Transport & Mobility
Stagecoach subsidiary operating companies 2022-23 pre-tax profits bar chart

ANALYSIS

Stagecoach South West posts largest losses in sector despite greatest growth in journey numbers

Lowest year on year revenue rise compounded by above average staffing costs increase as £2 bus fare cap continues to prop up passenger demand.

Devon electric vehicle charging strategy cover

ANALYSIS

Devon County Council adopts charging strategy that provides for only 20% of EVs it expects by 2030

Local ULEV ownership has risen rapidly in recent years but many more vehicles have joined county's roads as local transport area ULEV growth lags behind rest of country and Exeter motor vehicle numbers alone top 87,000.

Peninsula Transport Strategy front cover

NEWS

Regional transport infrastructure strategy published for public consultation

Framework seeks to draw together major evidence base assembled over several years to address key challenges to 2050 including integration of walking and cycling with local bus and rail network and freight decarbonisation.

Exeter area bus services trends map

NEWS

Exeter bus services cut by nearly 42% since 2010, largest fall in area

Many of worst-affected neighbourhoods in areas where major developments planned or being built, some in Heavitree & Whipton Active Streets trial area.

Heavitree & Whipton active streets trial scheme map

NEWS

Heavitree & Whipton Active Streets trial consultation to restart as taxi bus gate use introduced

More than 4,000 responses submitted in first eleven weeks with 1,650 people attending public exhibitions on scheme intended to reduce motor vehicle through traffic and increase walking and cycling.

Devon County Council transport expenditure 2022-23 bar chart

ANALYSIS

Motor vehicle infrastructure still dominates Devon transport spending despite climate claims

2022-23 roads spending remains unchanged at 87% of total as county council diverts rail money to increase active travel capital expenditure by just 1%.

Planning & Place
Southgate development site heritage map

NEWS

Secretary of State overturns council decision to waive Southgate site Environmental Impact Assessment

Proposals for up to 200 flats in high-rise tower blocks have potentially significant impacts on Exe Estuary avian flightpaths, Exeter Cathedral skyline, listed buildings and ancient city walls placing protected landscapes and heritage assets at risk.

Liveable Exeter Placemaking Charter cover image

ANALYSIS

Liveable Exeter Placemaking Charter consultation skewed towards only one of five 'core tools'

Private developers' forum and other major components of new charter not mentioned in council communications, but transparency and new 'culture of openness' to 'help build trust in the planning system' emphasised throughout.

Empty studios at The Gorge

COMMENT

The Gorge stands 70% empty nearly six months after opening as mounting council tax liability looms

Council development director claims developer interest demonstrates need for co-living in Exeter but works have yet to start on all other such schemes.

Spruce Close & Celia Crescent development aerial view

NEWS

City council approves plans for controversial greenfield site housing

Key details remain unresolved including future ownership and management of green space and public access restrictions during construction period.

Longbrook Street student accommodation block illustrative elevation

ANALYSIS

Top to bottom King Billy student block redesign waved through as minor variation to consented plans

Council throws out Design Review Panel interventions and reneges on commitment to planning committee while developers claim unauthorised destruction of protected medieval wall justified on safety grounds.

St Bridget Nurseries illustrative layout

NEWS

Judge quashes planning permission for 350 homes at St Bridget Nurseries in Old Rydon Lane

High Court judgement finds city council did not properly discharge duties or take material considerations into account, council officer seriously misled planning committee and county council failed in statutory local highway authority role.

Arts & Culture

FRIDAY 5 TO SUNDAY 7 APRIL 2024

Topsham Music Festival

Three day event features instrumental music by upcoming professional solo and chamber ensemble artists.

TOPSHAM

SATURDAY 23 MARCH 2024

Library Lates returns

An evening of live music, creative workshops and games.

EXETER LIBRARY

THURSDAY 8 & FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2024

Two Short Nights

A short film festival showcasing local, national and international talent with a panel discussion, awards ceremony and more.

EXETER PHOENIX

WEDNESDAY 31 JANUARY TO SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2024

What If ...?

A festival of children's stories hosted by Theatre Alibi featuring performances and interactive workshops.

EMMANUEL HALL

SATURDAY 3 & SUNDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2024

Dogs Don't Do Ballet

A puppetry and music performance for children aged two and above.

EMMANUEL HALL

FRIDAY 19 JANUARY 2024

The Sidwell Street wassail

An evening wassail with music, singing and free hot soup.

ST SIDWELL'S COMMUNITY CENTRE

Climate & Environment
Exeter City Council allotment fees increases 2016 to 2024 line graph

ANALYSIS

Council plans huge allotment fees increases to claw back cash from 1,500 city gardeners and growers

Plot holders provided with incomplete picture as consultation held which does not comply with council's own charter and delayed scrutiny report that omits key survey findings suggests council aims to turn profit from allotment provision.

, updated

Just Stop Oil protestor George Simonson on the University of Exeter Forum entrance portico

COMMENT

Just Stop Oil protest puts university fossil fuel financing under spotlight

University of Exeter tops UK fossil fuel funding table following £14.7 million deal with Shell but has more than one close relationship with major emissions producers.

