Agenda and minutes

Venue: Online via Zoom app

Contact: Sarah James  01395 519978 Email:  sjames@eastdevon.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Public speaking

Minutes:

There were no members of the public registered to speak.

2.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 March 2023 pdf icon PDF 176 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 March 2023 were noted as a true and accurate record.

3.

Declarations of interest

Minutes:

Cllr O Davey – Minute 4; Affects Non-Registerable Interest: Member of Exmouth Town Council.

 

Cllr M Hall – Minute 4; Affects Non-Registerable Interest: Member of Exmouth Town Council.

 

Cllr B Bailey – Minute 4; Affects Non-Registerable Interest: Member of Exmouth Town Council.

 

Cllr J Whibley – Minute 4; Affects Non-Registerable Interest: Member of Exmouth Town Council.

4.

Progress update on Placemaking in Exmouth pdf icon PDF 206 KB

Minutes:

The Project Manager Place & Prosperity (Exmouth) introduced the progress update report, highlighting the following points:

·        The planning consent for the fitness area at Queen’s Drive (which expires in July 2023) has been granted for its temporary use for a further two years.

·        The Events Space has been marketed but it has not been possible to secure a reliable operator for either the whole season or for the summer holidays.

·        Significant progress has been made with Devon County Council (DCC) regarding car parking signage; DCC have confirmed locations for the signage and are awaiting a quote for the works.  Additional signs are included in the schedule, to clarify for drivers that car parks are owned by East Devon DC but on-road parking comes under Devon County Council, and to ensure that drivers are directed to pay at the correct parking meters for the location in which they are parked. 

·        There has been a slight delay with the determination report for planning for the Strand’s tables, which is now due in May/June 2023; however, the current permission does not expire until September 2023.

·        The mural on the rear wall of the Pavillion will now not commence until July 2023.

·        Consultants WSP have agreed to the final version of the Placemaking contract, and an update is expected this week.  The contract will run for approximately seven months and members will be consulted as part of that process.

·        Following the successful ‘Destination Exmouth’ Levelling Up Fund Bid, a design team at WSP has been appointed by DCC for the Exmouth Gateway.  A Project Manager has also been appointed for the Gateway and will shortly be doing a site visit.

·        Key milestones for Placemaking in Exmouth were set out in the report.

 

 

Discussion and clarification included the following points:

·        Having been delayed, analysis of consultation feedback was completed by the revised date of 30 September 2022.

·        The Events Space could be marketed for one-off events; there had been some ad hoc interest regarding events at the location but they had not come through the formal process, therefore it had not been possible to progress them.

·        It would be for the Placemaking consultants to advise on permanent uses for the area that is currently the Event Space; differing views were expressed on whether the area was suitable for a hotel. 

·        There is a very short window to submit Levelling Up bids and it is important that the Council is well prepared, with applications ready to submit.  There is a role for the PETS Group to think carefully about what ideas and initiatives it wants, how to progress with them, and which would need planning permission.

 

Cllr Arnott expressed thanks to Devon County Council and to Simon Jupp MP for the role they played in the successful Levelling Up Fund Bid.  He added that there has been for some years some excellent cross-authority collaboration in the public interest and this is starting to bear fruit. 

 

The Chair commented that he shares Cllr Arnott’s enthusiasm and the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.