Exeter City Council | Motion on Wider Devon Sustainability and Transformation Plans

At its meeting held on 13 December 2016, Exeter City Council considered a Notice of Motion by Cllr Chris Musgrave under Standing Order No.6.

Minute 80 of the meeting notes:

Notice of Motion by Councillor Musgrave under Standing Order No.6

 

Councillor Musgrave , seconded by Councillor Morse, moved a Notice of Motion in the following terms:-

“Exeter City Council notes that the Government requires 44 Footprint Areas across the UK to prepare NHS Sustainability and Transformation Plans for their area which will:

i. Contribute to cuts of at least £2.5bn nationally this year, and £22bn within the next five years, to wipe out the NHS so-called financial deficit; and

ii. achievethis by implementing ‘new models of care’ that are set out in NHS England’s 5-Year Forward View (2014).

NHS bodies are severely limited in how they can oppose these cuts because they risk losing access to the £8bn NHS Transformation Fund.

However, local authorities are in an excellent position to make clear their complete opposition to the programme. 

Exeter City Council therefore calls on Devon County Council to join together with other Councils and campaign groups to widely publicise the details of all proposed cuts and changes to local NHS services.

We further call on Devon County Council to refuse to sign up to any STP, until the local proposals have been subject to a full and proper consultation.”

In presenting the Notice of Motion, Cllr Musgrave highlighted that he was proud that his party had created the NHS over 60 years ago and that the NHS was vital providing free health for the residents of this country. He hoped that he would get cross party support to resist the Sustainability and Transformation Plans. The NHS was no longer financially sustainable and the closure and relocation of some services in Exeter were affecting local residents and causing stress on local services. The City Council in supporting this motion would therefore assist the County Council in resisting the plan.

A Member [Cllr Andrew Leadbetter] stated that the County Council had passed a motion opposing these Government proposals and this motion would help the County Council in challenging theSustainability and Transformation Plan.

Another Member [Cllr Kevin Mitchell] stated that the provision of social and health care should be combined and all political parties should work together to find a solution to ensure the long term sustainability of the NHS.

All Members fully supported this motion.

The Notice of Motion was put to the vote and carried unanimously.

Car parking charges in Exeter

It’s that time of year when the RAC Foundation release their annual report showing that local authorities make a *profit* from parking operations after income was deducted from overheads – in 2015-16 this surplus was £756m.

Councils across Devon made over £22m from parking charges and fines in the last year – and there has been a big jump in surpluses over the past 5 years.

Devon County Council – as the Local Highways Authority – is responsible for all on-street parking and Residents’ Parking Zones across the county.

Any profit generated by unitary and upper-tier councils from on-street parking must by law [Section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984] be spent on transport-related activities.

In Devon, money generated by the parking service is typically spent on enforcing parking restrictions, maintaining equipment such as pay and display machines, public transport and improving parking areas. The way money is spent is agreed annually by the Cabinet and is published in the annual County Road Highway Maintenance Revenue Budget and On-street Parking Account.

DCC On-street parking account 2016-17

Following lobbying from members sitting on the Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee [HATOC] and others, DCC has set up  the HATOC Waiting Restriction Project  – a managed process to deliver an annual programme of works to deal with the requests for waiting restrictions to be introduced or amended that the County Council regularly receives.a Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee. Just this week, DCC advertised a new TRO, 5555 Devon County Council (Various Roads, Exeter) (Control of Waiting & Loading) Amendment Order.

For the current year, DCC achieved a surplus of £2.6m from parking activities – up from £594k 5 years ago.

When parking was decriminalised in 2008, and DCC took over parking enforcement from Devon & Cornwall Police’s Traffic Wardens, on-street enforcement [by Civil Enforcement Officers] and back office administration was provided by the district councils and Exeter City Council working under agency agreements. It was originally anticipated that the enforcement element of the on-street service would operate at or around a zero (‘net nil’) budget with the cost of enforcement being offset by the income from Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) after a period of ‘bedding in’. In reality the cost of enforcement significantly exceeded the income from PCNs, resulting in an annual deficit of £795,160 in 2011/12.

Following a decision by DCC’s Cabinet in December 2013, since April 2014 Devon County Council has provided the on-street service in-house, and it is possible to download how the service has performed during the first two years of operation here:

• Devon County Council Civil Parking Enforcement Service Annual Report 2015/2016
• Devon County Council Civil Parking Enforcement Service Annual Report 2014/2015

District councils are responsible for their own local car parks – Exeter City Council has some 29 car parks across the city.

The RAC Foundation report shows that ECC’s surplus for the year 2015/16 was £4.6m [and ranked 39 of the 353 local authorities in England] , up from £3.4m in 2912/13.

