Minutes are a summary, not a word-for-word record. Below are points from the recording that matter for EXMO20 or the Local Plan, set against what the official minutes say about them. Judge for yourself: each clip opens at the moment it was said.
Officer's reply to the EXMO20 points made by two public speakers
Important Minutes much briefer · Ed Freeman (officer) · 00:31:21 ▶
Said in the meeting“…obviously they know to make those views through the consultation that's running at the moment so I won't respond or previously have obviously commented on many of those points through previous meetings.”
The minutesAll feedback on the Local Plan must be submitted through the ongoing consultation process.
The EXMO20 points (563-home headroom, the sustainability appraisal's 400 m wording, the change to the site selection method) were not answered at the meeting. The minutes record the general reply but not that the officer said he would not respond to them.
Chair: no planning permission where wastewater capacity is lacking
Important Minutes differ · Cllr Todd Olive (Chair) · 00:37:26 ▶
Said in the meeting“We talked about it at length late last year, and we have been unequivocal that where the evidence says that there is not capacity for the system and where infrastructure is not forthcoming in time from Southwest Water, we will not be giving planning permission. It's a moratorium by another name, Councillor Bailey.”
The minutesThe Local Plan includes policies preventing the delivery of new homes unless there is sufficient waster water capacity to accommodatethe additional flows.
The minutes record a similar point as the officer's description of plan policy, but not the Chair's statement that permission will not be given where capacity is lacking ('a moratorium by another name'). This bears on water evidence for large allocations.
Exmouth Neighbourhood Plan and the North Exmouth area now in EXMO20
Important Not in the minutes · Cllr Brian Bailey · 01:13:48 ▶
Said in the meeting“However, going back to the Exmouth neighbourhood plan, we did put in the neighbourhood plan that we didn't want any development in North Exmouth, in Eyestock Village, which is one of the oldest walled villages in the country. And unfortunately, all the area of Northern Exmouth, which has now come under EXMO20.”
The minutesNot recorded in the minutes.
A councillor involved in the Exmouth Neighbourhood Plan said its aim for North Exmouth had 'not been adhered to by this authority' (01:14:17). The Chair then brought him back to the item ('I'm sorry to cut you off'). The minutes record his declared interest but not the point.
Public speaker: EXMO20 policy and the sustainability appraisal's top-400 m point
Minutes much briefer · a public speaker · 00:14:46 ▶
Said in the meetingA member of the public raised this point. We don't quote or name members of the public, so play the clip to hear it.
The minutes…urged the Committee to take immediate steps to remove the development at the upper section and proposed that the surplus allocation of 563 housing allocations be utilised instead.
The minutes record the request to remove the upper section, but not the speaker's point that the EXMO20 policy does not include the sustainability appraisal's 'no built development in the top 400 metres', while a similar mismatch for another site was corrected.
Chair undertakes to answer a public speaker's emailed questions this week
Not in the minutes · Cllr Todd Olive (Chair) · 00:34:04 ▶
Said in the meeting“…was in early december I have not been looking at my emails for most of december and hadn't done until yesterday morning so I will endeavor to get your response this week so apologies you've not had one”
The minutesNot recorded in the minutes.
A promise given at the meeting to answer questions on public engagement in the Regulation 19 consultation. The minutes record the speaker's complaint but not the Chair's undertaking.
Councillor calls for a building embargo over South West Water infrastructure
Not in the minutes · Cllr Brian Bailey · 00:36:47 ▶
Said in the meeting“and now we're in a situation a worse situation with South West Water and the infrastructure than 25 years ago which I remember well and we're still giving permission to build. And I personally think that is wrong”
The minutesNot recorded in the minutes.
A committee member asked the council to consider 'a building embargo' (00:36:32) because of South West Water infrastructure, after a public speaker's question about the River Otter. The minutes do not record this concern.
Chair on the legal obligation to follow national policy; Local Plan discussion closed
Not in the minutes · Cllr Todd Olive (Chair) · 00:37:56 ▶
Said in the meeting“As to a broader moratorium, as to the issue of the MPPF, we have a legal obligation to comply with what government is telling us to do.”
The minutesNot recorded in the minutes.
The Chair said the committee had twice chosen to follow the standard method after risks were set out, and ended the discussion because the Local Plan was not on the agenda. The minutes do not record this.
Date given for submitting the Local Plan for examination
Not in the minutes · Ed Freeman (officer) · 00:47:52 ▶
Said in the meeting“the plan having now reached the stage of work that it has um with the intention of submitting the plan for examination later this year there's now an opportunity to reinvigorate some of that work in the district”
The minutesNot recorded in the minutes.
A timetable given in public for submitting the Local Plan for examination (later in 2026). The minutes do not record it.
Officer: missing sites do not undermine the Employment Land Review as Local Plan evidence
Minutes much briefer · Ed Freeman (officer) · 02:02:23 ▶
Said in the meeting“…but I don't think it undermines you know the legitimacy of this work as an evidence base for for where we are in terms of Local Plan works It's a relatively small size that make a contribution and should be acknowledged, but I don't think it fundamentally changes the outcome of the work.”
The minutesConcerns were expressed about the report’s accuracy, noting missing information.
Members found sites missing from a Local Plan evidence document. The officer's view that this does not change the outcome, and that he wants it published as evidence for the Local Plan (01:54:17), is not recorded.
Affordability ratio and the standard method housing requirement
Not in the minutes · Ed Freeman (officer) · 02:05:44 ▶
Said in the meeting“…average salaries it's down to about 8.5 now I think off the top of my head um which has because that feeds into the um standard method has actually reduced our housing requirements from what it would otherwise be still gone up overall because of the other issues in terms of government”
The minutesNot recorded in the minutes.
A statement on how the housing requirement is calculated (the affordability ratio falling from about 10 to about 8.5). Housing numbers drive the need for allocations such as EXMO20.
Wording in East Devon's proposed Local Plan on neighbours' unmet housing need
Not in the minutes · Ed Freeman (officer) · 02:15:30 ▶
Said in the meeting“authority of Torbay um we felt it prudent and you might recall we've included similar wording in in our proposed Local Plan um to to cover our position in terms of that”
The minutesNot recorded in the minutes.
This says East Devon's proposed Local Plan includes wording, like Teignbridge's, that leaves a plan review open if neighbouring authorities cannot meet their housing need. This bears on future housing numbers.
Legal advice on the duty to co-operate with Torbay
Not in the minutes · officer (probably Damian Hunter, planning solicitor) · 02:23:32 ▶
Said in the meeting“yes we have to provide comment as set out in the report we don't have to agree with what they want but that's why Mr Freeman has drafted the report to give our comments”
The minutesNot recorded in the minutes.
Legal advice given in public on the duty to co-operate. It was followed (02:24:14) by the point that the duty requires regard to neighbours but is 'not a duty to agree'. The minutes record neither.