Agenda item

To receive and consider the recommendations of the Cabinet (Minute 22) as an amendment to the following Notice of Motion submitted previously to the Council by Councillor Dewhirst and referred thereto in accordance with Standing Order 8(2), namely;

Background to the Motion 

The Deaf Academy has been providing education and support for deaf young people in Devon since 1826. In September 2020, they relocated from Exeter to Exmouth to a new campus at the old Rolle College Site at Douglas Avenue. 

The Deaf Academy is an education hub for 50 students, 30 of which stay within the residential provision on campus. Students are incredibly diverse and come from all over the country, with varying needs ranging from mobility, visual and special educational needs alongside their deafness. 

Last term the Student Council started a campaign to reduce the speed limit. Other schools in Exmouth have 20 mph speed limits outside their entrances. 

Unlike hearing children, deaf children cannot clearly identify cars in the distance or around corners through sound. They rely on sight and trusting the public are driving slowly in the area. 

Douglas Avenue currently has a 30mph speed limit with various blind spots and does not have any targeted highway signage, traffic calming measures or crossing points near the Academy.  

Consequently, the avenue poses a risk to students, staff and visitors and therefore: 

Motion to Council 

1.      This Council applauds the Deaf Academy Student Council campaign to reduce the speed of traffic in Douglas Avenue. Council calls on our Highway Officers to urgently introduce a 20 mph speed limit in Douglas Avenue and install a zebra crossing outside the school to ensure that these children and young people can cross the road in safety, and, 

2.      Additionally, this Council calls on Highway Officers to bring a Report to Council before the end of 2021 on implementing 20 mph speed limits in the vicinity of all schools in Devon to ensure that all children and young people can arrive and leave their schools in greater safety. 

Having had regard to the aforementioned, any factual briefing/position statement on the matter set out in Report (CSO/21/11) and other suggestions or alternatives considered at that meeting the Cabinet subsequently resolved:

That Council

(a) thank the pupils at the Deaf Academy at Douglas Avenue for highlighting their concerns;

(b) agree any future proposals to address the concerns of the Deaf Academy are presented at a future East Devon HATOC; and

(c) support the proposal to include specific consideration of the application of 20mph limits around schools as part of the study into speed in Newton Abbot.

(Councillor Dewhirst declared a personal interest in the matter by virtue of being a trustee of the charity which owns the deaf academy).

(a) thank the pupils at the Deaf Academy at Douglas Avenue for highlighting their concerns;

(b) agree any future proposals to address the concerns of the Deaf Academy are presented at a future East Devon HATOC; and

(c) support the proposal to include specific consideration of the application of 20mph limits around schools as part of the study into speed in Newton Abbot.

The Motion in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

(Councillor Dewhirst declared a personal interest in the matter by virtue of being a trustee of the charity which owns the deaf academy).

Pursuant to County Council Minute 16 of 27 May 2021 relating to the Notice of Motion set out below as previously submitted and formally moved and seconded by Councillor Dewhirst that: 

Background to the Motion 

The Deaf Academy has been providing education and support for deaf young people in Devon since 1826. In September 2020, they relocated from Exeter to Exmouth to a new campus at the old Rolle College Site at Douglas Avenue. 

The Deaf Academy is an education hub for 50 students, 30 of which stay within the residential provision on campus. Students are incredibly diverse and come from all over the country, with varying needs ranging from mobility, visual and special educational needs alongside their deafness. 

Last term the Student Council started a campaign to reduce the speed limit. Other schools in Exmouth have 20 mph speed limits outside their entrances. 

Unlike hearing children, deaf children cannot clearly identify cars in the distance or around corners through sound. They rely on sight and trusting the public are driving slowly in the area. 

Douglas Avenue currently has a 30mph speed limit with various blind spots and does not have any targeted highway signage, traffic calming measures or crossing points near the Academy.  

Consequently, the avenue poses a risk to students, staff and visitors and therefore: 

Motion to Council 

1.      This Council applauds the Deaf Academy Student Council campaign to reduce the speed of traffic in Douglas Avenue. Council calls on our Highway Officers to urgently introduce a 20 mph speed limit in Douglas Avenue and install a zebra crossing outside the school to ensure that these children and young people can cross the road in safety, and, 

2.      Additionally, this Council calls on Highway Officers to bring a Report to Council before the end of 2021 on implementing 20 mph speed limits in the vicinity of all schools in Devon to ensure that all children and young people can arrive and leave their schools in greater safety. 

and having had regard to the advice of the Cabinet set out in Minute 22 of 14 July 2021:

Councillor Hart MOVED and Councillor McInnes SECONDED that the Cabinet’s advice be accepted and that Council;

(a) thank the pupils at the Deaf Academy at Douglas Avenue for highlighting their concerns;

(b) agree any future proposals to address the concerns of the Deaf Academy are presented at a future East Devon HATOC; and

(c) support the proposal to include specific consideration of the application of 20mph limits around schools as part of the study into speed in Newton Abbot.

Councillor Wrigley then MOVED and Councillor Leaver SECONDED the following amendment with the following words removed (annotated by a strikethough).

(a) thank the pupils at the Deaf Academy at Douglas Avenue for highlighting their concerns;

(b) agree any future proposals to address the concerns of the Deaf Academy are presented at a future East Devon HATOC; and

(c) support the proposal to include specific consideration of the application of 20mph limits around schools as part of the study into speed in Newton Abbot.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Wrigley was put to the vote and declared LOST.

The Motion in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.