District councillor
Cllr Todd Olive
Chair, Strategic Planning Committee; Cabinet member and portfolio holder for strategic planning; Councillor for Whimple and Rockbeare (Liberal Democrats)
Liberal Democrat councillor for Whimple and Rockbeare on East Devon District Council (council records list a term from 2023). He chairs the Strategic Planning Committee and spoke for the strategic planning portfolio at Full Council.
Where they stand
✓For EXMO20Said at SPC on 8 July 2025 that he had not voted for EXMO20 when it was allocated and was unsure of his view, but on 2 September 2025 argued that splitting its homes across smaller sites would not be 'a better outcome', calling that his view.
maybe we could kill EXMO20 and try splitting it up in a bunch of sites in Exmouth or elsewhere I don't think that's a better outcome there we go that's my viewStrategic Planning Committee, 2 September 2025 (morning) · 01:58:29 ▶ · meeting page · Argued against replacing EXMO20 with smaller sites, stating this as his own view.
given that I didn't vote for it in the goddamn first placeStrategic Planning Committee, 8 July 2025 · 02:41:36 ▶ · meeting page · Earlier: said he had not voted for EXMO20 when it was allocated in September 2024.
quite frankly, I'm not sure what my view on EXMO20 is.Strategic Planning Committee, 8 July 2025 · 02:42:07 ▶ · meeting page · Earlier (8 July 2025): said he was unsure of his view on EXMO20.
Everything they said about EXMO20 at the meetings
130 passages from the council recordings, in date order. Each time stamp plays the recording at that moment.
Strategic Planning Committee, 3 September 2024 – afternoon session (6)
I believe we left off just before the start of Exmouth Withycombe Ward which brings us then to site EXMO20 I think. I can't see the presentation but while we resolve that technical issue the first speaker I have.00:00:29 ▶ · B. Site selection: HELAA, officer advice and why EXMO20 was included (“justified”) (93)
okay any further comments no okay in which case then we have a proposal to take site 20a forward from Councillor Ingham seconded by Councillor Jung okay those in favour those against and those abstaining okay 20a goes forward00:17:12 ▶ · B. Site selection: HELAA, officer advice and why EXMO20 was included (“justified”) (93)
Thank you for that proposal, Councillor I would point out if you took all of the allocations around Hulham road that we considered this morning and added them up with goodmores you'd achieve a similar scale of development and a similar scale of infrastructure delivery00:22:23 ▶ · C. Reasonable alternatives (27)
okay we have a proposal from Councillor Ingham seconded by Councillor Bailey that this goes forward as an allocation any further comments no okay in which case then all those in favour. That's unanimous.00:25:17 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
The settlement boundaries haven't actually been set for the new Local Plan,01:39:34 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
I would point out there's not a specific number for Woodbreed that we have to hit, and the ambition that we set ourselves earlier is to add another 1,800 or so houses on top of the recommendations that have been set out by officers.02:29:28 ▶ · E. Housing numbers: need, headroom and buffers (59)
Strategic Planning Committee, 3 September 2024 – morning session (8)
just to highlight some advice that we've had from legal in terms of how we go through these uh procedurally and vote uh the advice we've had is that we should only be voting on the sites that we wish to recommend as allocations … the issue is if we find we don't have enough at the end of the process we've already voted to reject all of the ones and that we haven't voted to allocate then we've tied herself in a bit of a legal knot00:28:00 ▶ · H. Heritage and other (51)
you've got 350 pages in front of you today another three four hundred were published yesterday um and another seven eight hundred possibly more are in the works to come out next week I think for the meetings on the 20th and the 23rd there is an awful lot of work going on and things do get missed … it's unfortunate that it's gone awry twice in the same paper and on a significant report I'll give you that01:11:49 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
and do bear in mind that everything we choose to say move on to at this point if we don't make the numbers we have to come back to and if we don't make 946 a year plus within a month of government publishing the new NPPF so realistically by perhaps mid-november then we have to find another 200 a year on top of that within the next 18 months otherwise government's going to come in step in make a Local Plan for us01:51:10 ▶ · E. Housing numbers: need, headroom and buffers (59)
if we don't make 946 a year plus within a month of government publishing the new NPPF so realistically by perhaps mid-november then we have to find another 200 a year on top of that within the next 18 months01:51:18 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
worth highlighting that while the state of the roads is a relevant consideration the actual detail for access would be a planning stage rather than here today I appreciate it's a it's a bit of a gray area in terms of do we consider the sites to be acceptable02:08:15 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
Okay, in which case then we have a proposal to move on from Councillor Jung, seconded by Councillor Ingham. Okay, in which case those in favour of us moving on. Hands nice and high, please. Seven in favour of that. Those against. Three, those abstaining. One.02:10:54 ▶ · C. Reasonable alternatives (27)
