Queens Drive and car parking charges top of council's 77 point 2020 to do list

By The Editor

29th Jul 2021 | Local News

The Exe Estuary from Exmouth's Imperial Recreation Ground.
The Exe Estuary from Exmouth's Imperial Recreation Ground.

The long-awaited development on Exmouth seafront, a review of car parking charges, and delivering vital beach protection schemes are just some of the things East Devon District Council plan to do in the next year.

The council's draft budget and key service plans and objectives with be discussed a joint meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday morning.

Councillors will get the opportunity to scrutinise the proposals that the Independent administration who run the council have put forward, with recommendations to be presented back to the Cabinet on February 5.

Documents with the agenda outline how the council plans to spend its budget in 2020/21 and also what the key objectives that they aim to achieve are.

Among the long list of objectives is to bring forward the delivery of phase 3 proposals for Queen's Drive in Exmouth. A report will come forward early this year to the cabinet, and subject to the recommendations being approved, a marketing exercise will commence by Spring 2020. A timetable is listed that will see agreements negotiated by the Autumn and approved by the Winter, proposals come forward in early 2021, with the build to start later that year.

In the meantime, a programme of events will once again be delivered at the Queen's Drive Space for summer 2020, alongside the free play offer and pop up food and bar facilities.

Sticking with Exmouth, the outcomes of the 2018 and 2019 motorhome and caravan pilot in Exmouth's Imperial Recreation Ground, Maer Road and Queens Drive Echelon long stay car parks will be reviewed and proposals for purpose built motorcaravan (motorhome and campervan) facilities in East Devon will be progressed, while the council plans to install a fixed big screen on the Strand in Exmouth, enabling them to run local advertising, council promotions and messages as well as screen large scale events such as Wimbledon, Concerts and Proms.

Car parking charges and management of car parks will once again be consulted on, with plans to increase the capacity of Manor Road car park in Sidmouth, the Ham car parks in Sidmouth and Coombe Lane Car Park in Axminster also on the agenda.

In Cranbrook, the council aims to work with the Cranbrook consortium of developers to promote and enable the development of Cranbrook Town Centre in a way that secures a sustainable economy within the town and meets the communities' needs, while it is also hoped to establish Cranbrook as a location for regular outdoor events.

The council also aims to plan and deliver the Sidmouth Beach Management Scheme, but has a deadline of December 2020 to find the £1.5m of partnership funding still required, but will review the options if the funding cannot be found by then. The council will also continue work with project lead The Environment Agency to complete the construction of the Exmouth Tidal Defence scheme and submit the Outline Business Case for the Seaton Beach Management Plan to the Environment Agency for approval.

They will also lead on the Seaton Wetlands Link project to enable a link up from the Seaton Jurassic/Tramway sites to Seaton Wetlands on foot, cycle and by tram, and continue to work to maintain and build on a recycling rate of 60 per cent and enable the council to be in the top 10 Local Authorities in England for recycling.

HERE ARE 77 THINGS THAT ARE INCLUDED AS SERVICE PLAN KEY OBJECTIVES FOR 2020/21:

-Delivery of phase 2 of the Honiton Valley Parks project (Nature Recovery Network pilot)

-Wild Exmouth Heritage Lottery Fund year 2 to deliver 8 new events and engage 1000 people

-Complete application for Sport England funding to deliver a Family Outdoors Club for young families in Cranbrook.

-Establish Cranbrook as a location for regular outdoor events to be included in Wild East Devon events guide in 2020.

-Deliver the Sheep's Marsh inter tidal habitat scheme

-Creation of a new Tram Halt and linking boardwalk to Seaton Wetlands as part of Seaton Tram's Heritage Lottery Fund grant

-In 2020/21, against the context of East Devon District Council's commitment to Devon's Climate -Change Emergency declaration, and the University of Exeter's declaration of an environment and climate emergency, Thelma Hulbert Gallery and the University of Exeter are working together to deliver a series of ambitious exhibitions, projects and public programme

-Working with Devon Insight with support from Keith Owen Fund for £800 to develop programme of activity with adults with sight loss in Sidmouth at Twyford House.

-Developing the Harpford Woods activity jars into a long-term resource reflecting the THG/AONB partnership and EDW project – launch December

-Manor Pavilion theatre to improve its customer experience by secure Summer Season production and achieve target of £230,000 ticket sales its relationship with Ballet Theatre UK going from strength to strength with sell out performances and three new ballet's planned for 2020, and working with new production company – Complete Theatre Company – to produce high profile and commercially successful musical.

