Agenda and minutes

Members of the Council will declare any interest they may have in any item to be considered at this meeting, prior to any discussion taking place on that item.

The other registrable interests of Councillors of Devon County Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: 

 A list of county councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors

Councillors Wrigley and Dewhirst declared interests in agenda items 6(a) and 8 respectively (see minutes 85(a) and 87 respectively below), over and above the other registrable interests of Councillors of Devon County Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities.  A list of county councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors

Minutes of the meeting held on  25 July 2024, previously circulated.

It was MOVED by Councillor Cox and SECONDED by Councillor Peart and

RESOLVED:  that the minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2024 be signed as a correct record.

[An item to be taken under s18 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 relating to any reviews of parking policy sought in line with the Council’s Petition Scheme.]

There was no petition received from a Member of the public or the Council.

With regard to parking policy review, Officers undertook to look into a matter raised by a local County Councillor regarding parking zone limitations across Newton Abbot, preventing motorists from being able to re-park some distance away across the town, on the expiry of the purchased parking duration.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/93) together with supplementary plans, attached.

(Electoral Divisions: All in Teignbridge)

(Councillor Wrigley declared both a Personal and a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in this item by virtue of renting a premises in a street and an adjoining street under consideration).

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/93), together with supplementary plans.  The restrictions aimed to rationalise existing parking arrangements, enabling efficient enforcement, sustainable travel, assist pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, contributing to the safe and expeditious movement of traffic.

Following the collation of  restrictions requests in September 2023, these were considered by Officers, including consultation with local County Councillors and Chair/Vice Chair of HATOC, then advertised (closing 17 October 2024), see Appendix 1 to this Report.

All sites were listed in section 3 of the Report, with 3 proposed approaches:- 

(a) 18 sites received no comments and therefore were to be implemented as advertised;

(b) 14 sites were supported and/or had minor objections (see Appendix 2 to this Report for representations and the Council’s response); and

(c) substantial responses were received for 4 of the 36 sites, but with insufficient time to properly consider the responses, it was proposed to bring these back to the next meeting. 

It was MOVED by Councillor Cox and SECONDED by Councillor Peart

and

RESOLVED:

(a) that the work on the local waiting restriction programme be noted;

(b) that the recommendations contained in Appendix 2 to Report (CET/24/93) be approved; and

(c) that a Report on the remaining 4 restrictions (attracting substantial responses)not considered in Report (CET/24/93) be brought to the next meeting.

(In accordance with Standing Order 32(4), Councillor Wrigley requested that his abstention from voting be recorded in the minutes in relation to the aspects of resolution (b) above for the areas the interest had been declared).

In accordance with Standing Order 23(2) Councillor Wrigley has requested that the Committee consider this matter.

Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport to advise on Waiting Restrictions process for Member requests.

The local County Councillor had requested the Committee consider this matter in accordance with SO23(2), due to concerns of vehicles regularly mounting the pavement to pass vehicles parked a greater distance from the kerbside, as a result of one way directions making it difficult to access parked vehicles from the driver’s side.

It was MOVED by Councillor Wrigley and SECONDED by Councillor Dewhirst

and

RESOLVED:

That this request be added to the next tranche of restrictions to be considered, in accordance with the usual process (i.e. 2025/26 financial year).

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/94), attached.

(Electoral Division: Teignmouth)

(Councillor Phipps, Teignmouth Town Councillor, spoke to this matter with the consent of the Committee, seeking to open the Upper Den Carriageway for parking through the summer months).

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/94), following this matter being raised by the local County Councillor at the last meeting.

Teignmouth Town Council had requested that the Upper Den Carriageway remain open through the summer months. Currently it was closed for vehicles between 1 May and 10 September each year.

Appendix 1 to Report (CET/24/94) set out Teignmouth Town Council’s report of the Town Council proposals (which also included letters of support from a local trader, a member of the public and the Chair of Teignmouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce). 

Whilst the proposal would increase on-street parking revenue for the County Council, (currently no revenue during summer road closure period), it raised safety issues and conflicts with some of the County Council’s policies, as set out in section 6 of Report (CET/24/94).

Several summer events (e.g. Air Show) required the road to be closed on specific dates, so if it was reopened for the remaining summer this was considered to be confusing for residents and visitors, who had been able to cross this road freely during the summer for several years.

Historically the Town Council had favoured closing the road over the summer period, with concerns of camper vans and the emptying of waste into highways drains, draining directly onto the beach potentially affecting bathing water quality.

Teignbridge District Council recommended that further consultation be undertaken before any consideration was taken to reopen the road.