officers have pointed out that the recommendations that they had put in front of us and would be putting in front of us over the course of September would get us to 20,812 dwellings nearly 9% or about what's that 1800 houses short of the recommended 10% buffer and we already don't have enough sites we've lost my vice chair informs me 164 already this morning02:20:14 ▶ · E. Housing numbers: need, headroom and buffers (59)
I've just checked with mr. Freeman to my left the listed buildings do have special protection in law above and beyond that which is afforded by the countryside or by local planning policy … I mean, either way, they still have special significance in national policy, which goes above and beyond local planning policy.03:01:14 ▶ · H. Heritage and other (51)
Strategic Planning Committee, 11 September 2024 – morning session (6)
those unfortunately aren't problems that we can solve today nor are they in law reasons that we can give not to allocate as far as planning law is concerned there are other mechanisms by which capacities and infrastructure should be dealt with they're not a reason for us not to allocate sites there are a reason to phase development to delay development until infrastructure comes forward00:10:26 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
we look to government to give us more power to actually resist efforts by developers to tone down their affordable housing provision on viability grounds because our powers in that respect are limited by law through the viability mechanism00:20:22 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
worth mentioning perhaps for the benefit of the public the vote you've just seen is in effect a vote to reject as we have to meet the numbers or the plan is going to be dead on arrival at regulation 19 stage on the basis of legal advice we're not using a wording to vote to explicitly reject today that we'll come back to that at the end of the process once we have the numbers to formally reject them all as we might have to revisit00:22:29 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
the vote you've just seen is in effect a vote to reject as we have to meet the numbers or the plan is going to be dead on arrival at regulation 19 stage on the basis of legal advice we're not using a wording to vote to explicitly reject today that we'll come back to that at the end of the process once we have the numbers to formally reject them all as we might have to revisit00:22:29 ▶ · B. Site selection: HELAA, officer advice and why EXMO20 was included (“justified”) (93)
we have a proposal then from Councillor Howe seconded by Councillor Davey to allocate site 06 a for the regulation 19 to after the Local Plan01:11:45 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
I think it's probably worth saying at this point that just because we're saying yes to things today doesn't mean definitely absolutely a hundred percent of course it makes it vastly more likely than not that they will end up as an allocation02:07:23 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
Strategic Planning Committee, 11 September 2024 – afternoon session (4)
the legal advice we've had from mr hunter our planning solicitor is that rather than voting to uh reject sites explicitly this afternoon committee should instead be voting to as we're terming it move on and then round up the process at the end with a rejection of all the sites that we choose not to allocate … if we're voting to reject sites at this stage then legally we're tying committee's hands and and we couldn't come back around and revisit00:17:30 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
we have a proposal from Councillor Ledger seconded by Councillor Ingham that seat oh three goes forward as an allocation into the draft regulation 19 Local Plan00:51:07 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
it's worth saying if and when an application came forwards for any of these sites sewage capacity would be one of the things that was looked at at that stage and folks may be aware that we've been deploying what's called grampian conditions to prevent development actually happening until sewage upgrades sorry sewage infrastructure upgrades have taken place so that that would be a matter for that process rather than this one01:59:59 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
it's perhaps worthwhile adding that this did come up at the working group meeting and when we looked at the draft version of these papers and the question was highlighted and I believe there was an action to check unfortunately mr. Dickens who took those actions is on leave this week so we don't know um whether that question has yet been asked02:26:20 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
Strategic Planning Committee, 20 September 2024 – afternoon session (4)
a motion that we move on uh which for the purposes of today is a rejection however uh you will all no doubt be aware we have government mandated targets to meet which if we do not meet the plan will be dead on arrival um so there's going to be a wrap-up session in mid-october at which if we've not already reached the numbers by that point we may need to revisit some sites that we've previously moved on from00:09:02 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
it won't happen in september as all of those agendas are out obviously everything's been pushed slightly um by the the need for the site selection meetings but we are yeah the policy reports are coming in october um absolutely uh in advance of that all important deadline on a date that we do not yet known00:29:30 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
Can I just point out that infrastructure issues are widespread throughout East Devon, particularly with sewerage, and they're not really strictly a matter for today, because there are established processes for dealing with that.00:57:16 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
