THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #47: Devon devolution - Station access - Wonford hub - Bus corridors

Upcoming community and culture highlights include Library Lates, City Slam and Kidical Mass.

NEWS, ANALYSIS & COMMENT

Devon devolution deal to create unaccountable local government layer for paltry £16 million payoff

Democratic deficit to increase as city and district councils lose control over housing and prosperity funding and transport policy powers moved out of reach, while county council plans to approve deal irrespective of public consultation outcome. Full story here.

Access for all? Mobility-impaired passengers still cannot catch their train from some Exeter stations

National railway accessibility policies fail to deliver local transport network access as Exeter St Thomas station improvement funding bid decision awaited. Full story here.

£1+ million for Wonford community hub project development but £7 million build finance not yet found

City council presented £750,000 ‘feasibility proposal’ as progression of existing plans despite having to start again after three years to cut costs, with Exeter City Living awarded £550,000 project contract. Full story here.

Bus corridor consultation presents more incremental changes to Exeter road network

£2.4 million Heavitree and Pinhoe Road ‘upgrades’ have ‘potential for an approximate four-minute journey time saving’ at peak times along length of each corridor. Full story here.

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ON OUR RADAR

Library Lates returns // Exeter Library

An evening of live music, creative workshops and games. Saturday 23 March. More details here.

Topsham Music Festival // Various venues

Three day event features instrumental music by upcoming professional solo and chamber ensemble artists. Friday 5 to Sunday 7 April. More details here.

St Petrock’s Big Night Out // Somewhere safe

Exeter homelessness charity invites people to sleep out under the stars, or in another safe location, to help raise money for rough sleepers. Friday 12 April. More details here.

City Slam // Exeter Phoenix

Exeter City of Literature, Taking the Mic and Spork! co-host a spoken-word poetry competition. Sunday 14 April. More details here.

Kidical Mass returns for 2024 // Southernhay

Kidical Mass Exeter is holding its seventh family bike ride as part of a month of global action to promote safe cycling routes for children, young people and families. Saturday 20 April. More details here.

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More stories
Devon County Council leader James McInnes

Devon County Council plan to postpone local elections fails as government rejects devolution fast-track application

County council leader James McInnes sought ministerial approval for proposals despite Devon falling short of devolution white paper eligibility criteria.

English Devolution White Paper cover

South West peninsula devolution in disarray as Devon, Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay & Cornwall seek conflicting goals and seven Devon districts left out in cold

Contempt for local democracy laid bare by unlawful County Hall failure to publish plan to postpone local elections while Westminster looks set to back local Labour bids for disproportionate influence in regional governance reorganisation.

Clarendon House, Exeter

Clarendon House developer submits plan to convert office block to 32 residential flats alongside 310-bed PBSA proposals

Application for change of use of existing building to be followed by application for demolition and replacement with much taller student accommodation complex following two rounds of informal public consultation on scheme.

Bar chart of Devon County Council cumulative SEND deficit 2019-20 to 2031-32 at March 2024 with 2024-25 £14.7 million month eight excess overspend added

Devon County Council “safety valve” deal target breach rises by 40% to £20.4m as SEND overspend reaches £51.6m

Cumulative SEND deficit now expected to peak at £227m while deal targets set to be missed every year to 2032, risking County Hall bankruptcy if government withdraws support.

Devon County Council 2025-26 budget press release image

Devon County Council 2025-26 budget to bring more service delivery cuts

£22 million cuts concealed by £60 million costs increases as council misrepresents financial position and fails to answer questions about where cuts will fall.

Mark Kingscote and Alison Hernandez

Deputy police and crime commissioner Mark Kingscote resigns five months after defiant appointment by Alison Hernandez

Resignation follows appointment of third Devon & Cornwall Police chief constable in eighteen months after suspensions of Jim Colwell in November and Will Kerr in July 2023.

On Our Radar
Digital Media Literacy seminars graphic

MONDAY 27 JANUARY TO MONDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2025

Let’s Talk About: Digital Media Literacy

A series of free seminars aimed at tackling misinformation and information overload in the digital world.

EXETER LIBRARY

Our World from Space events collage

SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2025

Our World from Space

Exeter Science Centre hosts a day of hands-on satellite science at Emmanuel Hall.

EMMANUEL HALL

Iryna Ilnytska in Exeter Cathedral

SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2025

Aspects of Love

A lunchtime concert with mezzo-soprano Iryna Ilnytska to raise funds for Ukraine.

EXETER CATHEDRAL