Agenda, decisions and minutes

In accordance with the County Council’s Constitution, the Chair and Vice Chair must be County Councillors. All Members may vote.

RESOLVED that Councillor C Whitton be elected Chair and Councillor Y Atkinson be elected as Vice Chair for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED that Councillor C Whitton be elected Chair and Councillor Y Atkinson be elected as Vice Chair for the ensuing year.

Members of the Council will declare any interests 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, please see: A list of county councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors

Members of the Committee were reminded to declare any interests they may have had in any item to be considered at the meeting, prior to any discussion taking place on that item.

For details of District and/or Town and Parish Twin Hatters – please see here:

County councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors

Members of the Committee were reminded to declare any interests they may have had in any item to be considered at the meeting, prior to any discussion taking place on that item.

For details of District and/or Town and Parish Twin Hatters – please see here:

County councillors who are also district, borough, city, parish or town councillors

Minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2024 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2024 be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 July 2023 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.

No item was raised as a matter of urgency.

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.

Two petitions were presented to the committee on the issue of the Active Streets Heavitree and Whipton Trial Scheme.

Two petitions were presented to the committee on the issue of the Active Streets Heavitree and Whipton Trial Scheme. Lyn Burgoyne presented a petition of 398 signatures against the scheme and Professor Richard Betts from University of Exeter presented a petition in favour of the scheme signed by 80 scientists.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/37), attached.

It was MOVED by Cllr Whitton and seconded by Cllr Bialyk

RESOLVED that:

a)     The Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders associated with Hamlin Lane, Whipton Lane and Vaughan Road are suspended as soon as is practicable.

b)     The Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders associated with St Mark’s Avenue and Ladysmith Road/Park Road are suspended as soon as practicable after the end of the school summer term.

c)     Road narrowing plantings remain in place to slow down traffic, subject to safety audit.

d)     Officers bring a further report covering the consultation responses to the next HATOC meeting, detailing elements of the current scheme which received negative responses, and those which received positive responses with a view to identifying any positive aspects which could be considered further.

e)     Officers hold further discussions with all schools within the Trial area, with representatives of those with protected characteristics and with disabled blue badge holders to obtain more detailed feedback on the impacts of the scheme and actions that might be taken to mitigate disproportionate impacts experienced by those with protected characteristics under Equalities legislation.

f)       Officers with the support of members, facilitate focus groups with local community leaders and residents to identify further measures or amendments which will restrict unwanted rat running in residential areas, will encourage those who can and particularly children to walk and cycle or wheel, and will allow residents to access the places they need to.

g)     The committee approves budget increase to £250,000 from the Active Travel England, Capability and Ambition Fund to accommodate additional activities associated with the trial scheme.

In accordance with the Council's Public Participation Scheme, the Committee received and acknowledged representations from: Andy Bolton, Angela Martin, Neil Martin, and Gini Wells, who spoke against the trial and Daniel Devenish and Rachel McInnes who spoke in favour of the trial.

(Councillors L Haigh, P Holland, A Jobson, L Pole and A Sheridan who spoke against the trial and Councillors C Bennett, T Read and C Rees who spoke in favour of the trial (all from Exeter City Council) attended in accordance with Standing Order 25.

In light of the forthcoming General Election on 4 July, the Monitoring Officer explained to the meeting that this Committee was a formal committee of the County Council and consultation had been closed and the Report had been published by officers analysing the effects of the consultation prior to the election period commencing.

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/37) on the proposed Active Streets Heavitree and Whipton Trial Scheme. The Report explained the background to the temporary trial and its intention to reduce traffic volumes on residential streets to create safer and more attractive conditions for walking, wheeling and cycling. It further explained a public consultation has been conducted and the analysis has demonstrated that some members of the community have found the trial beneficial and this has had a positive impact particularly for those who are able to walk and cycle but, a disproportionately higher number of the community have voiced that the trial has had a detrimental effect.

The Report contained further details of the statutory consultation feedback and themes, consideration of potential duplicates, bus gate restrictions, petitions and Freedom of Information Act requests, other stakeholder feedback, technical data, assessment of the scheme against government guidance, equality, financial and legal considerations.