Since ECChas not made any wholesale changes to parking tariffs since January 2012, this rise in surplus can be due only to increased usage of the city’s car parks.

The City Council has a net budget of £15m – made up of Council Tax, Government Revenue Support Grant and income from car parking and property.

On a Band D Council Tax bill of £1,600.49, Exeter City Council receives £140.05 [of the balance, DCC= £1,184.39; Adult Social Care = £23.23; Devon & Cornwall Police = £172.84; and Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service = £79.98]. A 1% rise in Council Tax would bring into ECC an additional £90,000 and so to replace the income from car parking would require car parking  charges rise by 51%, or £71 per year.

ECC launched a Parking Strategy in March 2016, and followed this with a revised tariff structure that will come into operation from 2017.

The  proposed tariff structure should provide a more gradual rise in price with a clearer ‘per hour’ rationale. 

The new structure also tried to strike a careful balance between supporting the local economy and making sure that people are not encouraged to favour car use over other more forms of sustainable transport – walking, cycling and public transport.

Futher reading:
DCC Cabinet: County Road Highway Maintenance Revenue Budget and On-street Parking Account 2016/17 [13 April 2016]

Exeter HATOC: Proposals for the delivery of an annual local Waiting Restrictions Programme [19 April 2016]

ECC Scrutiny Committee – Economy: Officer’s Report on Parking Strategy 2016 – 2026 [03 March 2016]

ECC Scrutiny Committee – Economy: A New Strategy for Parking 2016 – 2026 [03 March 2016]

ECC Place Scrutiny Committee: Delivering the Parking Strategy: Tariffs, Designations and Permits  [08 September 2016]

 

 

Devon County Council’s road maintenance programme for Exeter

At the Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee held on 14 November 2016, members requested information in relation to the Devon County Council’s road maintenance programme [item 11 of the agenda].

The details for Exeter are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schemes included in this view

• Planned Capital Highway Maintenance Work – 2016/17

Schemes excluded from this view

• Schemes still awaiting Asset Approval
• Bridge Assessment & Strengthening (BAS)
• Revenue Funded Schemes
• Pre-patching for 2017/18
• Road Restraint schemes (RRS)
• Street Lighting
• Traffic signals
• Cycleways
• Roadmarkings

Glossary

• Resurfacing – surface treatment with a bituminous material, 40mm or more thick.
• Patching – surface treatment with a bituminous material, 40mm or more thick but in smaller areas not covering the whole road or footpath.
• Surface Dressing – surface treatment with bitumen and chippings. Patching will be completed in the year preceding surface dressing.
• Micro Asphalt – Slurry style surface treatment, typically suited to urban areas. Patching will be completed in the year preceding Micro Asphalt.
• Joint / crack repair – treats joints and cracks in the existing surface that need sealing prior to a longer term repair in the near future.
• High Friction Surfacing (HFS) – specialised surface dressing at locations that require higher skidding resistance.
• Drainage – upgrading, repairs and improvements to highway drainage systems.
• Footway works – surface treatment to a footpath involving resurfacing or a bituminous sealant, or replacement of concrete flags.

Further details on the programme for the current year requested by are available on DCC’s public web site as a interactive map

There also a list rather than the map, which can sort schemes according to Electoral Division or Market Town [but a few anomalies show up – I don;t think Exminister will take too kindly to being included in the Exeter list!]. This list also shows the current status of each scheme.

 

Patching works in Oxford Street, #EXEStThomas

On Wednesday 09 November 2016,  Devon County Council Cabinet considered a report on the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Policy, Strategy and Plan.

The minutes note that “Members present expressed continuing concerns at the effect of historic levels of funding made available by Government for highway maintenance which was no longer sufficient to meet current demands let alone the growing backlog of work required.  Members attending under the provisions of standing orders also expressed concerns at the apparent divide in the treatment of urban and rural areas and the impact upon the economy of the County as a whole.”

Annex 1 to the report – Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Policy – sets out what this means it practice.

With over 7,700 miles of roads in the county, Devon has the longest highway network in the country. Yet there is a maintenance backlog.

DCC’s asset modelling work suggests that across all highway assets (carriageway, footways, street lighting, bridges, drainage system, etc…..), it should be investing over £55m per year just to keep up with annual deterioration and maintain the assets in their current condition. it is estimated that DCC needs to spend over £167m to to fix the most deteriorated roads requiring maintenance now, and that DDC should be investing approximately £38m per year just to maintain them in a steady state. The capital grant allocation for roads from government was £29m for the 2016/17 year. Thus, every year that DCC is  unable to spend what it needs means that highway network condition will deteriorate. This will be particularly noticeable on minor road – and DCC thinks it is therefore essential that to target the money we do have to deliver the most effective maintenance of each asset in the longer-term.

What does this mean in practice?

