Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Mr R Hodgins who was attending the meeting in his capacity as a Co-opted Member of the Council's Standards Committee to observe and monitor compliance with the Council’s ethical governance framework.

Minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2021, previously circulated.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meetings held on 18 January 2020 be signed as a correct record.

Items which in the opinion of the Chairman should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.

No item was raised as a matter of urgency.

Bus Operator to answer Members’ questions

Mr M Watson, Managing Director, Stagecoach South West, attended the

virtual meeting and spoke at the invitation of the Committee on developments

affecting bus services and the network in and around Exeter.

Mr Watson reported on services developments and responded to members’ questions as follows:

·         with the anticipated relaxation of COVID-19 rules the Company expected patronage to increase accordingly in line with the key dates announced by Government including opening of the Red Park and Ride service from 4 April 2021;

·         capacity would still be affected by social distancing rules until all restrictions had been lifted after 21 June (subject to confirmation and prevailing circumstances);

·         with the return of all school pupils (from 8 March) an additional 60 buses had been returned to the Network in and around Exeter and the feedback to date had been positive;

·         the development of the new Bus Station in Cheeke Street and its opening expected in June/July could be affected be the ongoing leisure centre development works and the Company was in discussion with officers about the arrangements; 

·         the Government announcement (that morning) on Bus Infrastructure and Service Enhancement would need to be examined by the Company with the County Council to assess its impact and potential development of services and infrastructure for the City (including potential for more E-Vehicles or hydrogen powered vehicles);    

·         the financial support from Government to maintain services during the pandemic through COVID-19 Bus Services Support Grant (CBSSG) funding which had been extended to the end of June or possibly longer if required by social distancing rules;

·         the Company would maintain services and the stability of the Network for as long as possible with Government support;

·         litter nuisance in the Park and Ride service bus shelters in Honiton Road would be looked into by County Council officers with the City Council;

·         previous one-off problems relating to access by long buses in Exwick should not re-occur; and

·         the Company would be discussing service issues in the Wreford Lane and West Garth Road areas with County Council officers.    

The Chair thanked Mr Watson for his attendance and answers to Members’

questions.

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/21/15), attached .

(Councillor P Holland (Exeter City Council) attended in accordance with Standing Order 25 and spoke to this item in relation to the siting of shelters Woodwater Lane and need for shelters in Grecian Way which were listed in the priority programme)

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/21/15) on an update on Clear Channel’s progress with bus shelter replacement installations.

The current programme was attached as Appendix I.  Although site inspections and highway work approvals had been subject to prevailing lockdown conditions and availability of staff, joint site visits to 16 locations had been undertaken with Clear Channel.  However, there since had been no evidence of further action by Clear Channel.

Members reported on the need for shelters in their respective divisions, the prospect for taking services in-house and practice in other Councils. Officers referred to ongoing discussions with Clear Channel to improve performance and implement the priority programme over the next few weeks following notice to Highways Management with an anticipated start in May 2020.  Members suggestions relating to new bus shelters could be considered within the forward programme and the impact of the new Government Bus Strategy announced (that morning) on bus infrastructure and service development could also be explored by Officers.    

It was MOVED by Councillor Y Atkinson, SECONDED by Councillor C Whitton and

RESOLVED that the progress in pursuing the bus shelter replacement programme be noted and that an update report be presented to the next meeting with reference to practice in other Council areas and potential for further development as result of the Government’s new Bus Strategy.

Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment to report

(Andrew Blewett and Victoria Willcock attended under the Council’s Public Participation and spoke to this item in support of the proposals to limit vehicular access in Wonford Road, subject to further local consultation)

The Head Planning, Transportation and Environment reported on recent feedback from the Police and proposed next steps. The Police’s preferred restriction was to make permanent the current ‘No Entry’ Temporary Traffic Regulation Oder and with engineered pinch points.

The Committee noted and supported the proposed next steps which were to seek local views on two ‘no entry’ locations (as advertised and immediately east of Deepdene). Following this, an updated report would made to a future meeting which would set out the Police response, provide additional traffic and travel data, outline the enforcement issues, and feedback on local views on the two ‘no entry’ options. 

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/21/16), attached.

The Committee considered the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/21/16)  on the proposed construction of an improved multimodal transport interchange at Pinhoe Rail Station.  The proposals for the new interchange area were shown in Appendix I of the Report.

It was MOVED by Councillor H Ackland and SECONDED by Councillor Y Atkinson and

RESOLVED

(a) that the proposed Pinhoe Station car park interchange, as shown in Appendix I, be approved for construction at an estimated cost of £249,500; and

(b) that the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment be given delegated powers, in consultation with the Chair of HATOC and the local member, to make minor amendments to the scheme details.

