TOP STORIES
Exeter city centre strategy evasions and expediencies echo cultural strategy failings
Just 85 invitation-only workshop attendees consulted during development of yet another city council strategy without a delivery plan. Read more here.
St Petrock’s homelessness survey finds increase in women sleeping rough in Exeter
Charity says women’s homelessness often hidden from view because of “fears around safety, harassment, and gender-based violence” in report following publication of city council snapshot count which recorded five-fold rise in rough sleeper numbers. Read more here.
First phase capital cost of legacy Exeter City Living Whipton Gardens project to exceed £12.5 million – £364,000 per flat
Financing for second phase yet to be found as adjacent Rennes House demolition costs rise to £1 million and Exeter City Living reports year-end loss in residual Guildhall flats management role. Read more here.
EXETER IN BRIEF
Exeter City Council reversal returns funding support to Citizens Advice Exeter
Exeter City Council has reversed its decision to stop providing funding support to Citizens Advice Exeter and is instead to grant it £75,000 a year for two years. More here.
500 hospital staff apply to Royal Devon NHS Trust redundancy scheme
More than 500 hospital staff have applied for voluntary redundancy at Devon’s largest NHS trust, many more than a target set in order to deliver planned service cuts. More here.
Devon County Council drops Matford huts redevelopment plan after local campaign
Devon County Council has dropped its plan to redevelop a 1.5 acre plot in the grounds of County Hall following a long campaign by local residents and councillors to restore the site as a green space. More here.
ON OUR RADAR
Budleigh Music Festival // Budleigh Salterton
Annual event returns with classical concerts, musical workshops and a tribute to Hilary Mantel. More details here.
The Considerate Society // Exeter Custom House
Six artist and community-led gatherings convened by Art Work Exeter to examine civic life and more. More details here.
Love St Thomas Summer Festival // St Thomas Church
Community event returns for second year with live music, workshops, talks, stalls and more. More details here.
Green Phoenix Festival // Exeter Phoenix
Sustainability all-dayer returns with comedy, music, workshops, film screenings, community stalls and more. More details here.
Exmouth Festival // Exmouth town centre
Annual event returns with four days of music, dance, theatre, crafts and more. More details here.
BELOW THE FOLD
Clueless Exeter cultural strategy fails to address challenges facing city’s “increasingly untenable” creative sector
Survey inviting feedback on city council word salad arrives two years late, following second UK City of Culture bid failure, with delivery plan outsourced to secretive, unelected sub-committee. Read more here.
South West Water fined £1.85 million over Brixham drinking water offences
Sentencing in second case awaited, scope of third legal action expanded and Devon County Council announces desire to pursue company through courts on same day Pennon Group reports £135 million underlying pre-tax profits in 2025-26. Read more here.
Police and crime commissioner seeks views on Devon & Cornwall Police south west regional policing reforms merger
Government white paper proposes England and Wales National Police Service and creation of as few as ten ‘super-forces’ overseeing newly-defined local policing areas. Read more here.
Exeter City Council criticised for submitting AI-generated planning application text
Heritage statement in support of covering crumbling concrete Exeter Corn Exchange windows with advertising hoardings included content from 2013 article about Bourne Corn Exchange 195 miles away in Lincolnshire. Read more here.
Exeter Civic Society promotes new vision for North Street in response to Mary Arches “co-living” redevelopment
Proposals for improved road layout and public realm including pavement-widening, tree-planting and seating areas follow nine-month collaboration with local stakeholders. Read more here.