I've just conversed with mr. Freeman and officers will have another look at sites like this one in terms of the numbers between now and the wrap-up session because we might gain a couple of percent in that01:29:33 ▶ · C. Reasonable alternatives (27)
Strategic Planning Committee, 20 September 2024 – morning session (6)
we have targets to meet set by national government unfortunately otherwise we're looking at Secretary of State intervention to do it for us.00:14:10 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
Either there will be a motion to propose the site, goes into the Regulation 19 draft plan, to allocate it or there may be a motion to move on now that motion's been effectively means that we are rejecting the site today we are not outright rejecting it … if we can't meet our government mandated numbers by the end of the process we may have to revisit some of these sites00:16:54 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
there may be a motion to move on now that motion's been effectively means that we are rejecting the site today we are not outright rejecting it as far as the entire process is goes that's on the basis of legal advice that says if we can't meet our government mandated numbers by the end of the process we may have to revisit some of these sites00:17:00 ▶ · B. Site selection: HELAA, officer advice and why EXMO20 was included (“justified”) (93)
saying for members clarification that we can't do second choices at this point and that was a tool that we used in the consultation to help clarify our thinking to the public but today we have a choice between putting these sites into the draft regulation 19 plan or not it's very much a binary choice01:08:19 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
as this site is in a national landscape the exceptional circumstances test has to be applied here … I think mr Freeman's preference would be that we moved on today and came back to it in mid-october once that assessment has been done in full02:09:30 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
site is in a national landscape the exceptional circumstances test has to be applied here and I think I'll be right in saying officers would have some concerns about whether this might meet it um so I without taking words out of his mouth I think mr Freeman's preference would be that we moved on today and came back to it in mid-october once that assessment has been done in full um it's obviously committee's decision we could allocate it today and address the question if there are any concerns when the full regulation 19 plans to committee uh plan comes to committee02:09:36 ▶ · H. Heritage and other (51)
Strategic Planning Committee, 23 September 2024 – morning session (5)
worth commenting um those three sites aren't on the agenda for um committee to make a decision on today as you will know members um we're expecting those will come to the wrap-up session in mid-october once officers have had the chance to do a full assessment on those quite substantial proposals00:20:44 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
the proposal to move on is grounded in some legal advice that we've had from mr hunter because this plan has to meet as mr Freeman said earlier government mandated housing figures or it's going to be dead on arrival … if we were to vote outright to reject today the issue we'd have if we got to the end of all of these meetings and found we didn't meet those numbers is we then wouldn't be able to reconsider anything because we'd already have voted on um and legally tied our hands00:37:53 ▶ · B. Site selection: HELAA, officer advice and why EXMO20 was included (“justified”) (93)
if we don't meet the numbers that government has set out the Local Plan that we're producing this time as I say will be dead on arrival00:41:14 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
just because we make an allocation doesn't mean that it's guaranteed to come forward if that issue couldn't be resolved and it couldn't obviously we have to be satisfied that the site is deliverable to be allocating it lawfully02:44:03 ▶ · D. Deliverability: access, sewage, water, infrastructure, viability (“effective”) (125)
I'm going to second that one um I think the highways issue needs further investigation if this is to stay in the regulation 19 version of the plan um but I think the other issues can be uh satisfactorily mitigated to some degree or another02:47:23 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
Strategic Planning Committee, 23 September 2024 – afternoon session (4)
so the grampian condition would be a planning application stage not at allocation stage um so we we wouldn't it would um potential infrastructural constraints like sewage would factor into when those numbers go into when the housing numbers from a site goes into our overall calculation so that affect our housing trajectory um but it wouldn't have any bearing on on the total numbers they would still count01:17:16 ▶ · D. Deliverability: access, sewage, water, infrastructure, viability (“effective”) (125)
so I'm going to propose that we ask officers to go away and look at what area we would be allocating on the basis that we allocate 15 houses for this site so I'm saying let's make an allocation here for 15 houses but let's get officers to go away and draw an appropriate boundary to come to us in the Reg 19 plan01:22:32 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
recommending to be allocated here in terms of our approach to spatial planning in East Devon in terms of um having a consistent and a logical and an evidenced approach um to site allocations in the new Local Plan um broadlist has to take some development if that strategy is going to be viable02:53:46 ▶ · H. Heritage and other (51)