Recently, Oxford Street in St Thomas was cleared for 5 days for resurfacing work.

Temporary Traffic Notice – Union Street, Exeter [TTRO1618573]

Alternative route due to temporary closure of Union Street

Yet within these 5 days, only patching works – rather than the complete resurfacing that’s needed – took place.

Oxford Street 01

Oxford Street 02

Oxford Street 03

As a result, I and my co-councillors have been contacted by local residents confused and angry about what DCC have done, and the poor state the road is in after it has been *repaired*. In particular, they are concerned that loose rubble left after the patching works will cause further damage to their cars.

They understand that the workmen could only do the areas as agreed, but they hope that a full assessment on the true state of the road was made while it was clear of cars.

Like them, we would like to know when complete resurfacing might happen

 

 

 

SDNP | New Community Warden service for St David’s

03 November 2016

New Community Warden service for St David’s

A pilot Community Warden service started in St David’s Neighbourhood on Tuesday 1 November.   The service is being introduced to an area with a high density and very diverse population which is also the location for five separate hostels for vulnerable people.

The introduction of a Community Warden follows discussions over a number of years with councillors, supported housing agencies, local residents and police in relation to the impact of anti-social behaviour across the Neighbourhood.

St David’s Neighbourhood Partnership has been awarded grants from their Devon County Councillor, Jill Owen, the Exeter Board, and The People’s Health Trust. A steering group has been set up representing many of the local partners to work with the warden service provider, to identify key problem hot-spots, gather data on antisocial behaviour levels, be a point of contact for local residents, and provide a visible and reassuring presence across the area.

The Community Warden service will be supporting the local police, Exeter city council teams and voluntary agencies and will be able to report crime and anti-social behaviour directly to them.   He will interact with established security services provided by Exeter College security, the University of Exeter Estate Patrol, and the Exeter Businesses Against Crime group (EBAC).

Asked why this service is needed, a local resident and Steering Group Member said that over recent years residents had become increasingly alarmed at the blatant drug-dealing in the area, as well as antisocial behaviour – including criminal damage.

Christine Fraser, Chair of St David’s Neighbourhood Partnership, explained that the introduction of the community warden service was a direct response to the Vision 2020 consultation process by the community to identify key issues and priority actions over the next 5 years to achieve the Association’s objective of making this inner-city area a place where people want to live and work, now and in the future.

Initially for a 9 month period, there will be a full evaluation report and recommendations to the police, Community Safety Partnership, Exeter City Council and St David’s community.

Christine Fraser added, ‘This is not a unique solution for inner-city communities and we know of several similar schemes in other towns and cities. However, it is a first for Exeter and we are all committed to ensuring that we achieve the very best outcome possible for everyone living and working in the area as well as supporting the work of our statutory agencies through a sensitive and collaborative approach.’

The warden service providers are confident in delivering this service, not least because their offices are based in the Neighbourhood and they have first-hand knowledge of many of the issues. There is a recognition that crime and disorder is not always being reported. Residents worried about contacting the police can now report incidents to the community warden who will make it part of his shift report. It should be noted that the warden service providers are not the police and people should continue to report crime and antisocial behaviour to the police in the usual way.

Devon County Councillor Jill Owen said, ‘There has been a huge reduction in police numbers in our city against increased demands for police services and even the much admired PCSOs are thinner on the ground. We would not have agreed to fund it if we were not aware of the problems St David’s is experiencing due to its proximity to the city centre. This is very much a pilot scheme so we will watch its progress carefully.’

Supt Sam De Reya, Police Commander for Exeter said ‘D&C Police are committed to protecting the vulnerable and reducing crime. We fully support this pilot and encourage community involvement to increase reporting, demonstrate visibility and engagement with our communities. The local Sgt and Police Community Management Officer are members of the steering committee and fully engaged with the progress of this pilot’

=ENDS=

Note to Editor

St David’s Neighbourhood Vision 2020 document, ‘Building our Balanced Community’, can be found at: http://www.stdavidsneighbourhood.org.uk

For further information contact Christine Fraser on 07773038689; or
Karen Gold, Police Community Management Officer (PCMO) Exeter 01392 451613

 

 

E&E Letters | Inconsiderate pavement parking – Let’s make it ‘cross-party’

13 October 2016

Inconsiderate pavement parking – Let’s make it ‘cross-party’

I welcome the recent thoughts of Cllr Peter Holland on the issue of inconsiderate pavement parking [Anger over inconsiderate pavement parking in Exeter, E&E, 10 October 2016] as they echo the same comments I’ve been making for the past five years.

Cllr Holland is correct that section 30 of the Exeter City Council Act 1987 did outlaw the practice of parking on footpaths [ie pavements] and verges, and this provision was enforced by traffic wardens under the direction of Devon & Cornwall Police.

