Agenda and minutes

Venue: Online via the Zoom app

Contact: Sarah Jenkins  01395 517406; email  sjenkins@eastdevon.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

16.

Public speaking

Minutes:

Mr Mark Myerson of the Exmouth Beach Volleyball Club addressed the Group and advised that the Club is now attracting people from outside of the area.  Beach Volleyball is an Olympic sport and if Exmouth had the right facility, it could become a regional centre.  A beach volleyball facility would need flat, clean sand and permanent posts.  The Beach Volleyball Club was of the view that the Queen’s Drive fitness space has the potential to become such a facility and that it would also complement the nearby watersports centre.

 

The Chair thanked Mr Myerson for his contribution.

17.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 October 2021 pdf icon PDF 177 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 October 2021 were received and noted.

18.

Declarations of interest

Minutes:

Minute 19. Temporary Uses Update.

Councillor Aurora Bailey, Personal, Member is an Exmouth Town Councillor.

 

Minute 19. Temporary Uses Update.

Councillor Bruce De Saram, Personal, Member is an Exmouth Town Councillor.

 

Minute 19. Temporary Uses Update.

Councillor Chris Wright, Personal, Member is a former tenant of the Queen's Drive site and is not pre-determined.

 

Minute 19. Temporary Uses Update.

Councillor Nick Hookway, Personal, Member was Chair of Save Exmouth Seafront until May 2019 and confirmed that he is not pre-determined on any matters regarding the seafront and Queen's Drive redevelopment.

 

Minute 19. Temporary Uses Update.

Councillor Olly Davey, Personal, Member is an Exmouth Town Councillor.

 

Minute 19. Temporary Uses Update.

Councillor Steve Gazzard, Personal, Member is an Exmouth Town Councillor.

 

19.

Temporary Uses Update pdf icon PDF 211 KB

Minutes:

Tim Child, Service Lead – Place, Assets & Commercialisation, presented a report to provide Members with an understanding of the proposals for temporary uses in 2022 and the work being undertaken.  The following points were highlighted:

·        Members’ attention was drawn to paragraph 1.3 of the report which set out the feedback received from traders at the recent meeting with Officers and other feedback received outside of the meeting.

·        Members were updated on proposals for 2022 and on the existing arrangements with Torbay Development Agency who are well placed to take forward the work of commercial valuation of the pitches in December and will commence discussions with the existing traders in early January.  It is anticipated that terms will be agreed by the end of January or, if agreement has not been reached, marketing of vacant pitches will commence.

·       With regard to the funfair, it is proposed to tender for a more traditional funfair, with the EDDC Events Team leading on this work.  Until marketing takes place it is unclear whether such an operator would be interested.

·       It is proposed to discuss arrangements for the bar with LED in the first instance, with discussions led by Torbay Development Agency.  If terms cannot be agreed then the bar offer will be marketed.

·        The difficulties with the fitness space were outlined and it was noted that there is only one possible operator interested for 2022, with no other expressions of interest at this stage.  The cost of potential groundworks required may make this space unviable going forward and, if so, alternative uses would be sought.

·       Paragraph 1.10 outlined the potential investment costs due to the works needed to the seating, lighting, drainage, wifi, shelter for those in wheelchairs and a seagull scarer.  A report will be provided to the Delivery Group once the scale of the works has been determined, however, early indications are that this cost is likely to be upwards of £40,000.

 

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

·        It was proposed that the funfair for the 2022 season should be less noisy, less bright and more in keeping with a traditional family funfair.

·        A need for improved signage to car parks had been discussed previously, but still appeared to be outstanding.  Tim Child would follow up on this matter with the relevant team.

·        Regarding the valuation of rent for the traders’ pitches, Members were referred to the Part B report to the September meeting for more detail as rents are a commercially sensitive matter.

·        The interest of the Exmouth Beach Volleyball Club was noted.  EDDC is currently only able to offer a one year arrangement which makes it difficult for the Club to obtain grant funding.  This item could be followed up through the consultation process in 2022.

·        Short term usage for 2022 could be discussed further with the Beach Volleyball Club.

·        The future development of the Dinosaur play park will be picked up through the consultation process and Members will then be in a position to make  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.