Seaton Town Council
Seaton Town Council resonse to the EDDC Executive Board Meeting of the 15th November 2006
A meeting of the Executive Board of East Devon District Council was held on the above date at 5.30 pm, in the Council Chamber, Sidmouth to discuss a report on the "Seaton Regeneration Property Considerations and the wider Regeneration Context"
The agenda and background papers for this meeting of EDDC Executive Board being held on 15th November at which approval was being sought for a number of recommendations that will impact on Seaton’s regeneration area, and on Seaton’s proposed Jurassic Coast Interpretation Visitor Centre were received by Seaton Town Council on the 9th November, four days before the meeting.
The following statements are the responses of the Town Council issued before and after the meeting.
Seaton Town Council Press Statement, 16th November 2006
Members of Seaton Town Council who were able to attend the EDDC Executive Board meeting last night, were delighted at the large numbers who turned out to support the call for more consultation and transparency of intent from those who will be making decisions on the town’s long-term future.
The community was concerned that no Seaton District Councillor is represented on the Executive Board and therefore particularly wished to ensure that the facts behind their concerns with the current proposals were fully understood by the Executive Board.
Seaton Town Council welcomed the decision by the Executive Board to amend a number of recommendations.
They especially welcomed the stated commitment by the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Regeneration to achieve the regeneration of the town in accordance with the Terence O’Rourke Report.
This report had been the result of much public consultation and offered a viable, inspiring vision for the town’s economic and social future.
The current developer’s “Masterplan” falls far short of this vision.
Members were pleased to note the commitment to the provision of replacement youth facilities within Seaton to meet the youth’s expanding needs.
The amended recommendation to provide a Sustrans terminus for the Wessex Cycle Route outside the Jurassic Coast Visitor Centre accommodation is also welcomed.
Seaton Town Council particularly welcomed the Executive Board’s support for their request to be represented on the present and future inner core groups of the IPMG, to ensure that they are fully involved in all decision making throughout the process of delivering the new Seaton Jurassic Coast Visitor Centre.
Seaton Town Council looks forward to full future consultation with EDDC to achieve together a development and facilities which will offer real economic and social regeneration for the town.
Seaton Town Council
16th November 2006
Seaton Town Council Press Statement, 15th November 2006
On 9th November 2006 Seaton Town Council received notification of a press release issued by EDDC concerning proposals for a major wetlands reserve at Seaton Marshes. They also received the agenda and background papers for a meeting of EDDC Executive Board to be held on 15th November at which approval was being sought for a number of recommendations that will impact on Seaton’s regeneration area, and on Seaton’s proposed Jurassic Coast Interpretation Visitor Centre.
Receiving only four working days’ notice of the press release and agenda items gave Seaton Town Council little opportunity to discuss in detail either the background papers to the Executive Board, or the implications of the recommendations proposed. They therefore sought a deferment of discussions to enable them to agree a full response, and in the meantime submitted the following comments:
“At your Executive Board meeting on 15th November, there are two items on your agenda which, depending on how you vote, could allow you to fulfil the vision for Seaton that you have committed to as Council policy – or could end the one opportunity that Seaton now has before it to provide real economic regeneration for the town.
Unfortunately Seaton Town Council has not been given the opportunity to consider the papers which you will be debating; they have not been fully consulted on them and have had only 4 days’ notice of all the proposals contained in them and in the EDDC press report released on the same day.
You are therefore urged, on behalf of the people of Seaton, to consider the implications of that, and to defer a decision until you do have the full facts of the proposals before you. Although you are only being asked to give approval in principle, there is much detail contained in those principles.
There are a number of statements in the proposals and background papers which imply that the recommendations have Seaton’s support. However you should be aware that:
Agenda Item 17
Recommendation 1
a) Seaton representatives on the IPMG were refused input in – and have not been consulted on – the governance proposals for the Seaton project which you now have;
b) From the Locum draft Executive Summary, you will see that there are a number of key decisions to be made by the IPMG Core Funders Group – a group on which only Seaton has been refused representation.
Recommendation 2
Seaton Town Council has to date committed identical financial contributions to the projects as Exmouth Town Council, which this year amounted to 10% of Seaton’s annual budget – a greater percentage than any other stakeholder.
Despite the statement in both your agenda papers and the EDDC press release that Seaton has committed financial support for the next financial year, this has not been confirmed – and will not be until Seaton Town Council Members have had the opportunity to consider the proposals and received assurance not only that they will be involved in, and represented on, the decision-making bodies taking their project forward, but are confident that the terms agreed for the project are the best possible for Seaton.