so what I'm going to do now is to propose that we move on from 12a and 12b but that these sites come back to the wrap-up meeting when officers have been able to assess and come up with some proposals for allocating a very small part of 12b to allow there to be access off that much better road to the east.03:01:05 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
Strategic Planning Committee, 29 October 2024 – morning session (4)
I'm going to make a proposal that we provisionally agree that the housing needs be calculated based on option B as set out in the report, subject to clarification being brought to committee subsequently regarding the viability of option D?01:08:30 ▶ · E. Housing numbers: need, headroom and buffers (59)
There was no target set for Exmouth. Officers recommended a set of sites to come forward, and you're correct. We did allocate more than that. No specific targets have been set for any of our towns, any of our villages. That's not how we've done this.02:46:08 ▶ · B. Site selection: HELAA, officer advice and why EXMO20 was included (“justified”) (93)
We have no power to challenge those numbers. As far as I know, no authority in the country has ever successfully argued for a lower housing number for pretty much any reason. I'm sorry, that's reality. If we don't do our job here today, two things will happen. One, we won't have a five-year housing land supply.02:53:05 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
So we've considered two sites so far. One of them we've gone with officers' recommendation. One of them we've gone against it, based quite substantially on the views that have been expressed by you and Councillor Jung as ward member and by the public.03:02:21 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
Strategic Planning Committee, 29 October 2024 – afternoon session (3)
we have brought the site to seek members opinions on it if it goes into the plan it will be consulted on and it will come back to committee to confirm its decision either to allocate or not to allocate.01:31:05 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
I'll look to mr. Freeman but I think the problem there is that when we're now at the stage where we don't have time to do that04:22:11 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
Okay, I'm going to take us to a vote on the allocation because ultimately that's a matter for planning committee rather than for us today.05:18:40 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
Strategic Planning Committee, 11 December 2024 – morning session (13)
take the point that perhaps there was no mention in papers … Yeah, no, and I will take that point, and perhaps it should have been mentioned in those papers,00:42:11 ▶ · B. Site selection: HELAA, officer advice and why EXMO20 was included (“justified”) (93)
I I think I'd be extremely surprised if anybody in this room wasn't aware of those european designations um and the importance that they have in legislation and for this planning process. … Members of this committee are not ignorant of the issues that we deal with in East Devon.00:42:11 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
No, I didn't know where Ting Tong was. That's correct.00:43:16 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
Our response there, expertly drafted by Mr. Freeman, was we would question the logic of a standard method that pays no regard to the capacity of a place to accommodate growth, either in terms of the environmental constraints in an area and also the capacity of the infrastructure to accommodate it.00:45:15 ▶ · E. Housing numbers: need, headroom and buffers (59)
If we had more power to decide what and where we build, how much of what, then rest assured, we would be using it.00:46:34 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
The Local Plan fundamentally is about the principle of development what we what we're saying when we allocate a site in the Local Plan is in principle some building here of within whatever constraints we set out within that policy is okay from a from a strategic perspective … at the next stage of the process when when a planning application comes in00:52:06 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
insofar as the point on the allocation the decisions have been made on the allocation so we're not, I don't think constitutionally other than the ones where circumstances have changed and officers have brought a different recommendation I don't think we can revisit those individual decisions constitutionally even if we wanted to01:54:14 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
policy hno2 which um for members is in chapter eight of appendix one has a separate line for the affordable housing percentage and breakdown in the new community which it says is still to be determined through viability work um the master planning exercise etc which will come to the second regulation 19 consultation02:21:52 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
Just to remind members, the allocation decisions have been taken. We're not going to be revisiting those other than the two that officers have flagged legal concerns regarding.03:16:52 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
The delegated authority was to Ed in consultation with me, so I saw this before this meeting and broadly agree. Actually, does that make me predetermined, Mr Hunter? … I think I probably had predetermined it actually so I'm not going to propose that03:27:43 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
I think I probably had predetermined it actually so I'm not going to propose that … I'll abstain from voting because I think I've already decided before I came in.03:28:31 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