A very similar proposal was brought before this Committee on 25 July 2022, at that time it was resolved that the Upper Den Carriageway remain closed through the summer.

Safety, environmental and policy issues had led to the Report (CET/24/94) recommendation for it to remain closed until any further agreed consultation.

The Report further considered issues of finance (with no identified budget), equality, risk management (including concerns regarding RNLI emergency use) and public health. 

The local County Councillor whilst supporting the Teignmouth Town Council proposals, would welcome further consultation to help inform any future consideration.

Members of this Committee also felt they could not fully consider this without

further consultation to help determine whether there was a case made to reopen, or otherwise. Some representations objecting to the proposals had been submitted to this Committee’s last meeting.

Officers advised that a full consultation would need to be carried out by the Town Council at its own expense, to the County Council’s satisfaction. The County Council would assist the Town Council with advice on the consultation process. 

It was MOVED by Councillor Dewhirst and SECONDED by Councillor Cox and

RESOLVED: that the Upper Den Carriageway remain closed through the summer period until a further full consultation on the proposals put forward by Teignmouth Town Council could be undertaken by it (with the assistance of the County Council as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/95), attached.

(Electoral Divisions: All)

(Councillor Dewhirst declared a Personal Interest in this item by virtue of being a Trustee of Exeter Deaf Academy)

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/95), regarding the County Council’s commitment to ensuring its transport network enabled mobility for all and prevented barriers to opportunities, with the needs of all disabled people considered from the outset in walking and cycling infrastructure, including engagement with the RNIB and Living Options Devon. This supported the Council’s decisions taken in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Equality Duty.

Officers further advised that the inclusive design approach applied to new schemes.  There may be some locations where accessibility design for all may require the balancing of other specific design considerations and/or limitations (e.g. historic streets layout), as well as other routine environmental and financial factors, to be fully considered on a case by case basis. 

Member comments and discussion included:-

-noting the report’s references to design for the visually impaired, as well as all disabilities, but Members’ also recognising the challenges for other user groups e.g. the hearing impaired;

-concerns that quiet electric vehicles and potentially other technology improvement factors, posed a greater safety risk to all pedestrians and cyclists;

-challenges with existing infrastructure e.g. gutters, gullies and junctions without dropped kerbs affecting wheelchair and mobility scooter users;

-infrastructure to encourage cycling;

-pedestrian/cyclist conflicts with shared use routes, which should be considered as a last resort, with examples of schemes only recently completed where there could potentially be design improvement (e.g. Newton Abbot sites including:- Jetty Marsh Road, Bakers Park, Ashburton Road, as well as the Exe Estuary) where better marking could give clearer indications to all users to reduce conflict. 

In response Officers advised there was a small but oversubscribed budget for any aids to movement works. Member comments would be further considered including whether any updated designs could be implemented this financial year.

It was MOVED by Councillor Cox and SECONDED by Councillor Peart        

and

RESOLVED: that the approach to the inclusive design of walking and cycling infrastructure be noted.

Hatoc representative to give any update on the work of the BUS Forum.

The last meeting was held on 7 October 2024, with a summary available at follows Devon BUS Forum - Travel Devon

Members noted that the last meeting was held on 7 October 2024, with a summary available at Devon BUS Forum - Travel Devon

It was noted that this Committee’s existing representative on the BUS Forum was seeking to relinquish this role, due to his increased commitments.   

It was MOVED by Councillor Peart and SECONDED by Councillor Wrigley and

RESOLVED: that Councillor Cox be appointed this Committee’s representative on the BUS Forum (with immediate effect).

In accordance with Minute *3 of the Meeting of this Committee on 27 June 2003 this report details the actions taken in respect of traffic regulation orders under Delegated Powers since the last meeting.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/96), attached. 

(Electoral Divisions: All in Teignbridge)

The Committee received the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/96), on actions taken in respect of a number traffic regulation orders under Delegated Powers at various sites within Teignbridge, following consultation with the Chair or Vice-Chair and local County Councillors.

Please check meetings arrangements using link below for County Council Calendar of Meetings

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1

All meetings at 10.30am. 

Thursday 13 March 2025

Thursday 24 July 2025

Thursday 6 November 2025

Thursday 12 March 2026.

All meetings at 10.30am. 

Please check meetings arrangements using link below for County Council Calendar of Meetings

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1

Thursday 13 March 2025

Thursday 24 July 2025

Thursday 6 November 2025

Thursday 12 March 2026.

It was MOVED by Councillor Bullivant and SECONDED by Councillor Cox and

RESOLVED: that this Committee’s formal appreciation be placed on record of John Fewings’ work and support in this role over the last 9 years, this being his last meeting prior to retirement.