-Agree and oversee the delivery of a rural touring programme for Villages in Action programme

Work with Cranbrook TC to utilise town's green spaces for park runs, active family events, community run event

-Continue to scope ways of increasing access to and understanding of reliable health information across East Devon

-Work with Exmouth Town Council and Devon County Council to review the outcomes of the 2018 and 2019 motorhome and caravan pilot in Exmouth's Imperial Recreation Ground, Maer Road and Queens Drive Echelon long stay car parks.

-Subject to the outcome of the car parks Task and Finish Forum we propose to carry out a public consultation exercise on our car parking fees and charges during 2020.

-Consult on developing our car parks portfolio during 2020/21 by increasing the capacity of Manor Road car park in Sidmouth, the Ham car parks in Sidmouth and Coombe Lane Car Park in Axminster

-Work with partners including NHS Property Services, the CCG and Devon County Council to review the way in which our Blackmore Gardens car park is currently managed

-Work with others to develop proposals for purpose built motorcaravan (motorhome and campervan) facilities in East Devon

-Implementation of a new banded discount scheme for council tax support in 2020/21.

-Implement e-billing across Council Tax and Business Rates so that customers can elect to have the bill emailed.

-Revising the Cemetery Regulations to ensure an updated and fit for purpose regime for burials

-To continue to promote local democracy through engagement with local councils and schools.

-Deliver the Clyst Valley Regional Park proposals

-Engage with landowners and other partners to implement the Clyst Valley Trail proposals

-Identify, design and help to bring forward proposals for Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space to serve Cranbrook

-Support the delivery of a vibrant town centre for Cranbrook including bringing forward specific investment proposals for new workspace and supporting the establishment of a centre of excellence for the built environment

-Introduce a simplified planning regime in the Enterprise Zone area by bringing forward Local Development Orders including to support the roll out of district heating infrastructure

-Identify and develop new economic opportunities and projects arising from the Council's Climate Change Action Plan

-Ensure the large scale delivery of zero carbon development in the West End of the District through completing a techno-economic study for the Cranbrook/Skypark district heating network

-Develop feasibility studies and clear business cases for investment (including from EDDC's Commercial Investment Fund (CIF)) to deliver new workspace development at the East Devon Business centre extension, Cloakham Lawns, Axminster and the Cranbrook Town Centre workspace

-Implement Phase 2 of the #inhoniton project by working with tenants in Honiton to identify areas we can leave wild or re-wild.

-Carry out an updated Stock Condition Survey on our Council owned housing stock in order to collate up to date information, including energy performance, and use it to inform a new stock investment programme

-Produce a new Housing Strategy focusing on how we will deliver our services and how we will increase our supply of housing stock from 2020-2024.

-Meet the increased demand from homeless households and secure suitable temporary and permanent accommodation, supporting households who present with physical and mental health needs, poverty and other issues, to ensure they are able to sustain their tenancies.

-Undertake a feasibility study to explore a re-use and recycling furniture programme to assist residents with setting up their home, recognising the increasing amount of people arriving in our services destitute

-Develop the Axminster Fairshare project working with Tesco in Axminster and Nourish to collect food from the supermarket, cook and freeze it, and distribute to people with an identified need

-Identify areas of Housing land that are being used by residents without permission and ensure the appropriate signage is posted at all entrances and exits to prevent future claims of easements over our land.

-Deliver the recommendations from the poverty report presented to Overview Committee in November 2019.

-Increase the use of enforcement powers in the private rented sector to improve housing conditions and tenant safety.

-Ensure that all Houses in Multiple Occupation are licenced and meet appropriate standards of fire and tenant safety

-Lead on the Seaton Wetlands Link project bringing together a multi-disciplined team to deliver a number of small infrastructure projects that will enable a link up from the Seaton Jurassic/Tramway sites to Seaton Wetlands on foot, cycle and by tram.

-Continue to follow the process for bringing forward the delivery of phase 3 at Queen's Drive, following on from the visioning exercise undertaken by Hemingway Design and the soft market testing by Lambert Smith Hampton. If in early 2020 the recommendations of the report will be implemented. If it is determined that a marketing exercise should be pursued then this will commence by Spring 2020.

-Continue to deliver a programme of events at Queen's Drive Space for summer 2020, alongside the free play offer and pop up food and bar facilities.

-To reduce the carbon footprint of the organisation with the installation of more energy efficient lighting and equipment to all of the 9 leisure centres and swimming sites the financial year end of March 2021.

-Progressing with a commercialisation approach to the East Devon Business Centre ensuring it is fit for purpose for the decade ahead.