can we just put in a sentence that says any allocation needs to comply with policy pbo4 just so that the issue is explicitly covered if only for the benefit of the public03:45:53 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
as I said we're not revisiting decisions to allocate or not individual sites today because those decisions have been made with the exception of the two that mr Freeman needed to highlight … residents will have the opportunity to comment in the consultation that's upcoming in the new year03:52:20 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
Strategic Planning Committee, 11 December 2024 – afternoon session (2)
I've got to say I don't think either of those two areas should be green wedge. I don't think they're preventing coalescence between Limston and Exmouth.01:22:07 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
So we'll start then with recommendation one as shown on the screen. All those in favor, please. That's five. Those against, that's one,01:30:39 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
Strategic Planning Committee, 4 February 2025 (3)
where I will take the opportunity before Mr Freeman speaks to remind members that we are looking at what has changed since the December version that we saw, because we have, of course, already approved the December version, which means unless members would like to suspend the Constitution, we can't go back and reverse those decisions at this time.00:55:16 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
I will take the opportunity before Mr Freeman speaks to remind members that we are looking at what has changed since the December version that we saw, because we have, of course, already approved the December version, which means unless members would like to suspend the Constitution, we can't go back and reverse those decisions at this time.00:55:16 ▶ · H. Heritage and other (51)
For my own clarity, the documents that we don't yet have, um the idp the infrastructure delivery plan the greater extra transport study which as I understand it is principally for the second new community um the final HRA and the water cycle study have I missed anything01:23:36 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
Strategic Planning Committee, 19 May 2025 (3)
I think the deadline in law is the 12th of June, 2026, 18 months after the new MPPF, which was on December the 12th, 24.02:32:22 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
and I'm sure issues like that would be picked up if and when it came to a planning application02:35:12 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
And I know that the plans that we've seen from the promoters of the site actually don't involve developing out the very northern bits, which are the wooded bits.02:35:24 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
Strategic Planning Committee, 8 July 2025 (8)
we're not revisiting mapping the west end before ed comes in on that one we tried we decided not to do it we're not doing it again02:05:34 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
given that I didn't vote for it in the goddamn first place. And a number of members of this committee did, who are now saying that they want to talk about taking it out. I think [member of the public] probably sitting to my left quietly thinking, I told you so, in relation to that site specifically.02:41:36 ▶ · B. Site selection: HELAA, officer advice and why EXMO20 was included (“justified”) (93)
EXMO20 is 700 homes it's nearly half of that entire allocation if we take EXMO20 out Exmouth is going by five percent which is and I will admit I haven't looked at all of the numbers in extreme detail but that's got to be less than pretty much every other settlement in the settlement hierarchy02:42:47 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
If we're talking about volume of consultation responses, again using census data, the number of responses to the Exmouth site is about 3.1% of the population. It's not altogether dissimilar to the 1.8% of the population in Wimple that objected to those sites02:43:23 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
If we're talking about reviewing EXMO20 I don't think we can in good faith only review EXMO20. Yes I will accept it it has its own problems.02:43:55 ▶ · 4. Councillors admitting EXMO20 should not have been allocated, or that allocating it was a mistake (30)
I asked uh ai to summarize the ai report and tell me uh which of these sites people had specifically asked to be taken out of the plan so I there was a consultation response saying we want you to take this site out of the plan that came to 31 of the 72 sites in the plan02:49:28 ▶ · 1. When the use of AI is mentioned (24)
So the number that have an above-average level objection, which is, for the benefit of the tape, EXMO20 and 17, WIM 08 and 11, FENI 08, OTRI 20, and LIMPO 1.02:55:00 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
all those in favor of that resolution please that's nine in favor … there's uh no hands in the air uh and those abstaining two two abstentions sorry yes Councillor How on my right does exist03:23:59 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
Strategic Planning Committee, 2 September 2025 – afternoon session (1)
the next one on the agenda is the coastal change management areas. On the advice of officers, we're going to defer that one to the next meeting just to seek some additional clarification around various issues that are in the report, … most likely September the 30th00:02:57 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
Strategic Planning Committee, 2 September 2025 – morning session (7)