However, Cllr Holland is mistaken in saying “when the responsibility for enforcement of the law was transferred to Devon County Council the law went into ‘decay’.”

The truth is that when parking enforcement was decriminalised in May 2008, those powers transferred to Devon County Council and now Civil Enforcement Officers [CEOs] enforce using powers issued by the Secretary of State for Transport [The Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP] under regulations contained within the Traffic Management Act 2004.

And in the rush to transfer powers to DCC, the provisions of the Exeter Act 1987 were missed.

A new power was conveyed by Statutory Instrument 2012 No.12 issued by the Government under the TMA 2004. Within its Schedules, the Statutory Instrument details which restrictions can be enforced by DCC’s CEOs.

Civil enforcement of offences in section 30 of the Exeter City Council Act 1987
2. In Schedule 7 to the Traffic Management Act 2004 (road traffic contraventions subject to civilenforcement), in paragraph 4 (parking contraventions outside Greater London), after subparagraph
(2)(e) insert—
“(ea) an offence under section 30(1) of the Exeter City Council Act 1987 (c. xi)(prohibition of parking vehicles on verges, central reservations and footways).”(b)

However, the situation was complicated in that the Department for Transport informed DCC – as the Local Highways Authority – that it would require additional signage, at intervals of around 400m, to enforce the new legislation.

And, of course, there are some roads which would be blocked without pavement parking,

Indeed the P bus – which coincidently serves both my ward of St Thomas and that of Cllr Holland – would be unable to make its way down Barley Farm Road if all the vehicles parked on the road.

If the situation is complicated in Exeter, then it is even more complex nationally.

The only mention of pavement parking in the Highway Code is under Rule 244:
“You MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it. Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.”

The direction MUST NOT is legally enforceable [under the Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1974 section 15] but should not is an advisory direction, not an enforceable one.

There is little or nothing DCC’s Civil Enforcement Officers can do in this situation – unless the vehicle is causing damage to the pavement, when the driver *could* be prosecuted. In practice, this rarely happen, if at all.

Interestingly [as it pre-dates motorised vehicles], under section 72 of the Highways Act 1837 it is an offence to wilfully [but note, not park] “a carriage of any description upon the footpath.” But this can only be enforced by a warrant Police Officer, who needs to see the carriage actually driving on the footpath – even though to park on the pavement, the vehicle must have been driven onto it.

And it is also an offence under the Highways Act 1980 and also under s.28 of the Town and Police Clauses Act 1847 to “wilfully obstruct free passage along the highway or deposit anything which causes an interruption to, or obstruction of, the highway [including any public footpath or public thoroughfare].

In these cases, enforcement is the responsibility of warranted Police Officers and authorised PCSOs, rather than DCC’s CEOs.

At a meeting of the joint Exeter City Council and Devon CC’s joint Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee [HATOC] held on 28 July 2015 [see minute 119], County Officers expressed confidence that a Private Members’ Bill  being brought forward by Simon Hoare MP [CON, North Devon], which would resolve the whole issue of inconsiderate pavement parking.

I wasn’t convinced at the meeting that the Bill would proceed, and so it came to pass that on 08 December 2015, after a debate in the House of Commons, Simon Hoare withdrew his Pavement Parking (Protection of Vulnerable Pedestrians) Bill 2015-16 because he had been promised that “DfT would undertake some work to examine more closely the legal and financial implication of an alternative regime.”

So Cllr Holland’s own Government appears to kicked the issue into the long grass.

I note he hopes to raise the issue when the Minister, the Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, visits the city later this month.

Let me make this offer – we could make this a cross-party issue and I would be happy to meet the Minister along with him.

Paul Bull
Labour & Co-operative Councillor, St Thomas Ward

@DevonCC Place Scrutiny | 20mph Speed Limits

 

 

 

 

On 14 June 2016, Devon County Council’s Place Scrutiny considered this Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste (HCW/16/44),  with attendance from Devon and Cornwall Police.

The minutes of the meeting note:
(Councillor Hook declared a personal interest in this item by virtue of being a member of “20 is Plenty”, a national campaign group.)

The Committee received and noted the Report of the Head of Highways, Capital Development and Waste (HCW/16/44) setting out the present positon relating to the County Council’s Policy on Local Speed Limits together with a copy of the current Devon Traffic Policy and Devon Traffic Advice Note.

Members were advised that publication of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) study on a national review of 20mph speed limits had been delayed and was not now anticipated until 2017 and that only after publication of any new guidance from DfT to Local Highway Authorities could the current Devon Policy on Local Speed Limits be reviewed.

Members nonetheless recognised concerns expressed about speed limits and enforcement acknowledging also that these concerns could be dealt with by working with the Police, local communities and the Speed Complaint Action Review Forum (SCARF) whose reviews could include enforcement via police or speed management safety cameras or education (using vehicle activated speed warning signs). It was important to continue collating data.  Working with local communities on self-help schemes was another option, details of which were on the Highways web pages.