-Encourage developers to incorporate fabric measures and energy generation systems to make new buildings as efficient as possible and minimise their carbon footprint

-To develop an Axe Nutrient Management Plan to assess the impact of new housing developments within the catchment of the River Axe on Nitrate levels in the river and propose appropriate mitigation.

-To complete a review of the playing pitch strategy to ensure that it remains up to date and can be relied upon to inform decision making on investment in sports facilities in the district

-Adopt the Cranbrook Plan DPD and determine planning applications for the expansion areas in accordance with the DPD.

-Revise the Axminster Urban Extension masterplan to consider what elements can be delivered in the absence of HIF funding.

-Ensure that new developments are required to deliver appropriate levels of open space and promote walking and cycling to deliver better health and wellbeing outcomes.

-Enable the delivery of affordable housing, gypsy and traveller pitches, homes for life, self-build plots etc. to enable our diverse range of housing needs to be met.

-Work with the land owners to develop a masterplan for the Hayne Lane, Honiton employment land allocation in the Local Plan and a plan for its delivery

-Continue to support the delivery of regeneration projects within the market towns and major growth in the enterprise zone

-To work with the Cranbrook consortium of developers to promote and enable the development of Cranbrook Town Centre in a way that secures a sustainable economy within the town and meets the communities' needs.

-To establish a gypsy and traveller forum to better engage with the travelling community on key issues affecting them.

-Continue to work in partnership with our neighbouring authorities within the Greater Exeter area on a strategic plan for the area.

-Ensure all major parks have an event or engagement activity during the year which offers opportunities for health & wellbeing

-Continue to work to maintain and build on a recycling rate of 60% so it becomes our annual rate, enabling us to be in the top 10 Local Authorities in England for recycling.

-Further increase availability of on street recycling bins by installing in key locations within large town centres.

-Carry out annual tree planting of: 20 x substantial trees (14-16cm girth), 30 tree whips in parks and gardens, 10 substantial trees on the Littleham Estate, a community orchard on The Green, Budleigh and a community orchard at Land of Canaan, Ottery

-Apply for Green Flag awards at Connaught Gardens Sidmouth, Manor Gardens Exmouth and submit a new application for Seaton Seafield Gardens. Improve management plan of the The Glen, Honiton and aim for a Parks Award 2020/21 and Green Flag Award in 2021/22.

-Apply for Blue Flag retention at Exmouth in 2020 and Seaside awards for Sidmouth, Seaton and Budleigh following another year of excellent water quality results.

-Continue work with Network Rail to deliver the under track crossing at Feniton, and deliver phase 3 & 4 to complete the Feniton flood alleviation scheme and tender phase 4 works in early 2020, for completion by 2021.

-Refine the Whimple Flood Alleviation scheme design and conduct community engagement before tender of construction works late 2020 for construction of the flood relief culvert during late 2021.

-Plan and deliver the Sidmouth Beach Management Scheme. Identify appropriate partnership funding to bridge the circa £1.5mil funding gap with the Steering Group given an Aug 2020 shortstop deadline and Dec 2020 longstop deadline for this If the funding cannot be raised after Dec 2020 – review the project aims and possible management scheme options, with works to be tendered to start in 2021/22, subject to partnership funding being found.

-Continue work with project lead The Environment Agency to complete the construction of the Exmouth Tidal Defence scheme

-Submit Outline Business Case for the Seaton Beach Management Plan to the Environment Agency for approval, although prior to submission, the circa £500k partnership funding gap must be met.

-Deliver cliff safety netting and catch fence improvements at Annis' Knob Beer.

-Start investigations into scope of works required at Exmouth beach to recharge/manage the amenity as set out in the Exmouth BMP for the 2020s.

-Replacement of end of life play equipment at well used sites on EDDC land, include at Exmouth Brixington play site, Honiton Cherry Close, Axminster Millwey & Seaton Seafield, Seaton Meadway play area, Budleigh Greenway Lane, Exmouth The Crescent and Honiton Butts Close play areas

-Rebuild of boundary retaining wall at St Swithun's church, Woodbury.

-Design and if approved deliver a layout for motorhome parking at the Northern end of the Exmouth Estuary car park.

-Sidmouth Jacob's ladder repainting and structural repairs and Sidmouth seafront railings to be repainted with glass flake paint system to prolong lifespan.

-Investigate feasibility and funding for installing a network of water refill points in key town or park/beach areas.

-Deliver a fixed big screen on the Strand in Exmouth, using the Strand redevelopment reserve, giving us the ability to run local advertising, council promotions and messages as well as screen large scale events such as Wimbledon, Concerts and Proms.

-Continue to develop our successful Green Waste Service and effectively market it to customers to grow our customer base from 11,300 to 13,500; achieving an income of £98K.

     

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