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/21/22), attached  

The Committee considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/21/22) on responses to the statutory consultation on the restrictions proposed in the Exeter area, as part of the local waiting restriction programme.

The relevant local County Councillors and Chair/Vice Chair had been consulted before the proposals were advertised from 14 January until 18 February 2021.

A summary of the proposals advertised were outlined  in Appendix I of the Report with the associated plans. Details of the objections received to these proposals, and the County Council’s response were shown in Appendix II to this Report.

Local Members reported on the proposals and consultation responses in their respective divisions.

It was MOVED by Councillor Y Atkinson and SECONDED by Councillor M Asvachin and

RESOLVED  that work on the local waiting restriction programme be noted;

and the recommendations contained in Appendix 1 and II of this Report be approved subject to:

(a) removal of the proposal in Hele Road (Plan ENV5807-19 refers) and be further reviewed with the local County Councillor as part of next year’s programme;

(b)  the decision on the proposal in Beacon Avenue (Plan ENV5807/021 refers) being delegated to the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste in consultation with the Chair and local County Councillor. 

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/21/23), attached

(Councillor S Aves declared a personal interest by virtue of being a resident in the vicinity of Belmont Road).

The Committee considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste  (HIW/21/23) on a project with private sector partners to install electric vehicle chargers in local neighbourhoods.  This would bring rapid, reliable charging to residents especially those who don’t have off-street parking. Additionally, a partnership with Co Cars car club meant  that in many locations there would  be an electric car available to hire by the hour or day, providing affordable access to electric vehicles.

This phase of the project was for ten rapid electric vehicle charging hubs across Exeter (with many more in the pipeline) with, generally, three dedicated public EV bays and one Co Car bay.  Each hub would have two chargers and two batteries capable of charging four vehicles simultaneously.

The Report detailed (at Appendix II) the consultation responses following advertisement of the Traffic Regulation Order for consideration by this Committee.

Members also discussed the aesthetics of the units as part of the street environment especially in conservation areas, which the Officers confirmed would be considered.

It was MOVED by Councillor C Whitton, SECONDED by Councillor Y Atkinson and    

RESOLVED

(a) that the work on the Electric Vehicle Charging Scheme be noted; and

(b) that the recommendations contained in Appendix II of this Report be  agreed and the Traffic Regulation Order be implemented subject to:

(i) the proposal in Howell Road (Plan ENV5831/2) being deferred pending investigation of alternative sites in the vicinity and authority to make a final decision be delegated to the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste in consultation with the Chair and the local County Councillor; and 

(ii) the proposals in Belmont Road (Plan ENV5831/7 refers) be implemented as advertised, but a further review of restrictions in the area take place to consider whether additional residents parking spaces can be created and considered as part of a future traffic regulation.

(N.B. In accordance with Standing Order 32(4) Councillor S Aves requested that her abstention from the vote taken in regard to the proposal in Belmont Road, Exeter be recorded) 

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/21/24), attached

The Committee considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/21/24) on the recommendations of this Committee’s Pay and Display Working Group following a Review of charges. The aim was to set charges to encourage more use of off-street car parks,  to minimise traffic congestion, improve air quality and it was also hoped to assist in the shift to sustainable modes of transport (in line with the Local Transport Plan). 

The Report presented the recommendations from the Group, along with an updated tariff schedule (at Appendix II of the Report).

It was MOVED by Councillor Y Atkinson, SECONDED by Councillor C Whitton and 

RESOLVED

(a) that the Working Group be thanked for their review and subsequent suggestions and recommendations;

(b) that the recommendations (at Appendix II of the Report) be endorsed and that the Cabinet Member - Highways Management be requested to approve the details and implement the proposals;

(c) that the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste  be authorised to undertake an annual review (at a minimum) of tariffs within Exeter to maintain differential with off street tariffs, in consultation with Members; and

(d) that the continued development of proposals by Officers for longer term changes to how parking is managed with pay & display tariffs in Exeter be supported.

(An item raised by Councillor P Prowse in accordance with Standing Order 23(2)).

(An item raised by Councillor P Prowse in accordance with Standing Order 23(2) in relation to local residents’ speeding concerns in this Road)

The Committee noted that a 20mph zonal scheme was being trialled in Newton Abbot which would be subject to appraisal and that in the meantime any individual proposals should be referred to the Highways Management Team.   

19 July and 18 October 2021 and 17 January and 6 May 2022.

19 July and 18 October 2021 and 17 January and 6 May 2022.