I will declare at the outset on behalf of all members lobbying in respect of sites EXMO20, all of the Honiton sites and Wimple 08 which I think covers all the ones that we've had universal lobbying on00:08:45 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
as we're in September, the reason that this site was brought into the plan, because as others have rightly highlighted it was originally not recommended by officers to go in01:57:32 ▶ · B. Site selection: HELAA, officer advice and why EXMO20 was included (“justified”) (93)
is because by building at a greater scale than we achieve on all of those individual smaller sites you achieve the quantum of development necessary to put the infrastructure in … maybe we could kill EXMO20 and try splitting it up in a bunch of sites in Exmouth or elsewhere I don't think that's a better outcome01:57:45 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
I I take the point there brian that maybe there isn't a primary school there now the whole point is by achieving a quantum of development concentrated in one place you achieve the necessary funds to put the infrastructure in01:57:56 ▶ · D. Deliverability: access, sewage, water, infrastructure, viability (“effective”) (125)
maybe we could kill EXMO20 and try splitting it up in a bunch of sites in Exmouth or elsewhere I don't think that's a better outcome01:58:29 ▶ · C. Reasonable alternatives (27)
Councillor Davey' proposal, seconded by Councillor Levine, is to accept all of officers' recommendations in the Exmouth section of this report, … so for the record that's nine in favor those against please that's one against and those abstaining please that's two abstentions02:03:41 ▶ · B. Site selection: HELAA, officer advice and why EXMO20 was included (“justified”) (93)
um I certainly don't think it's a material change um that would approach whatever the guidance in whichever paragraph it is in the ppg is04:33:39 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
Strategic Planning Committee, 30 September 2025 (2)
That's an awful lot of things you're not mentioning, [member of the public].00:10:33 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
two there is a much much more work still to do in terms of developing a design code so a planning policy document that's much more specific about what we will and won't accept as part of the second new community01:02:35 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
Strategic Planning Committee, 25 November 2025 – morning session (11)
There will be a further report in the new year, which will be looking at what phasing and delaying of development that we need to do.00:14:18 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
The question's been put, Brian. I think you'll find we considered it in the September meeting, but the question has been put.00:50:13 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
I think there have been some fair comments made today um in some respects but in quite and specifically related to the situation in in Exmouth which isn't necessarily all to do with issues that are covered by the Environment Agency methodology that we've followed here there have been some legitimate points made there in relation to Exmouth01:57:53 ▶ · D. Deliverability: access, sewage, water, infrastructure, viability (“effective”) (125)
We have had so far, to my count, three members of committee saying that we need to revisit the question around the 400-metre buffer zone. As Mr. Freeman and I have already mentioned, we had considered that as an option at our September 2nd meeting meeting and committee didn't choose to make any amendments along those lines02:04:27 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
we had considered that as an option at our September 2nd meeting meeting and committee didn't choose to make any amendments along those lines02:04:41 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
there is an outstanding question therefore given the constitutional provision about changing our mind on things and there's a question about whether or not that applies and if committee is minded to look at making a recommendation on that issue and then we need to take short adjournment for mr hunter to consult with mr Freeman um and make a ruling02:04:46 ▶ · 3. The second consultation – anything that could be classed as predeterminative (104)
outstanding question therefore given the constitutional provision about changing our mind on things and there's a question about whether or not that applies and if committee is minded to look at making a recommendation on that issue and then we need to take short adjournment for mr hunter to consult with mr Freeman um and make a ruling um on whether that constitutional provision applies02:04:55 ▶ · G. Consultation and procedure (Regulation 19, AI, objections, generic answers, advice, future decisions) (85)
but that there are there are two sort of suggestions that have been made one from members of the public that the site boundaries amended to exclude the 400 meter buffer zone and mr. Freeman has then suggested that perhaps instead of that we could amend some of the wording in policy SD01 that refers to EXMO20 to make the requirements around that area more robust02:12:25 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
so on on that basis then there isn't in support there isn't support in committee for pursuing that in which case we don't need to come to Mr. Hunter for legal advice on that issue02:14:14 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
I think all of the models that are on the table for um the future of local government in Devon include a provision that planning committees will be local not council-wide and will have local members making decisions on local planning matters02:15:29 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
