Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies received from Cllr N Bradshaw and Cllr J Wright.

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

Giles Fawssett

Crediton High Street used to have some trees.

The Crediton masterplan had trees on the High Street, particularly shown in the CGI illustrations on page 45, 46 and sees planting new trees and urban greens as an opportunity.

Crediton Town Council supports planting trees on the High Street and personally I campaigned on doing just this.

The organisation “Trees For Streets” offers support and advice for getting trees planted in the winter following an application.

The Woodland Trust offers to pay for trees in Urban areas.

Question 1

Does the Cabinet of Mid Devon District Council fully support applications for planting trees in our High Street as soon as possible and would it support Crediton Town Council in getting Devon County Council to mark the spots for trees, subject to fitting these locations with this masterplan for our lovely town.

Response from Cabinet Member for Planning, Economic and Regeneration:

Just over a year ago the Liberal Democrats campaigned to work with Parish & Town Councils, this also included democratic accountability by bringing decision making closer to communities.  This evening was a first for Mid Devon District Council Cabinet meeting held in Crediton together with audio visual support to enable people to join online.

To confirm that Cabinet do support schemes which seek to incorporate tree planting. As you acknowledged; for Crediton High Street, it would be important that Devon County Council take an active lead in this regard given the complex interface between the public highways and utilities. In the meantime, I would comment that the Masterplan also identified other, non-highways areas for planting which we would also be keen to see delivered in the near-term.

Liz Brookes- Hocking

Can the Town Council be confident that the entirety of the Neighbourhood plan, including its associated documents, specifically the Crediton Traffic and Urban Realm Study, would stand alongside the Crediton Masterplan SPD and not be negated by it?  I am asking this because of paragraphs 6.3 and 6.4 in the Officer’s report to Cabinet under Item 5, which mentions the impossibility of providing trees and crossing places without reducing parking.  This was not the conclusion of the Traffic and Urban Realm Study and I am concerned that it was going to be ignored in favour of the Masterplan.

I have said all along that the Masterplan and the Traffic Study conflict in certain respects as the first had an economic brief and the second had a traffic brief.  Some assumptions are made in the Masterplan which are not necessarily correct.  I appreciate that the traffic study was particularly cited on page 43 of the Masterplan, but the Masterplan’s proposals conflict to some extent with the Traffic Study’s approach which was to keep traffic flowing but at a slower speed. 

It would be good to know that all made and adopted plans would stand alongside each other so can we be assured of this? 

As an extension to this question, once the Masterplan would be adopted, would there be further opportunities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

To record any interests on agenda matters.

No interests were declared under this item.

Members were reminded of the need to make declarations of interest where appropriate.

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 9^th July 2024.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 9^th July 2024 were APPROVED as a correct record and SIGNED by the Leader.

To receive a report from the Director of Place and Economy on the Crediton Masterplan.

Cabinet had before it a report * from the Director of Place and Economy on the Crediton Masterplan.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following:

·         Cabinet was present at Crediton for this meeting to discuss the important document on the Crediton Masterplan.

·         The Masterplan supported both the Mid Devon Local Plan and the Crediton Neighbourhood Plan.

·         It drew on previous work that included the traffic and urban realm feasibility study commissioned by the Town Council.   

·         The masterplan had been informed by two rounds of public consultation that included staffed events, a permanent exhibition at the Town Council offices and direct approaches to over 400 organisations alongside an online questionnaire. 

·         The Town Council had been part of the process throughout and their ongoing input had proved invaluable in ensuring that the plan meets community aspirations.

·         The Terms of Reference for the Crediton Masterplan were drawn up in the Spring of 2023 with Crediton Town Council.  This was before the election of the new Mid Devon Liberal Democrat Administration in May 2023.  During the process of the last year there had been some criticism from Crediton Town Council.  This criticism had been unwarranted as there had been extensive consultation including a return to the Town Council which had resulted in a delay to tonight’s Masterplan being brought forward to Cabinet.

