Agenda, decisions and minutes

(NB: In accordance with the County Council’s Constitution, The Chair and Vice Chair must be County Councillors. County and District Councillors may vote).

It was MOVED by Councillor Connett and SECONDED by Councillor (D) Cox and

RESOLVED: that Councillor Wrigley be elected Chair for the ensuing year.

It was MOVED by Councillor Connett and SECONDED by Councillor (D) Cox and

RESOLVED: that Councillor Wrigley be elected Chair for the ensuing year.

(NB: In accordance with the County Council’s Constitution, The Chair and Vice Chair must be County Councillors. County and District Councillors may vote).

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

RESOLVED: that Councillor (D) Cox be elected Vice-Chair for the ensuing year.

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

RESOLVED: that Councillor (D) Cox be elected Vice-Chair for the ensuing year.

Minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2023, attached.

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

RESOLVED:  that the minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2023 be signed as a correct record. 

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

RESOLVED:  that the minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2023 be signed as a correct record. 

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/36), attached.

                                                            (Electoral Division: Newton Abbot North)  

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

RESOLVED:

(a) that the making and sealing of the Traffic Regulation Orders introducing a 20mph zone, restricting vehicular traffic and amending waiting, parking and loading in the Queen Street Area, Newton Abbot, as shown in Appendix 1 of Report (CET/23/36) be approved; and

(b) that the relaxation of the aforementioned Traffic Regulation Orders to provide an additional loading bay at the western end of Queen Street, Newton Abbot, as shown indicatively in Appendix 2 of Report (CET/23/36) be approved.

(Note: due to the anticipated cost, scheme approval for construction to be sought from Cabinet, July 2023).

(District and/or Town Councillors A Hall, M Ryan, M Joyce and J Taylor attended in accordance with SO25(2) and spoke against this matter, expressing concerns around public consultation and the scheme details). 

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/36), seeking approval to make and seal the associated Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to enable the scheme to be recommended for construction at the Cabinet’s meeting in July 2023. 

The Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transportexplained the nature of the TROs following this Committee’s previous consideration and support for the enhancement scheme.  Officers advised of their particular attention to an open, transparent and extensive consultation during the last three years of engagement, resulting in the proportionally low number of representations made at the TRO advertisement consultation for this type of scheme.  This included the minor relaxation of proposed loading restrictions, through the provision of an additional loading bay, as a result of working directly with objectors and still ensuring proposals remained transformational.  A number of other scheme amendments had been made as a result of consultation.  Devon County Council had worked in close partnership with Teignbridge District Council, as well as engagement with other stakeholders. 

The scheme aimed to make Queen Street a more attractive, safe and healthy environment for visitors and businesses, by reducing the dominance of vehicles and rebalancing use by all user groups, with more space for pedestrians to enjoy and access shops and services with improved accessibility for all (including for those with mobility issues).

The strategic opportunities and benefits afforded by the scheme were considered to significantly outweigh the impacts of removing a proportion of on-street parking and vehicle access.  The proposed scheme was highly regarded by Government, having been selected nationally for significant Government funding.  

The local County Councillor supported the Report’s proposals and advised that from his engagement with the town over the last couple of years, the clear message received was that the town centre looked “tired” in some areas.  For the town to survive and thrive in the future and to meet the aspirations of it being the premier market town in Teignbridge, investment was needed.  He recognised the amendments made following consultation concerns around the number and proximity of parking spaces and concerns of shopkeepers and other users. It was important to progress the enhancement, notwithstanding some trade off for the overall benefits of the scheme.

Other Committee Members in supporting the scheme referred to the comprehensive 60 page consultation report to help understand and consider community views, the common theme being that the town centre needed a lift to future proof it in the changing retail world and broader use of town centres.   To do nothing was not in the best interests of its sustainability.

The other remaining Newton Abbot County Councillor did not support the current scheme due to her concerns around public consultation and the views of stakeholders and others she had received.  Whilst believing there should be a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

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 2 November 2023

Thursday 14 March 2024.

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 2 November 2023

Thursday 14 March 2024.