Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

Cllr S Penny joined the meeting via Zoom.

To receive any questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

Honorary Alderman Mrs Campbell referring to Item 5 on the agenda (Cullompton HSHAZ) highlighted the setting of the medieval street layout of Cullompton, the impact of any motorway closure on the town and the previous funding bids for improvements to the public realm.  She referred to the volume and size of traffic, the lack of free parking in the town and the impact of the proposed scheme on pedestrians, by bringing them closer to the traffic.  She then asked the following questions:

Referring to the recommendations within the report she asked whether there would be a genuine public consultation on the plans and whether there would be room for alteration and amendment post consultation?  She had asked during the first consultation whether a parking bay for emergency vehicles should be provided on the east side adjoining the access the Clark’s Court, this seemed to have been ignored; a minor rearrangement had been made to the disabled parking spaces with the result that the number of spaces had been reduced, why had this been done and who would benefit?  She referred to the bus bay being removed and whether buses would therefore in the block the traffic in the high street.  She also asked about the installation of cameras in the area during the period of consultation to record the number and size of vehicles using the road at this point, she had been told that it would be illegal to use the existing CCTV cameras, was that correct?  Referring to the traders, the Honorary Alderman asked how many traders had been involved in the consultation to date and how many of those had agreed to the reduction in the number of free parking spaces in the town centre prior to the opening of the proposed relief road?  She also asked whether it was intended to proceed with the work before confirmation had been received with regard to the amount of funding available and a start date for the relief road, as there were concerns with the amount of traffic in the high street due to the development of more housing to the west of the town, as access to the site would only be via the High Street and Tiverton Road.  Finally she referred to the memorial area and whether there would be adequate space for traders vehicles to unload their wares for the street market.

The Chairman indicated that responses the questions would be provided when the item was discussed.

To record any interests on agenda matters.

The Leader declared a personal interest in Item 5 on the agenda following the mention of ambulances as he was a Governor of SWAST.

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 5 April 2022.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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.

To receive a report of the Director of Place seeking approval for public consultation on the draft updated NW Cullompton Masterplan SPD.

The Cabinet had before it a *report of the Director of Place seeking approval for public consultation on the draft updated NW Cullompton Masterplan SPD.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration outlined the contents of the report referring to Policy CU1 of the Mid Devon Local Plan which allocated 100 hectares of land at North West Cullompton for 1350 homes, infrastructure and community facilities.  The initial SPD had been adopted in 2016 but was now considered to be out of date with 3 additional land parcels being allocated in the new Local Plan.  He informed the meeting that 3 planning permissions had been granted on the land totalling 600 homes. Feedback from the consultation would help shape the final version of the Masterplan SPD which when adopted would support the local plan and guide development of the proposed allocation.

Consideration was given to the views of one of the local Ward Members with regard to the Cullompton Neighbourhood Plan, Policy CU1 of the Local Plan and the CCA management plan with regard to the transport infrastructure, the number of houses to be occupied before the spine road was established and the impact of construction traffic accessing the site via Tiverton Road.  It was felt that the views of local residents were being ignored.

Officers provided a response stating that 3 applications had already been approved; Policies CU1-CU6 of the Local Plan required the spine road to be available before the occupation of 500 dwellings, planning permission had already been granted for 600 dwellings.  The S106 agreement for the Persimmon parcel (one sector of the spine road) had a trigger of 100 dwellings with the Barratt/David Wilson Homes agreement stating that the remainder of the spine road to be completed before the occupation of 100 dwellings. Construction traffic would initially have to travel via Tiverton Road until the trigger had been met, and a Construction Management Plan submitted with the planning applications would be consulted on to manage the traffic impacts.

It was therefore: RESOLVED that:

i)                That the document at Appendix 1 is approved for public consultation.

ii)               That delegated authority be given to the Director of Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration to finalise the consultation material.

(Proposed by Cllr R J Chesterton and seconded by Cllr B A Moore)

Reason for the decision: the existing adopted masterplan is out of date, there is a need for a new masterplan to be approved for public consultation.

Note:  *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To receive a verbal update from the Cabinet Member on the progress in driving improvement in services across the Council.

The Cabinet Member for Continuous Improvement informed the meeting that she continued to work with officers to drive continuous improvement highlighting the number of open cases and the number of cases closed.

She outlined the amount of work that had taken place with regard to planning enforcement, which had brought forward several retrospective planning applications to legalise development and that some income had been gained from this. She also outlined work taking place with regard to vehicle and parking enforcement, voids, complaints and fly tipping.

Discussion took place with regard to staffing issues within the Planning Department and particularly within the enforcement team.

To note the contents of the Forward Plan.

The Cabinet had before it and noted its rolling *plan for June 2022 containing future key decisions.

Note:  *Plan previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.