Agenda item

The report provides commentary around the options for exploring a Green Belt designation in the West End highlighting that, from officer review, it would be inappropriate to seek to pursue the option of Green Belt designation.

The report presented by the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management was before the committee to set out some historical background and Government policy on Green Belts and to highlight some challenges involved in seeking to pursue a Green Belt designation.

The key issues highlighted would include a high level of work to gather the level of evidence needed to support a Green Belt Designation and the need to work in conjunction with Exeter City Council, Teignbridge District Council and Mid Devon District Council to help make a genuine case for a Green Belt.  As a result, Members were advised a Green Belt designation could not be done for this Local Plan but if Members wished it could be pursued for a later Local Plan.

During discussion Members acknowledged that although a Green Belt designation was too late for this Local Plan they were keen for officers to explore this issue when considering the next Local Plan.

Discussion on the report included:

·        Clarification was sought on the progress of the Green Wedges and a concern was raised about the delay in the Local Plan timetable.  The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised that a report would be brought to committee after it was discussed at the newly formed Local Plan Working Group next week together with an update report on the timetable.

·        Would a Green Wedge be considered if a Green Belt was not possible?

·        It was suggested that the lessons learnt from Green Belts could be used to strengthen Green Wedges, Coastal Protection Areas and the Clyst Valley Regional Park.

·        Green Belts do not need to go all around an area they could be smaller areas of land between two communities.

·        A Green Belt is a lot more permanent than a Green Wedge.

·        Although it would be good to consult with neighbouring Local Authorities we do not need to do this.

·        It was questioned whether informal conversations with neighbouring authorities about pursuing a joint approach to a Green Belt could take place now.  The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised if Members were happy he would raise this with officers at the neighbouring authorities.

·        Reference was made to paragraph 4.2 in the report and the need to plan for climate mitigations now.  This cannot be left for another few years.

·        It was suggested that the current leadership should start preparing the groundwork for a Green Belt designation now so that after this Local Plan has been approved we can start on the Green Belt immediately. 

·        It was suggested the report was very one sided in its evaluation.

·        As there is a need to protect our countryside so there is no justification to hold back and do nothing.

·        The green space that sits between East Devon and East of Exeter needs to be looked at in more detail as it won’t be long before the two are indistinguishable.

The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management acknowledged Members comments about the need for a Green Belt for the next Local Plan.  He advised that in terms of the resource implications it was best to wait until the current Local Plan had been submitted for examination as this could impact on the deadlines for the current Local Plan.

During further discussion a concern was raised about the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development’s advice about waiting until the current Local Plan had been submitted for examination.  It was highlighted that there were still other strategic priorities to consider including the Green Infrastructure Plan and it was questioned whether there would always be a reason to not start doing this work.

A further concern was raised about other important items that Members should be considering which includes receiving a report on the boundaries consultation that had ended in January 2023.  

In light of Members comments Councillor Ben Ingham proposed to amend the proposed recommendation to read:

‘That committee does not endorse the proposal to seek to designate a Green Belt in East Devon in the current emerging East Devon Local Plan.’

Councillor Ingham also proposed the following motion:

‘That this committee receives a further report scoping out the resources required to progress a Green Belt so that it can decide whether to recommend to Full Council that it place in budgetary considerations this year to finance recruitment and support for the evaluation of a new Green Belt within East Devon for the next emerging East Devon Local Plan.’

Seconded by Councillor Jess Bailey.

The Chair invited Councillor Todd Olive to address the committee with his amendments to the proposed motion.

The amendments were as follows:

1.           That committee notes the risks outlined by officers but considers that there is a strategic case for undertaking further assessment on the potential for a West End or wider Exeter Green Belt.

2.           That committee request that the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management, together with Council’s political leadership, make urgent approaches to colleagues at Exeter, Mid Devon and Teignbridge Councils as appropriate, to explore the political and practical appetite for undertaking a fuller assessment, and feedback to Committee as soon as possible on the back of these discussions.

The proposer, Councillor Ben Ingham did not support the second amendment as he did not want the decision to be based on what those discussions lead to.  In response the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised that it would be logical to consider whether or not neighbouring authorities would want to jointly resource the Green Belt work especially if Members wanted to receive a report on resourcing.

Councillor Yehudi Levine seconded Councillor Todd Olive’s amendment.

RESOLVED:

1.           That Committee notes the risks outlined by officers but considers that there is a strategic case for undertaking further assessment on the potential for a West End or wider Exeter Green Belt.

2.           That Committee receives a further report scoping out the resources required to progress a green belt so that it can decide whether to recommend to Full Council that it place budgetary considerations this year to finance recruitment and support for the evaluation of a new green belt within East Devon for the next emerging East Devon Local Plan.

3.           That Committee request that the Assistant Director for Planning Strategy and Development Management, together with Council's political leadership, make urgent approaches to colleagues at Exeter, Mid Devon, and Teignbridge Councils as appropriate, to explore the political and practical appetite for undertaking a fuller assessment, and feedback to Committee as soon as possible on the back of these discussions.

Councillor Jess Bailey left the meeting.