okay so having resolved that issue on EXMO20 then or at least for today02:15:52 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
Strategic Planning Committee, 6 January 2026 (2)
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.00:37:26 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
I'm sorry to cut you off, Brian, but if we were to litigate every planning decision, that hasn't necessarily fully complied.01:14:10 ▶ · G. Consultation and procedure (Regulation 19, AI, objections, generic answers, advice, future decisions) (85)
Strategic Planning Committee, 3 March 2026 – morning session (6)
I'm not sure they were necessarily genuine questions, Brian. I think those were more points that you wanted to make, which were dressed up as questions. And I think some of that's a little bit, you know, we've been over lots of those points before, Councillor Bailey.01:10:07 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
The infrastructure one is a perennial point that everybody likes to raise. There's an entire infrastructure delivery plan which sets out the infrastructure that is needed.01:10:26 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
In the new Local Plan in Exmouth, it's 35% with, what is it, 70% of that shared ownership and 30% social rent? … the plan, particularly on affordable housing, is genuinely pushing the boundaries of what we can get away with under the rules around viability.01:10:49 ▶ · D. Deliverability: access, sewage, water, infrastructure, viability (“effective”) (125)
with my portfolio holder hat on um the the the document we have in front of us is is not the be all and end all it's not the end of the story um you know as ed says there is further the work to be done01:46:57 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
that is very clear that we have genuine and serious capacity issues many of the sewage treatment stations throughout our district … I remain worried that Southwest waters reaction to the study when asked to comment um by uh bradley gerrard for the civil therald was that they don't recognize these conclusions01:57:47 ▶ · D. Deliverability: access, sewage, water, infrastructure, viability (“effective”) (125)
are saying that we note the water cycle study and the comments received but as part of that we're also noting that the report is saying further work is ongoing you know it's it's just a note we're not saying we're adopting the water cycle study as as final or anything like that02:42:48 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
Strategic Planning Committee, 14 July 2026 (5)
We know there's a long and sordid history of promises made and not kept, and we know there are capacity issues. … Obviously, that's not, you know, I can't sit here and say Southwest Water is going to build a new sewage works next year.01:06:54 ▶ · D. Deliverability: access, sewage, water, infrastructure, viability (“effective”) (125)
these are not the the infrastructural points that you highlight in particular um are not just issues for eczema they are issues that have come up on I think it would be fair to say looking at the rest of committee pretty much every single site that we seriously considered for allocation01:17:34 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
small villages like like the one I live in in wimple where 350 400 homes we've got another what is it 130 or so proposed to this Local Plan that proportionally that that's that's more growth certainly than in next month01:18:57 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
come back to we have a legal obligation as this authority as councillors on this authority to deliver homes we cannot get away from that you know we can argue till the cows come home about how many we're supposed to deliver and where exactly we're supposed to put them01:19:44 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
Ms. Freeman is there anything you want to add after those three comments you're allowed to say no no okay thank you very much01:32:03 ▶ · F. “Significant change” (28)
Strategic Planning Committee, 22 September 2026 (5)
we also had one question not related to EXMO20 which was submitted late and we haven't had time to produce a response to that one yet00:43:13 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
in fairness I'm not entirely sure that's a question about the progress update and I think that's possibly a question mr. Freeman would have to go away and research the answer to anyway02:24:48 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
I think once we have the walkover surveys I think we need a specific briefing for members because I'm sensing that there are a lot of outstanding questions that we need to address03:15:44 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
we are voting to note the progress update and to continue doing the further work that Mr. Freeman has set out around further evidence gathering and understanding so that that evidence that and the advice that surrounds it can come back to this committee to inform to inform us when we consider the Local Plan at the next meeting03:18:21 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
I think it is worth highlighting that there is a difference between what ministers might have said in climbing down on a manifesto commitment and the reality that is the standard method requirements. … is set out in statutory guidance, and until and unless ministers change that to make the requirement less onerous, you know, we're bound by those figures03:37:29 ▶ · E. Housing numbers: need, headroom and buffers (59)
Full Council, 14 October 2026 (12)