The Committee also welcomed Inspector Richard McLellan and PC Mark Goulding from Devon and Cornwall Police who addressed the meeting at the invitation of the Committee outlining the action taken particularly in respect of repeat offenders and the need for collection of data.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hook, and SECONDED by Councillor Ball and
RESOLVED that Cabinet be recommended to make representations to the DfT expressing the Council’s disappointment at the continuing delay in publication of the DfT’s new guidance on 20mph speed limits and Devon MPs be also urged to exert pressure on the DfT for early publication.

FURTHER READING:
The County Council agreed Devon’s speed limit policy in August, 2006. The Report can be seen on the DCC website using
the following link:
http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/Data/Cabinet/20060801/Minutes/pdf-EEC-06-92-HQ.pdf

A Scrutiny investigation into 20 mph limits was reported at Scrutiny in November 2008. The Task Group covering report can be seen on the DCC website using the following
link:
http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/celistdocuments.aspx?MID=1465&DF=11%2f11%2f2008&A=1&R=0&F=embed$text

Scrutiny considered a report on Road Traffic Collisions and Casualties in September 2014 that included a discussion of
20 mph speed limits. The minutes of the discussions can be seen on the DCC website using the following link:
http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/CeListDocuments.aspx?MID=1503&RD=Minutes&DF=15%2f09%2f2014&A=1&R=0

Scrutiny considered a report on Speed Limit Policy in Sept 2015. The minutes of the meeting can be seen on the DCC website using the following link:
http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/CeListDocuments.aspx?MID=1511&RD=Minutes&DF=11%2f09%2f2015&A=1&R=0

Devon County Council Traffic Policy Note DTP 34/05 – Local Speed Limits
This Policy Note DTP 34/05 sets out the criteria for introducing speed limits in Devon

Devon County Council Traffic Advice DTP 34/05 – Local Speed Limits
Policy DTP 34/05 sets out the criteria for introducing speed limits in Devon, this advice note gives further guidance to the
implementation of those speed limits – includes planning guidance.

                            Local Speed Limits – Assessment [Speed Limit Review]

E&E | Last-ditch attempt to save patrols

 

25 February 2016

Last-ditch attempt to save patrols

By Anita Merritt

Lollipop protest outside County Hall

An 11th hour bid to save Devon’s school crossing patrollers has been launched.

Parents, grandparents and anyone who wants to see the continuation of what is regarded as a vital and life-saving service in Devon, is being asked to contact councillor John Hart, the leader of Devon County Council, by phone or email before it is too late.

The Heart to Hart campaign has been launched by school crossing patroller campaigners and is being backed by Cllr Alan Connett, Liberal Democrat group leader on Devon County Council.

He said: “My call would be for every parent, grandma and grandad in Devon to email Cllr Hart and say they want to keep our school crossing patrollers.

“They can also contact their local conservative councillors as they are the ones who voted to cut the service.

“This is our 11th hour chance to save school crossing patrollers. When they’re gone they’re gone.”

Cllr Connett said he was concerned not much money would be saved if the council has to spend out on traffic islands or alternative safety management outside schools. He added he was also worried parents would no longer feel it was safe for their older children to walk to school which would increase traffic on Devon’s roads and impact on children’s health by being driven to school instead of walking.

“The decision is a false economy,” he said. “Labour put forward a different proposal, as did the Independents and Liberal Democrats. We could have found the money for it.”

At last week’s meeting, the majority of councillors voted in favour of Cllr Hart’s recommendation to approve the budget for 2016/17, which excluded funding for school lollipop patrollers. A further debate of the service will take place at the council’s scrutiny committee meeting on Monday, 07 March.

Overwhelming opposition from schools, councillors and the public – along with three petitions with one signed by more than 1,000 people – failed to sway the mind of Devon County Council in its mission to save £250,000 a year from its budget.

Under the new proposals, school patrollers will be employed by a third party that would deliver the service on a full-cost recovery or commercial basis.

If schools decide not to fund the cost of their patrol, the alternatives are for it to be run by volunteers or to lose the service.

To make sure the service continues to be delivered safely, the council says it is prepared to continue a degree of support such as establishing and monitoring quality standards, providing training and doing risk assessments.

Save our school lollipop patrollers campaigner Marie Leverett, a mum from Stoke Hill, Exeter, said: “I sincerely hope the County Council will reconsider it’s position at the scrutiny committee on 07 March, and take some time to think through the ramifications of this ludicrous budget cut in the short, medium and long term.”

At last week’s full council meeting, Cllr Hart said: “It’s not an easy decision to make but I think it’s the right decision for us to take.”

