Most important decision Exeter City Council will make” being pushed through without scrutiny in “dash for development”, warn Progressive Group

Progressive Group councillors on Exeter City Council have accused the ruling Labour group of keeping councillors in the dark as the Local Plan [1] reaches a crucial stage. The final draft of the Plan was due to be scrutinised by a cross party committee last Thursday. But at the last minute the scrutiny committee only received a process report on how the plan has been developed. Councillors will not see the final Plan until the Council’s Executive agree a stage of consultation on technical matters.

Green Party Councillor Diana Moore said,
“Two years ago I formally requested that the Local Plan undergo proper scrutiny, as it does in other councils. That request was approved by the Council a number of times, but councillors have only ever received process reports about the Plan’s development. So, at this crucial final stage, we are still in the dark.

“The Local Plan will direct where at least 12,840 new homes will be built, what sort of housing this will be and how much of it will be affordable; it will detail how the Council expects to address climate change, restore our green spaces and protect local heritage; how it will prevent flooding provide local infrastructure such as schools and healthcare; and set out transport plans which prevent gridlock and keep our city moving.”

“Labour’s dash for development means we have no idea if the Plan will do these things or which representations from communities or councillors on behalf of their communities have been included in the final draft. It is an absolute failure of the Council’s governance to  examine the Plan which will seal Exeter’s development for two decades.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Micheal Mitchell said,
“The new Labour Government has introduced higher housing targets, expected to come into force in June 2025 [2]. Now Exeter’s Labour-led council is rushing this plan through, choosing to ignore the scrutiny process and hoping to avoid having to meet those targets. This is risky as the Plan could be rejected by the Planning Inspector as it doesn’t meet the new Government targets.

“Over the past two years the Progressive Group have welcomed the public consultation process but now Labour need to be accountable for what they have chosen to include in - and leave out of - the Local Plan. So, I proposed a sensible motion at last Thursday’s scrutiny meeting for an additional session ahead of 3rd December to allow councillors an opportunity to scrutinise the plan. But this was voted down by 6 Labour Councillors, who have completely disrespected the role and status of scrutiny and the future of our city.”  

ENDS

Notes
The New Local Plan – the Exeter Plan - About the Exeter Plan - Exeter City Council
Exeter’s current housing target is 642 homes p.a. The Government’s new target is 815 pa. Exeter average delivery is 518 p.a. Row 96 Exeter: outcome-of-the-proposed-revised-method.ods