THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #59: SEND overspend - Devon MP winter fuel votes - Great Western Hotel conversion

With a double helping of the best of Exeter’s community and culture events for the weekend and beyond.

NEWS

County council projects £38.5m SEND overspend, £7.4m more than agreed with government under “safety valve” deal

Failure to meet agreement, which requires break-even on SEND spending within two years despite persistent overspends, would put government bail-out at risk. Full story.

How did Devon MPs vote on the winter fuel payment motion?

Nine of Devon’s thirteen MPs voted in favour of a motion, moved in the House of Commons on Tuesday by Conservative Central Devon MP Mel Stride, to annul the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024. Full story.

Great Western Hotel conversion proposed

An application for permission to convert the Great Western Hotel beside Exeter St David’s station for mainly residential use has been submitted to Exeter City Council for approval. Full story.

Former Exeter City Council CEO appointed as Plymouth City Council growth director

New job title created for ex-CEO Karime Hassan eighteen months after Exeter councillors voted to terminate his employment. Read more.

ON OUR RADAR ~ THIS WEEKEND

Brillsville Market // St Thomas

Regular community-run market that offers goods from local growers, makers and traders with a repair cafe and more. Saturday 14 September. More details.

Exeter Independent Market // Cathedral Green

Exeter Cathedral market returns with handmade crafts, clothing and accessories, local food and drink and live music. Saturday 14 September. More details.

Quayside Shanty Festival // Exeter Quay

Free one-day festival features shanties from Boscastle Buoys, Mariners Away, The Rusty Tubs and more. Saturday 14 September. More details.

Autumn Fore Street Flea // Exeter city centre

Market with stalls selling vintage items, handmade craft, food and drink. More details.

365 Years of Purcell // Exeter Library

A free lunchtime concert to celebrate the composer’s work. Sunday 15 September. More details.

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ON OUR RADAR ~ THIS MONTH

Exeter Contemporary Open 2024 // Exeter Phoenix

Annual exhibition featuring fifteen contemporary visual artists from across the UK. More details.

Bonanza! Exeter Phoenix 25th birthday party // Exeter Phoenix

Exeter arts venue celebrates 25th year with live music, DJs, silent disco and more. More details.

Kidical Mass rides again // Belmont Park

Kidical Mass Exeter is holding its eighth family bike ride as part of an ongoing campaign for safe cycling routes for children, young people and families. Sunday 22 September. More details.

September walk and cook // St Thomas

Love Food leads a short walk to forage ingredients for a shared meal. More details.

Salmon Run 2024 // River Exe

Community runs along the River Exe highlighting the significance of salmon and the species’ relationship with the waterway. Sunday 29 September. More details.

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More stories
St Petrocks No-one Chooses to be Homeless film still

St Petrock’s appeals for funds to support its work with rough sleepers

Exeter homelessness charity’s Christmas 2024 fundraising campaign features a short film depicting the fictional tale of a rough sleeper in the city’s streets.

Flowerpot Fields revised proposed floor plan keyframe

Exeter College amends Flowerpot Fields plans to replace two of six classrooms with changing rooms

Revisions submitted during building construction also show two rooms described as “changing rooms” and “overflow sports training and education space”, both with unobscured full-height classroom windows and no shower facilities.

Devon County Council Exeter Bus Service Improvement Plan central and eastern corridors map

Controversial Exeter bus lane changes approved after three and a half hour County Hall debate

Devon County Council claims £2.4 million “intelligent corridor” upgrades along Heavitree Road and Pinhoe Road routes could save up to “approximately four minutes” journey time and bring “economic benefit of around £2,150,000” each year.

Devon districts and Torbay home work and travel to work patterns (people aged 16 and over in employment)

New countywide transport strategy falls short on fundamental mobility challenges

Draft 2025-40 Devon & Torbay Local Transport Plan lacks serious measures to address congestion and enable shift to public transport as local government reorganisation threatens derailment.

Proposed floor plans and elevations

Plan for student accommodation block in back garden of 17-bed Pennsylvania Road HMO dismissed at appeal

City council planning consent refusal upheld by inspector in decision citing existing community balance policy that is not retained in proposed new Exeter Local Plan.

Hotel Indigo Exeter

Singapore hospitality group buys Hotel Indigo Exeter for £19.4 million

Sale of converted House of Fraser department store announced one week after Frasers Group purchase of adjacent Princesshay shopping centre.

, updated

On Our Radar
Poltimore House 2023 Christmas market

SATURDAY 23 & SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2024

Poltimore Christmas markets

Four weekend festive markets with stalls selling local arts and crafts.

POLTIMORE HOUSE

Magdalen Road Christmas Fair poster keyframe

SATURDAY 7 DECEMBER 2024

St Leonard’s Christmas Fair 2024

Community-run market returns for thirteenth year with festive food, music and gifts.

MAGDALEN ROAD

Exeter Cathedral Choir members in Exeter Cathedral

SUNDAY 8 DECEMBER 2024

Handel’s Messiah

A seasonal choral performance by Exeter Cathedral Choir with early music specialists Devon Baroque.

EXETER CATHEDRAL