To join the Heart to Hart campaign, send an email to Cllr Hart asking to save Devon’s school lollipop patrollers at john.hart@devon.gov.uk or call him on 01752 403554.

Extraordinary Meeting of @ExeterCouncil to set 2016-17 Budget

Earlier tonight, Exeter City Council met in the Guildhall to set the Council’s budget for 2016-17.

There has been a series of meeting that contributed towards the setting of the Budget since the Government announced the provisional Local Government Settlement on 17 December 2015. The Council is to receive £5.802 million in 2016/17, which is £110,000 lower than predicted within the Medium Term Financial Plan. However, it was decided NOT to revisit the budgets as the shortfall could be managed within the budget.

The Local Government Finance Settlement also set the referendum level for District Councils in the lowest quartile of Council Tax rates at no more than £5 rather than 1.99%. Exeter falls into this category and therefore has the opportunity to increase its Council Tax by £5 (3.7%). Along with the increase in the taxbase this will raise an additional £269,000.

It should be noted that in the Government spending calculations, they have assumed that all authorities in the lower quartile will raise their Council Tax by £5 and have set the spending reductions accordingly.

The Council’s revenue estimates for next year were considered during thecycle of Scrutiny Committee meetings and the final budget report was discussed at the Executive meeting on 9 February 2016.

Regulations dictates the Council holds an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council when setting its budget

The agenda can be found here.

In the absence of Leader Cllr Pete Edwards [LAB, Whipton Barton], the Budget speech was delivered by his Deputy, Cllr Rachel Sutton [LAB, Exwick].

Thank you Lord Mayor.

I would like to start off by paying thanks to the Officers, especially Mark Parkinson, Dave Hodgson and his team, for their help in preparing these figures, and indeed for their work throughout the year.

I would like to set the context for this year’s budget by reminding everyone – members, officers and the wider public – that the reductions in funding received by local authorities like Exeter over the last few years from central government are amongst the most severe cuts we have faced in living memory.

This Council has had a 12.6% reduction in Government Formula Grant for the year 2016/17 on top of equally drastic cuts in previous years. Last year it was a cut of 15.6%.

Between 2010 & 2015 Exeter’s government grant has dropped from £12m to £7.7m but Exeter, unlike some local authorities has not been sleep walking towards oblivion, we have been working hard to make the necessary changes and plans for a future when the money we get from central government will have been cut to a fraction of what it was if indeed it doesn’t disappear completely.
.
In the financial year 2014/15 we made £1.5m in savings, and we continue to streamline and modernise the services we offer to residents and businesses by finding smarter and more efficient ways of working like setting up Strata with our neighbouring councils to deliver IT services across three local authorities and gain financial savings of 7m over the next 10 years.

We are working with our partners in the NHS, the voluntary sector and at Devon County Council to offer the Integrated Care for Exeter [ICE] project that will deliver better services that meet the needs of our citizens and which will save money and resources across all the partner organisations.

But in setting the budget for 2016-17, I am proposing a balanced budget with much of the lost formula grant replaced by additional income streams guaranteed long into the future. These include the guaranteed income from the Feed In Tariff payments on solar panels fitted on the rooves of two of our Car Parks, the Museum, the Quay Climbing Centre, The Phoenix and the largest solar array in Exeter at over 7,000 panels at the Livestock Centre, which on its own will generate over £160,000 a year in income for the Council. And in addition to the financial savings we are reducing our carbon footprint .

In addition to these solar panels we have also replaced our inefficient boilers at the Civic Centre and installed LED lighting in our offices and car parks.

These projects have also delivered tangible savings without affecting front line service delivery.

Cllr Edwards joined the leaders of more than 50 Labour-run councils in pledging to make all our towns and cities across the UK 100% clean before 2050, in line with the commitments made nationally and internationally at the Paris Summit on Climate Change in December 2015.

Our new and emerging partnership with Exeter City Futures and our own ambitious plans to be an energy neutral council by 2020 will go a long way to deliver the Leader’s Green Pledge.

We continue to deliver much needed housing:

In the last year we have built 26 brand new council houses for local families and we are about to begin work on providing an additional 26 new flats for older people next door to Rennes House

Since 01 April 2014, 64 affordable homes have been delivered with 235 further affordable homes consented and in the pipeline for national house builders.

In Exeter we have seen 3,468 new homes built since 2011-12 – more than any other district in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay – earning the Council £10.2m in New Homes Bonus with a significant proportion of these new homes suitable for wheelchair users.

However it must be pointed out that the Housing & Planning Bill currently going through parliament might put much of these plans in jeopardy threatening our ability to make decisions about how we run our Housing Revenue Account and plan for future building of council houses

We have provided new floodlights for the new and improved Flowerpots Skatepark so that the young people who use it can get the maximum benefit from the facilities

New businesses are now moving on the Exeter Science Park

Work is now progressing on a landmark building to house the Met Office’s £97m High Performance Computer.