Salmon Run

Dozens of runners took part in three community runs along the River Exe to highlight the significance of salmon and the species' relationship with the waterway.

Exeter City Council litter bin

NEWS

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

It says many are under-used because they are in the wrong place or too close to other bins, and that city centre bins will be 'largely unaffected'.

Exeter City Futures branding

NEWS

Exeter City Futures board minutes published nearly nine months after meeting held

Minutes confirm Global City Futures work on Exeter Development Fund continues via direct city council contract framework and suggest university could retain brand after company dissolution.

Just Stop Oil Exeter protest march

NEWS

Just Stop Oil protests arrive in Exeter

Slow march from Sidwell Street to Northernhay Gardens first action in city by group calling for end to UK fossil fuel exploration, development and production.

Democracy & Governance
Devon County Council 2023-24 vs 2024-25 service delivery budgets bar graph

ANALYSIS

£50 million county council 2024-25 service delivery cuts concealed by £93 million costs increases

Figures essentially unaffected by budget scrutiny process during which councillors sought details of where and how cuts would fall but received few proper answers.

Scrutiny Programme Board agenda extract 21 July 2022

SPECIAL REPORTS

City council scrutiny board enabling illicit obstruction of democracy

Essential safeguard against misuse of power misdirected by Executive members and senior officers while backbench councillors persistently denied rights to examine high-risk schemes and citywide climate crisis response.

Exeter City Living hoarding at Clifton Hill sports centre development site

SPECIAL REPORTS

Exeter City Living to be all-but wound up after £4.5 million losses with £10 million owed to council

Council expects resulting resale value of surrendered Clifton Hill development site not to cover company's debts, with remaining losses to be written off, as Liveable Exeter vision thrown into doubt and councillors evade responsibility for failure.

Cover of Exeter City Council 2022-23 unaudited statement of accounts

NEWS

Annual inspection period begins as unaudited 2022-23 city council accounts published

Special information access rights enabling local residents to examine records and ask council and external auditor related questions apply until 12 October.

Cover of Exeter City Council draft digital customer service strategy

NEWS

City council invites comments on digital customer service transformation

Exeter City Council is inviting comments until 15 September on a draft digital customer service strategy that aims to make more efficient use of council resources by increasing its reliance on digital technology for service delivery.

St Sidwell's Point leisure centre behind derelict Exeter bus station

NEWS

£1 million leisure overspend fuels £3.2 million city council deficit

2022-23 budget review confirms £2.2 million annual leisure subsidy to continue with St Sidwell's Point expected to make a loss for at least five years while another £22 million to be spent on Exeter City Living Vaughan Road development.

Community & Society
Wonford Community Wellbeing Hub option seven plan crop

ANALYSIS

£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.

FRIDAY 12 APRIL 2024

St Petrock's Big Night Out

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

SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2024

Brillsville Market returns

Community-run market launches 2024 season with goods from local producers, workshops and more.

ST THOMAS

SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2024

International Women's Festival 2024

A free one-day festival celebrating women with live music, workshops, panel discussions, art and more.

EXETER PHOENIX

WEDNESDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2024

PRISM Exeter speakers series returns

LGBTQIA+ researchers share their experiences working in STEMM as part of this year's LGBT+ History Month.

EXETER LIBRARY

TUESDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2024

George Oliver, forgotten Exeter humanitarian

A fundraising talk about the priest, historian and author who lived in the priory in the 19th century.

ST NICHOLAS PRIORY

Economy & Enterprise
Sandy Park stadium

NEWS

City council gives Exeter Chiefs permission to hold Sandy Park concerts with 15,500 attendees

Permanent consent for six weekend events between 1 May and 15 July each year with amplified music to 10.30pm follows four trial concerts with audiences of just 3,500.

South West area employment rates 2012 to 2023 line graph

NEWS

Exeter employment rate second lowest in South West for second year running

Economic inactivity levels related to large student and retiree population remain high, creating recruitment challenges from healthcare to refuse collection, but council celebrates top retirement destination ranking as 'more good news'.

Belluno Italian restaurant in Newton St Cyres

NEWS

Home Office fails in bid to shut down local restaurant

Hearing following December immigration raid revokes premises supervisor's authority and briefly suspends but stops short of revoking premises licence.

Belluno Italian restaurant in Newton St Cyres

NEWS

Home Office demands closure of local restaurant

The Home Office has asked Mid Devon District Council to revoke the premises licence at Belluno, an Italian restaurant in Newton St Cyres, effectively shutting down the business.

Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership area map

NEWS

Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership to be wound up

The government has confirmed that the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership will be wound up in April next year.

Local authority economic activity levels change 2011-2021 census

NEWS

Decline in Exeter economic activity levels among largest in country

Census figures also show population increasing at nearly six times rate of job creation over past decade while healthcare, wholesale/retail and teaching make up nearly half of all employment, reflecting low pay and productivity.

News
Proposed Heavitree Road bus lane bus priority signals

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

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.

All topics

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