I would take a minute just to reassure members that the 20% buffer doesn't increase the housing number that we have to plan for in the Local Plan. That remains something that is fundamentally dictated by the standard method and the transitional arrangements, and if and when we get to the point of having adopted a Local Plan, whether it is this plan or the plan that we're drafting or another, the number that we are measured against becomes the numbers that are set out in that plan, provided that remains up to date00:53:58 ▶ · E. Housing numbers: need, headroom and buffers (59)
the 20% buffer doesn't increase the housing number that we have to plan for in the Local Plan00:53:58 ▶ · The council’s answers (rebuttals) – what officers and councillors said in EXMO20’s defence
That notwithstanding, after I've had my briefing with Mr. Freeman on Friday, I will circulate an update to all members on where those three documents are.00:56:36 ▶ · 2. Outstanding pieces of work (HRA, Air Quality Mitigation report, etc.) – especially dates and promises (257)
In very plain terms, Whitehall has decided how a locally elected planning committee should work, and it has done so in a way that moves power away from elected members and towards officers. The presumption now set out in these regulations is that officers decide, and sending a planning application to committee is the exception00:57:56 ▶ · G. Consultation and procedure (Regulation 19, AI, objections, generic answers, advice, future decisions) (85)
First, a set of applications that must be decided entirely by officers with no route to committee under any circumstances. This covers householder applications, minor commercial and residential applications, permissions in principle, non-material amendments, certificates of lawfulness, biodiversity gain plans, discharge of conditions, prior approvals and most reserved matters applications below a set size threshold.00:59:47 ▶ · G. Consultation and procedure (Regulation 19, AI, objections, generic answers, advice, future decisions) (85)
This includes major applications, listed building consents, advertisement consents, works to protected trees, retrospective applications and reserved matters on very large schemes. For these types of applications, a designated officer, in this case the head of service, and a designated councillor, in this case the chair of planning or if they're not available or conflicted, the vice chair or the portfolio holder, must consider whether the proposal raises either issues of economic, social or environmental significance to the local area or significant planning matters having regard to the development plan and other material considerations as the test for whether the application proceeds to continue. committee where these designated people disagree by law the officer's view succeeds01:00:20 ▶ · G. Consultation and procedure (Regulation 19, AI, objections, generic answers, advice, future decisions) (85)
To be clear on the difference between the current system and that which we are required to adopt this evening, ward members and town and parish councils are losing their ability to call in applications to committee automatically. … While that path is much narrower and more difficult to navigate than it is today01:02:16 ▶ · G. Consultation and procedure (Regulation 19, AI, objections, generic answers, advice, future decisions) (85)
We are also making it explicit that the planning committee can seek advice from Strategic Planning Committee on the interpretation of local planning policy where there is uncertainty or there is disagreement.01:03:35 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
Firstly, some clarification on the point that members should not be arranging formal meetings with developers, applicants or groups of objectives of objectors. Sorry, this is to clarify that where you feel a meeting would help to clarify the issues. You should be talking to officers about this who can advise you and where appropriate, organize that meeting, usually through the members advisory panel. that enables everyone present to be very clear that the discussion does not bind the council make sure that the meeting can be properly recorded on the application file and that that record is then disclosed when the application is considered … a meeting that we arrange ourselves with any of those parties however well intentioned can very easily make it look like we have taken a side and it can put a decision at risk of challenge.01:04:43 ▶ · G. Consultation and procedure (Regulation 19, AI, objections, generic answers, advice, future decisions) (85)
the second change to the code of conduct is that where the committee carries out a site visit only those members who attended the site visit may take part in the debate and vote on that application and the third is that where members are minded to go against officer advice they should consider asking for a deferral first that lets officers respond formally and properly to the points that are raised in debate01:05:57 ▶ · G. Consultation and procedure (Regulation 19, AI, objections, generic answers, advice, future decisions) (85)
so uh any major application can if it passes the test go to committee … so what major excuse me a major application remains that the potential for it to go to to committee remains subject to it passing those tests and the head of service and chair of planning agreeing that it goes to committee.01:08:34 ▶ · G. Consultation and procedure (Regulation 19, AI, objections, generic answers, advice, future decisions) (85)
I don't think that's a question that we can give you a reasonable answer to today, … I also wouldn't want to give you an answer that might be interpreted as binding a subsequent decision made by somebody who isn't me far down the line.01:09:47 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)
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