Job creation continues to increase with new businesses relocating to the city – our own team have helped create 476 jobs in the city.

We continue to be an ambitious Council and are determined to ensure that the City achieves its potential and our residents receive quality services. We continue to support the City ensuring it stays at the forefront of economic recovery and will support the delivery of:

• A new Leisure Complex built to Passivhaus standards that the City will be proud of

• A modernised Bus Station fit to meet the needs of travellers to and from the City for many years to come;

• Two major events in and around the City in 2016 have already been announced – the Radio 1 Big Weekend at Powderham Castle and the European Rugby sevens event at Sandy Park. The Rugby sevens event will be held at Sandy Park for the next three years and building on the success of the Rugby World Cup, last year will further enhance the reputation of the City.

And all this is without the need to increase our overall borrowing requirement.

As a Council we have also supported greater investment in the infrastructure of the City.

We have this year agreed to provide:

• £1.3 million towards the delivery of the new railway station at Marsh Barton;

• £1.025m towards the delivery of a fully operational junction at Sandy Park to enable further development in the area;

• Over £200,000 towards the improvement of our car parks and to provide a permanent electricity supply to Exeter Farmers market.

Finally, for next year’s budget we have made further efficiency savings in the region of £1.1m.

We have again managed to achieve this without a reduction in front line services.

Lord Mayor, Councillors – the budget that I am proposing to you this evening aims to deliver a balanced budget that will protect and maintain the services which the citizens of Exeter need the most.

I therefore propose to you the recommendation set out in the papers before you in terms of the approval of both the revenue estimates and capital programme for the year 2016/17 and which will result in the setting of a District Council tax of £140.05 for a Band D property.

This is an increase of £5 a year for a Band D property less than 10p a week and still means that Exeter sets the 4th lowest Council Tax of any district.

I so move.

There was then a debate on the Budget.

The Leader of the Tory Group, Cllr Andrew Leadbetter [CON, St Loye ] agreed that central Government were cutting funding – but at the same time were enabling local authorities to find other ways to raise money to fund revenue budgets

However, he felt that his group would have to abstain because, although there were some good things in the Budget, there were other things in it that he and group couldn’t support.

Cllr Phil Bialyk  [LAB, Exwick]said that imaginative leadership is taking this  Council forward. He was pleased that the Budget proposed by the Labour Group had no additional cuts to frontline Council services. He pointed out that there was all that extra investment – all for an extra fiver a year.

Cllr Rob Hannaford [LAB, St Thomas] pointed out that the Council were working to best practice. He thought that we are still leading the way  in delivering an ambitious programme despite the risks in the future  – reduced revenue support grant, challenges to the self-financing of Housing Revenue Account, welfare reform cuts, unexplained programme of business rate retention following a futrure NNDR revaluation, devolution, and more. He concluded that he would be supporting a good, balanced and robust Budget.

Cllr Rosie Denham [ LAB, Whipton Barton] looked at one element of the Budget – the role Exeter City Futures will make in the work of the Council and the impact that will have on all of us, and our residents. She was grateful for the cross-party support for the initiative and hopes that the project, by taking a strategic approach, would tackle concerns over traffic congestion, health and the environment. Rosie was adamant that we should always think carefully over proposed schemes, programmes and  policies, and noted that we  are in the incredibly lucky position to be able to come up with imaginative and creative ways to balance our Budget but we shouldn’t take any of this for granted. She concluded that other local authorities were so fortunate and was frightened for the state of the roads, the schools, heath and social care elsewhere.

Cllr Stella Brock [LD, St David’s] questioned the no cuts message of the Budget and questioned the spending on the Bus Station development site [having voted against it at the outline planning stage].

In reply, Cllr Sutton said that the changes to services highlighted by Cllr Brock were not cuts per se but changes to work in  smarter and more efficient ways.  Rachel also pointed out that without the planned interventions from ECC, the Bus Station development site wouldn’t have levered in an investment of over £75m from the Crown Estate and TH Real Estate and would remain a blot on the landscape of the city centre.

In concluding the debate, Cllr Sutton said she was disappointed that NO alternative proposals were coming forward from the Conservative Group, describing it as lazy opposition. Indeed, she pointed out that we know what they are against, but they never state what they are for.

