Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Place requesting approval of the Cullompton Higher Bullring public realm enhancement concept design for public consultation, and to handover to Devon County Council for design development and implementation. 

The Cabinet had before it a *report of the Director of Place requesting approval of the Cullompton Higher Bullring public realm enhancement concept design for public consultation, and to handover to Devon County Council for design development and implementation. 

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration outlined the contents of the report providing some background information on the award of funding for the scheme and the stage 1 public consultation process that had already taken place, the conclusion of which had demonstrated strong support for the public realm enhancements around the Higher Bullring with 89% stating that this area needed improvement. Consultants had been appointed and had developed a concept design focused on the Higher Bullring area alongside Historic England and highway officers from Devon County Council, which could be delivered in advance of the relief road.  He added that the key considerations in the course of the design included the War Memorial, the street trees, the bus stop, facilitation of loading and unloading and the parking in the area.

The Member informed the meeting that the proposal had set out the creation of an enhanced, expanded and decluttered public realm focused around a new square framing the War Memorial and providing a central focus.  He stated that if the recommendations were approved it would mark another important milestone for Cullompton and would demonstrate the Council’s continued commitment to delivering significant improvements for the town and its residents.

In response to questions raised in public question time, the Cabinet Member stated that with regard to the consultation:

Recommendation 1 – this was to approve the concept design for public consultation.

Recommendation 2- this was to delegate authority to the Director of Place (in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration) to finalise the material and arrangements for public consultation.

Recommendation 3 – this was to instruct DCC to take forward the project through to implementation which would ensure timely delivery of their detailed design work and also ensured that they were fully instructed on the project. The project programme was, and always had been, very challenging given the limited funding window from Historic England. Achieving the sign-off here to instruct DCC saved valuable programme time and made delivery within the funding period possible.

Recommendation 4 – this was to delegate authority to the Director of Place (in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration) to work with DCC to build in the views and public consultation responses into the design. 

The consultation would be meaningful, but the challenging project programme and the limited available window of project funding was a key consideration which had to also be balanced.

The consultation would focus, where it could add maximum value allowing for programme constraints. Officers from MDDC and DCC would work hard to ensure that consultation findings were incorporated into the final detailed design wherever practicable. 

With regard to the question about a parking bay for emergency vehicles, he stated that no disabled parking spaces  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5