Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 23 January 2024 were noted as a true and accurate record.

Cllr N Hookway – Minutes 4 – 6; Affects Non-Registerable Interest: Member of Exmouth Town Council.

Cllr A Bailey – Minutes 4 – 6; Affects Non-Registerable Interest: Member of Exmouth Town Council.

Cllr T Dumper – Minutes 4 – 6; Affects Non-Registerable Interest: Member of Exmouth Town Council.

Cllr M Hall – Minutes 4 – 6; Affects Non-Registerable Interest: Member of Exmouth Town Council.

Cllr J Whibley – Minutes 4 – 6; Affects Non-Registerable Interest: Member of East Devon District Council.

Information on public speaking is available online

One member of the public, Mr Digby Morrison had provided a statement to be read out by an officer, on his behalf. 

Mr Morrison was of the view that for a number of reasons, the findings and recommendation set out in the Exmouth Placemaking Plan reports were flawed.  He stated that the obvious conclusion to draw from the reports was a recommendation to rerun the consultation for a longer duration and with a number of suggested changes, in order to achieve a better response and credible understanding of resident and visitor views. Mr Morrison wished for these views to be considered by Councillors before they decided on accepting the recommendation.

The Chair expressed thanks for Mr Morrison’s contribution, which would be taken into consideration.

The Project Manager – Place & Prosperity (Exmouth) introduced this report which set out the results of the recent consultation exercise on the draft Placemaking Plan, undertaken at the request of the Placemaking in Exmouth Town and Seafront Group members in January 2024.  Members were reminded that the draft Placemaking Plan had itself been informed by extensive stakeholder and public consultations undertaken in 2022 and 2023. 

Members of the PETS Group noted the consultation findings which were provided in the report, noting and respecting that there were positive and negative views expressed as there were previously at the workshops held in the 2022 consultation.  The next steps set out in the report entitled ‘Exmouth Placemaking Plan – Next Steps’ allowed for refinement of the Placemaking Plan and would enable these latest consultation responses to help inform, alongside other factors.

The Project Manager – Place & Prosperity (Exmouth) introduced this report which provided a general summary on progress with on-the-ground placemaking projects currently being delivered in Exmouth, and other placemaking-related projects and events across the town.

Discussion and clarification included the following points:

·        Members expressed thanks to Exmouth Town Council and Exmouth Pride for the recent festivals which were widely enjoyed.

·        Design briefs are being considered for the Queen’s Drive fitness space; the use of the space is subject to planning and site constraints but officers are confident that the Council would get a reasonable return on letting it out.

Members noted the update report and the successes achieved.