The meeting voted  and RESOLVED:-

(1)        That the following, as submitted in the Estimates Book, be approved:-

(a)        the Revenue estimates for 2016-2017

(b)        the Capital programme for 2016-2017;

(2)        that it be noted that, at the meeting of the Executive on the 26 January 2016, the Council calculated the figure of 35,429, as its council tax base for the year 2016-2017 in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012 made under Section 33(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992;

(3)        that the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2016-2017 in accordance with Sections 31A of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992:-

(a)        £103,925,695 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2)(a) to (f) of the Act;

(b)        £98,963,864 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3)(a) to (d) of the Act;

(c)        £4,961,831 being the amount by which the aggregate at (3)(a) above exceeds the aggregate at (3)(b) above, calculated by the Council, in  accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its council tax requirement for the year;

(d)        £140.05 being the amount at (3)(c) above divided by the amount at 2 above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year;

(e)        Valuation Bands

(4)        That it will be noted that, for the year 2016-2017, Devon County Council, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall and the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority have stated the following amounts on precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 83 of the Local Government Act 2003, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below:-Being the amount given by multiplying the amount at (3)(d) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands.

Devon County Council

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority

(5)        That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at (3)(e) and (4) above, the Council, in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government  Finance Act 1992, hereby set the following amounts as the amounts of council tax for the year 2016-2017 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:-

The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 amended the similarly named 2001 regulations (which were themselves previously amended in 2012) in order to require local authorities to undertake recorded named votes when setting the annual budget and council tax, this to include substantive motions and any amendments

Although the amended legislation came into force on 25 February 2014. there was anexpectation of the Government that authoritiesholding their annual budget meeting before this date will adopt the new ruling when setting their annual budget and council tax.  ECC used a named vote at their budget setting meeting in 2015.

For [24]:
Cllr Bialyk, Cllr Branston, Cllr Brimble, Cllr Bull, Cllr Buswell, Cllr Choules, Cllr Denham, Cllr George, Cllr Hannaford, Cllr Hannan, Cllr Laws, Cllr Lyons, Cllr Morse, Cllr Owen, Cllr Packham, Cllr Pearson, Cllr Raybould, the Deputy Lord Mayor [Cllr Robson], Cllr Sheldon, Cllr Spackman, Cllr Sutton, Cllr Wardle, Cllr Vizard and Cllr Williams

Against [01]:
Cllr Brock

Abstain [10]:
Cllr Baldwin, the Lord Mayor [Cllr Foggin], Cllr Harvey, Cllr Holland, Cllr Leadbetter, Cllr Mottram, Cllr Newby, Cllr Prowse, Cllr Shiel and Cllr Thompson

Absent [04]:
Cllr Crew, Cllr Edwards, Cllr Henson, and Cllr Morris

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS:

Fees and Charges 2016-17

BARLEY LANE | Speed table outside Sylvan Heights

Back in April, Wales + West Utilities [W+W] were working along Barley Lane to replace the gas main pipe between Croft Chase and Dunsford Road,  and replace or transfer services to 29 properties.

This sign on Barley Lane confirms that it really was Wales + West carrying out the     roadworks

The roadworks were finished on schedule on 08 May 2015 – but that’s not to say W+W completed the job!

There is a speed table at the junction of Somerset Avenue, Barley Lane and Eton Walk – and this has been specially laid with an imitation brick finish when Sylvan Heights was being developed.

The utility company filled in the trench they created across this speed table with tarmac…

                      Tarmac fills the trench made by W+W across the speed table

Under s70-73 of  Part 3 of Traffic Management Act 2004, W+W are legally entitled to retain an Interim Reinstatement in place for up to 6 months before a Permanent Reinstatement replaces it.

I have been in discussions with Highways officers from Devon County Council  who have informed me that the utilities company is required to match trench reinstatements with the existing surface, and their Streetworks Inspector is liaising with W+W on this issue.

The problem has arisen from the fact that the imprint design on this junction is a custom design , so DCC has had to go back to the Sylvan Heights developer, Taylor Wimpey, to obtain the exact specification and contractor details to enable W+W to commission a matching reinstatement as required.

Until this can be arranged the trench needed to be reinstated to open the road fully to traffic, the quickest and easiest material to put back now which can then be excavated easily again is the temporary bitmac reinstatement.

Whilst it is not appropriate or usual to immediately take legal action [leading to a fine of up to £5,000 for failure to comply] while the Interim repair is providing a safe running surface for vehicles, the 6 months expires on 01 December 2015 so an Interim Reinstatement would become an issue after that date.

But it’s become a bit more complicated…

I am also told that W+W will have to re-excavate within this concrete section when they resume their major works on Barley Lane in January. In this instance, it would normally not be unreasonable for W+W to request that the 6 months period of grace be extended so that the specialist contractor might complete all the work on one visit to site.

Apparently W+W have  registered all their reinstatement work on Barley Lane on the Register as permanent rather than interim…

Because there seems to be specific public concern regarding the visual aspect of the Interim Reinstatement I am pushing DCC not to approve consent to an extension.