustrative elevation facing St Luke's campus

Developer appeals Heavitree Road police station & magistrates court student/co-living blocks refusal

Royal Devon and Exeter hospital

Four day strike by consultants and junior doctors at Royal Devon NHS Trust

Recent headlines
St Thomas library

St Thomas library forced to relocate when lease expires in November

Exeter City Council litter bin

Council to remove a quarter of city's 800 litter bins

The remains of the Royal Clarence Hotel in Cathedral Yard

Royal Clarence Hotel rebuild finally granted planning permission

Empty Co-Cars parking bay in College Road, Exeter

Co-Cars liquidation expected to leave creditor and shareholder losses of more than £1.3 million

Illustrative elevation facing St Luke's campus

Developer appeals Heavitree Road police station & magistrates court student/co-living blocks refusal

Royal Devon and Exeter hospital

Four day strike by consultants and junior doctors at Royal Devon NHS Trust

Recent stories
The remains of the Royal Clarence Hotel in Cathedral Yard

NEWS  ⁄  PLANNING & PLACE

Royal Clarence Hotel rebuild finally granted planning permission

Agreed developer contributions do not include planned education provision and may be significantly reduced after construction is complete.

Empty Co-Cars parking bay in College Road, Exeter

ANALYSIS  ⁄  TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

Co-Cars liquidation expected to leave creditor and shareholder losses of more than £1.3 million

Sale of Co-Bikes fleet and spare parts agreed for just 4.5% of £600,000 book value after significant grant funding and investment fail to float shared mobility provider.

Royal Devon and Exeter hospital

NEWS  ⁄  COMMUNITY & SOCIETY

Four day strike by consultants and junior doctors at Royal Devon NHS Trust

Industrial action affecting almost all planned care marks first time consultants and junior doctors have taken strike action together.

Wellbeing Exeter community building graphic

NEWS  ⁄  COMMUNITY & SOCIETY

Devon County Council cuts £270,000 Wellbeing Exeter partnership funding

Decision made in parallel with homelessness prevention funding cut decisions following January announcement of £50 million of unspecified 2023-24 budget cuts.

View of the original proposals from New Bridge Street

NEWS  ⁄  PLANNING & PLACE

Exeland House 'co-living' proposals revised to address 'extreme increase in flood risks'

Environment Agency says most new residential development in River Exe floodplain 'will be required to be at first floor or higher' to deal with 'future flood risks exacerbated by climate change'.

The Gorge marketing graphic

NEWS  ⁄  PLANNING & PLACE

First Exeter 'co-living' rooms advertised to let from £1,045-£1,360 per month plus council tax

£40,800 minimum salary to rent 26.5 square metre room in six storey 133-unit block, promoted as two minutes' walk from university St Luke's campus, requiring tenants among top 20% of Exeter earners – or with wealthy guarantors.

On our radar
All topics

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