The Committee also received and considered the published Impact Assessment on the Active Streets Trial.

In addition, a presentation was given at the meeting with further information about traffic flows within the trial area and boundary roads, cycle and pedestrian flows, traffic speeds, air quality, bus journey times, and consultation responses. Overall, responses showed that 82% opposed the scheme and 18% were in favour. Comments included: increased pollution, increased traffic and congestion, and longer and more difficult journeys, adverse impact on disabled, older and vulnerable people although there was some positive feedback on beneficial impacts on children and younger people.

The Recommendations were to suspend the experimental Traffic Regulation Orders associated with Ladysmith Road/Park Road, St Marks Avenue, Hamlin Lane, Whipton Lane and Vaughan Road are suspended as soon as is practicable and to approve a budget increase of £250,000 from the Active Travel England, Capability and Ambition Fund to accommodate additional activities associated with the trial scheme.

The Chair proposed an amendment to the recommendations, additionally asking that plantings remain in place, for a further report at the next HATOC meeting, holding further discussions with schools and focus groups with the community. This was seconded by Councillor Bialyk.

The matter  ...  view the full minutes text for item 147.

Verbal update from the Committee’s BUS Forum representative.

Members asked for an update on:

·        Bus shelters which have been installed and those still outstanding

·        The H bus service which serves the hospital

·        The A bus service as there were problems with this

·        The P Service at the Pennsylvania end as concerns had been raised

Members were informed that police were taking action with problem parking in Stoke Valley Road and there were ongoing investigations into a residents parking scheme.

The Chair gave the Committee an update on the last meeting of Bus Users and Stakeholders Forum.

New real time bus signs were being installed across the county, 25 had already been put in place and a further 60 were on order with many due to go up in Exeter.

The county was also to have new ‘living’ roof bus shelters as part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan as ongoing efforts to tackle the climate emergency.

Members asked for an update on:

·        Bus shelters which have been installed and those still outstanding

·        The H bus service which serves the hospital

·        The A bus service as there were problems with this

·        The P Service at the Pennsylvania end as concerns had been raised

Members were informed that police were taking action with problem parking in Stoke Valley Road and there were ongoing investigations into a residents parking scheme.

Verbal update from the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport.

Officers were asked to review A board obstructions in Sidwell Street.

Problems with taxis parking on pavements in South Street would be fed back to Exeter City Council who issued the licences.

The meeting was informed that there had been further work with local businesses and residents to minimise disruption around this relating to A boards and bins.

There had been an improvement in compliance but further work was needed in Gandy Street.

Officers were asked to review A board obstructions in Sidwell Street.

Problems with taxis parking on pavements in South Street would be fed back to Exeter City Council who issued the licences.

In accordance with Standing Order 23(2), Councillors Prowse and Adams have requested that the Committee consider this matter

Further information was requested on developer contributions for s106 funding and for the spreadsheet containing this data to come back to the October meeting.

In addition it was requested that information provided in reports from Highways that are provided to Exeter City Council planners are shared with the relevant Local Members before reports are submitted. It was agreed to bring this to the attention of the Governance Working Group for discussion.

Further information was requested on developer contributions for s106 funding and for the spreadsheet containing this data to come back to the October meeting. In addition it was requested that information provided in reports from Highways that are provided to Exeter City Council planners are shared with the relevant Local Members before reports are submitted. It was agreed to bring this to the attention of the Governance Working Group for discussion.

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

A request was made for dual purpose parking bays at Velwell Road.

It was agreed this could be added to future requests for consideration.

A request was made for dual purpose parking bays at Velwell Road. It was agreed this could be added to future requests for consideration.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/38) attached.

There was a request for consideration for lighting at Hart Lane. This would be passed to the relevant officers.

There was a request for consideration for lighting at Hart Lane. This would be passed to the relevant officers.

15 October 2024 and 4 February 2025

Browse meetings - Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee - Democracy in Devon

The next meeting would take place on 23 July 2024.

The next meeting would take place on 23 July 2024.