THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #48: Auditor broadens inquiry - Victoria Street co-living - SEND deficit deal

As the 2024 local election campaigns get under way we invite readers to help us hold Exeter’s politicians to account, plus community and culture highlights including Italian Liberation Day, Bloom Festival and Pint of Science.

NEWS & ANALYSIS

Auditor broadens inquiry to include Exeter City Futures and ex-CEO secondment to liquidated company

More ‘significant weaknesses’ found in city council governance and financial and performance management arrangements while St Sidwell’s Point valued at £7 million less than build cost and £370,000 ex-CEO final year pay and benefits confirmed. Full story here.

Brownfield claim for site in heart of St James implies any Exeter residential property with garden, garage and driveway ripe for build to rent redevelopment. Full story here.

SEND deficit deal demands £50m budget cuts, £13m asset sales and use of £20m financial reserves

Department for Education to contribute £95 million over nine years, but terms of deal require Devon County Council to break even on SEND within two years despite five years of multi-million pound overspends. Full story here.

EXETER OBSERVER COMMUNITY

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ON OUR RADAR

Italian Liberation Day festival // The Hall

Italian Cultural Association Exeter hosts a day of music, dance, poetry, singing and Italian food. Sunday 21 April. More details here.

Exeter Pride 2024 // Northernhay Gardens

Exeter Pride returns for a celebration of LGBTQ+ diversity with a parade, marketplace, music, cabaret and more. Saturday 11 May. More details here.

Bloom Festival 2024 // Exeter Phoenix

Mental health and wellbeing event returns with a day of workshops, talks, poetry and performances. Sunday 12 May. More details here.

Pint of Science // Exeter city centre

Three day festival presents talks by Exeter research scientists in three city centre pubs. Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 May. More details here.

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More stories
Exeter Energy heat plant indicative render north elevation

Exeter City Council disregards national planning policy and Environment Agency criticism to approve Riverside Valley Park flood zone heat plant plans

Five gas boilers to provide 80% of “low-to-zero carbon” Grace Road Fields plant generation capacity for distribution to institutional consumers through privately-run 13-mile underground network expected to take ten years to complete.

University of Exeter West Park redevelopment demolition block plan

West Park redevelopment demolitions to proceed to enable intrusive unexploded ordnance surveys before works can begin

Five year-old University of Exeter plans to provide 2,000 new student bedspaces in blocks up to nine storeys tall by demolishing up to 30 buildings on fifteen acre Streatham campus site about to take seismic step towards delivery.

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire and Rescue Services logo

HMICFRS identifies sufficient Devon & Cornwall Police improvements to return force to routine monitoring

Inspectorate decision follows nearly three years of enhanced monitoring after force found inadequate in three of nine areas and requiring improvement in two more, but says “still work to do” in crime recording standards and investigations management.

Devon & Cornwall Police deputy chief constable Jim Colwell, previous chief constable Will Kerr and interim chief constable James Vaughan

Devon & Cornwall Police deputy chief constable Jim Colwell receives 18-month misconduct warning

Outcome of Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation delivered day before retirement of suspended chief constable Will Kerr announced, with Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez unwilling to say whether “golden handshake” agreed.

Newtown active travel scheme map

Newtown active travel scheme approved after four years of public consultations

Joint Devon County Council and Exeter City Council project includes road closure, car parking changes and contraflow Clifton Hill cycle lane.

On Our Radar
Summer at the Quayside illustration

TUESDAY 29 JULY TO FRIDAY 29 AUGUST 2025

Summer at the Quayside

A month of free family activities including weaving, felting, doodling and drumming.

EXETER QUAY

Exeter Street Arts Festival mural painting

SATURDAY 30 AUGUST 2025

Exeter Street Arts Festival 2025

The annual festival returns with street art, drumming, dance, workshops, walkabouts and live music.

EXETER CITY CENTRE

Burnet Patch Bridge spanning an eighteenth century cut in Exeter City Walls

FRIDAY 12 TO SUNDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

Heritage Open Days 2025

Annual festival returns with free talks, tours and exhibitions at heritage sites in and around Exeter.

EXETER CITY CENTRE