·         To this end the Stage 2 Consultation process included :-

                     I.        Online questionnaire; six weeks, 15/01/2024 – 26/02/2024.

                    II.        Key stakeholders meeting at the Boniface Centre.

                  III.        Two staffed public drop in events at the Boniface Centre.

                  IV.        Permanent exhibition at the Town Council Offices.

                   V.        Direct contact with over 400 organisations and individuals via the Council’s Local Plan Database.

                  VI.        Social media/ press releases.

                VII.        Planning Policy Advisory Group (PPAG) meeting to consider a Report and followed this up with a Town Centre Walk around (16/04/2024)

               VIII.        Further consideration by PPAG on June 26^th.

·         Generally there was broad support for all of the projects but the Council notes the sensitivity about the loss of on street car parking, particularly in the High Street and that any changes to Newcombes Meadow should seek to preserve its current peaceful ambience. It should also be noted that those projects would be subject to further consultation with all stakeholders. 

·         Next steps would be a mixture of early interventions (e.g. tree planting and replacement seating in Market Square), further studies (High Street and Newcombes as described above) and individual projects.

·         There was a good deal of work to be undertaken with the station and the growing demand for travel on the Tarka Line, where the number of travellers had doubled in the last 10years.  There were now early discussions with Great Western Railway in full and with the Community Hub in which the Crediton Heart project were interested.

·         The Delivery Plan would be used as a “living” document and would be subject to updates and amendments to guide not just the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

To receive a report from the Director of Place and Economy on the Cullompton Cricket Club.

Cabinet had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Director of Place and Economy on the Cullompton Cricket Club relocation and project update.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following:

·         Members may recall that at the 4^th June Cabinet meeting it received an update on various strategic transport infrastructure schemes in Cullompton. The report before you today provided a further update on the Cullompton Town Centre Relief Road.

·         The Town Centre Relief Road was of key importance to improve the amenity of the town centre, tackle air quality problems and unlock housing in the area.  The majority of Cullompton residents were keen to get this scheme delivered. In a recent 2024 survey, of the 815 local residents who responded, 92% were supportive of the Relief Road proposal.

·         At the time that the June Cabinet report was written the officers were expecting a decision from Homes England regarding the possibility of additional funding to ensure delivery of the scheme. The decision was deferred as a result of the general election.  Whilst awaiting a decision from Homes England officers had been working hard to ensure that key activities had continued to de-risk the project and that critical path (programme) was maintained. This would ensure swift delivery of the road, should a positive funding decision be confirmed.

·         As the Relief Road route would pass through the existing pitch, a key dependency of the scheme was the relocation of the Cullompton cricket pitch to Horn Road to the east of the motorway.  The early implementation of the Cricket Square was important as it needed sufficient time to settle before games could be played on it and the club could be relocated from its current ground. 

·         Over recent months there had been very positive progress with partners including the Cricket Club. It was expected that this initial work was planned to start very soon and be completed by the end of September 2024. 

·         This was a very positive step and was one which should be acknowledged and celebrated as it was the Council which had been the driving force in making this significant step forwards. It had also been crucial in maintaining the programme and hoped that it would demonstrate to Government the serious commitment to seeing the timely delivery of this critical enabling infrastructure for Cullompton and Culm Garden Village The Council trusted that the Government would then, in turn, do their utmost in enabling the delivery of the Relief Road and, in due course, upgrades to Junction 28.

·         Progress with land acquisition had been positive, but productive engagement with Tesco had proved challenging. Both Councils (MDDC and Devon County Council) had been attempting to liaise with Tesco to attempt to resolve this issue for a considerable period of time, but progress by Tesco continued to be slow. Richard Foord MP had also now written to the Tesco Chairman urging Tesco to urgently progress productive dialogue  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

To note the contents of the Forward Plan.

The Cabinet had before it and NOTED the notification of Key Decisions *.

The Democratic Services Manager had added and moved the following:

·         Team Devon Joint Committee report

·         2024/2025 Budget Monitoring report Q1

·         Blackdown Hills National Landscape Management Plan

·         Leisure Pricing Strategy

·         Future Waste and Recycling options.

Note: * Notification of Key Decisions previously circulated

Cabinet NOTED the next scheduled meeting of Cabinet was the 27^th August 2024 at the Phoenix House.

Cabinet NOTED the next scheduled meeting of Cabinet was 27^th August 2024 Phoenix House, Tiverton at 5.15pm.