Cllr Paul Arnott – where they stand

Where they stand

For EXMO20

Said at SPC on 14 July 2026 that removing EXMO20 would lose the transitional arrangements and make development at Exmouth more likely, not less, and told Full Council on 14 October 2026 that housing numbers could not be reduced.

in short removing EXMO20 would make development in experts more likely not lessStrategic Planning Committee, 14 July 2026 · 01:30:29 ▶ · meeting page · Argued against removing EXMO20 ('Expo 20', 'experts' as transcribed) because of the transitional arrangements.

there's an argument being put forward that we've got some option here about reducing housing numbers that just isn't the case if we could we wouldFull Council, 14 October 2026 · 00:37:41 ▶ · meeting page · Told Full Council the housing numbers could not be reduced, addressing EXMO20 campaigners.

Everything they said about EXMO20 at the meetings

12 passages from the council recordings, in date order. Each time stamp plays the recording at that moment.

Strategic Planning Committee, 25 November 2025 – morning session (2)

all this time the clock is running down all this time we are giving planning permissions all this time we are developing our own Local Plan when we should have had this information from South West Water two or three years ago … it's not being ignored but it's incredibly late for these hard-working members of this committee to consider properly01:32:53 ▶ · D. Deliverability: access, sewage, water, infrastructure, viability (“effective”) (125)

when we should have had this information from South West Water two or three years ago … it is an unbelievably unfortunate confluence of events that on the very day this committee is being asked to make progress to the second stage of Regulation 19. It's also being asked to consider the water cycle report. … it's not being ignored but it's incredibly late for these hard-working members of this committee to consider properly01:32:59 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)

About this meeting · full transcript

Strategic Planning Committee, 14 July 2026 (3)

Try living in Torridge, where there's an AI centre planned for 840 acres in one site. So we need to keep these things in proportion.01:29:02 ▶ · 1. When the use of AI is mentioned (24)

if we're forced to restart the Local Plan we lose that key transitional status don't we is that right we then have to go to the 1188 homes a year rather than the 84101:29:56 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)

The impacts on Exmouth and sites like EXMO20, which campaign groups have understandably argued they'd like to have removed because it would protect Exmouth and that site from development, but if it is removed, as I understand it, the government will say, the inspector will say, the plan has changed significantly. Those transitional arrangements would be lost, and East Devon would be forced to plan for thousands more homes and pressure for large sites including EXMO20 would increase not decrease in short removing EXMO20 would make development in experts more likely not less01:30:29 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)

About this meeting · full transcript

Full Council, 14 October 2026 (7)

and I can appreciate the fun that people have by saying the penny has finally dropped the penny has not finally dropped with relation to the members of this council00:36:51 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence

at a meeting with the check with the new chief exec of southwest water last week and expressed concerns about the at this stage what looks like implausibility of their future plans to provide infrastructure in sewage across the whole of East End and how which I then wrote to the Prime Minister this is affecting councillors confidence in passing a Local Plan when they are not assured as yet that southwest water will have the infrastructure in place when some of these sites come alive in particular that relates to the new town of malcoom00:37:02 ▶ · D. Deliverability: access, sewage, water, infrastructure, viability (“effective”) (125)

I I see that you know there's an argument being put forward that we've got some option here about reducing housing numbers that just isn't the case if we could we would and I understand and appreciate the extreme upset that the EXMO20 people feel … and I'm afraid that is how things go and sometimes there is nothing you can do to stop it but fight the good fight00:37:41 ▶ · G. Consultation and procedure (Regulation 19, AI, objections, generic answers, advice, future decisions) (85)

there's an argument being put forward that we've got some option here about reducing housing numbers that just isn't the case if we could we would00:37:41 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence

sometimes there is nothing you can do to stop it but fight the good fight now I appreciate the EXMO20 campaigners have fought a fight I don't think I'd be representing the membership in this room without offering back a smidgen of constructive criticism which is I'm not sure you've helped your case with the widespread accusations against officers00:38:28 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)

not sure you've helped your case with the widespread accusations against officers and I won't take that any further00:38:51 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence

it's a real worry in my discussion with Keith Hassel the chief executive of southwest water I flagged this real concern about water security as it is now … a concern not only as far as strategic planning, location, site identification in the future is concerned, Marlcombe Newtown, it is a existential risk to the lives we're living now00:45:10 ▶ · D. Deliverability: access, sewage, water, infrastructure, viability (“effective”) (125)

About this meeting · full transcript

How we decide where someone stands: our method. Anything wrong? Tell us and we'll correct it.