Transport & Mobility
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.
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.
Planning & Place
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.
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.
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.
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
Climate & Environment
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.
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Democracy & Governance
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Economy & Enterprise
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'.