Recommendation 4
As in (1) above, Seaton asks you to make a condition of any recommendation that Seaton has the same input to the appointment of a Lead Consultant as do their fellow IPMG members.
Recommendation 5
Because of the widely differing timescales of the Seaton and Exmouth projects, the urgent need is for a Project Manager for the Seaton project. You are therefore asked to agree that this appointment be initially wholly for Seaton.
Agenda Item 18
If you approve the recommendations put forward in Agenda item 18, you are in effect approving the principles put forward by the landowner, Liatris, in their “Masterplan” for the Seaton Regeneration Area.
However, the Liatris “Masterplan” for the Regeneration Area of Seaton does NOT conform with the DCC Structure Plan, EDDC Local Plan or Planning Brief - nor with the views of the people of Seaton - in a number of ways, but specifically:
1) Employment
One of the Development Brief aims is to “secure good quality employment to local people.
The “Masterplan” only offers employment in a supermarket
2) Tourism
Policy TO3 of the Local Plan states that “change of use of holiday accommodation will not be permitted”. The Development Brief, para 5.0 refers to “encouraging more and longer stay visitors” and the area is zoned for leisure/tourism.
The “Masterplan” proposes changing the use of the leisure/tourism zone to housing.
There are no proposals to encourage longer or overnight stays
3) Community Facilities
Para 5.0 of the Development Briefs states: “enhance and diversify the range of community facilities”
There are no community facilities included in the “Masterplan”.
If you endorse the recommendations before you, the effect will not be felt by Seaton alone, but by the residents of Axmouth, Beer, Branscombe, Colyton and Colyford, all of whom use and benefit from the facilities currently available in Seaton but which will be lost through this “Masterplan” – specifically: bed spaces, leisure facilities, youth facilities, employment, as well as the opportunities for long-term economic growth from long-stay visitors.
Comments on background documents papers for agenda 18
Significant detailed public consultation was undertaken for the regeneration area of Seaton, which resulted in the O’Rourke Report - a report financed by EDDC and the then principal landowners. That report has now been discarded by EDDC (as was its predecessor, the Litchfield Report). What is now proposed by Liaitris Holdings bears little resemblance.
This masterplan does not provide any improved tourist facilities, no leisure facilities (except, to quote the Liatris agent, shopping in a supermarket), no public open spaces (except for a flood relief ditch), no youth facilities, and no good employment opportunities. In other words, it does not contain any proposals to regenerate the town – either socially or economically.
Recommendation 1
If the publicly owned facilities on publicly owned land (toilets, TIC, youth club) are sold to a developer who may then relocate them into a building incorporating Jurassic Coast Visitor Centre facilities, that building and facilities could be considerably smaller than that identified by Locum, thereby significantly reducing its role as a visitor attractor.
Recommendation 2
Seaton Town Council supports the proposal by EDDC to provide the site for a Jurassic Coast Visitor Centre, provided that it is as per the Locum Feasibility Report, i.e. 1,410m2 with space for the facilities identified to enable world class education and interpretation of the Jurassic Coast. Please do not endorse this recommendation without that commitment.
Recommendation 3
Whilst noting the commitment of Liatris to contribute to the Jurassic Coast Visitor Centre, Locum identified the developer as only one possible funding source. Before endorsing this recommendation, we ask you to ensure that other sources are pursued to ensure that the Centre is of the size and profile required, in order to deliver the projected visitor figures with resulting increased business opportunities and economic benefits.
Recommendation 4
The provision of a Wessex Cycle Route terminus is welcomed. However, Locum proposes this adjoins the JCVC. If such a facility is incorporated, it will eat into space for education and interpretation. The repercussions of this proposal need debate
Recommendation 5
The proposal to commission a Market Destination Strategy is welcomed. However, no timescale is given but its findings will be highly relevant to the “Masterplan” which proposes removal of commercial/tourism land in the regeneration area.
Recommendation 6
The proposals for the enlarged Wetlands is welcomed. However, this is not within the regeneration area and its achievement is not dependent upon contributions from Liatris. The portion of land owned by Liatris which is being offered for sale to EDDC is of no commercial value. The Wetlands proposal can be completed without it.
Recommendation 10
The proposal to employ a Town Manager for Seaton is welcomed but assurance is sought that such an appointment will be located in Seaton.
Recommendation 11
The principle of commissioning a “managing the change” strategy is welcomed but assurance is sought that the views of Seaton elected members, businesses and residents will inform that strategy.
Recommendation 12
The proposal to negotiate on land at Harepath Road to relocate business from Riverside Workshops, is welcomed. However, it is not clear what proposals are being put forward to increase employment land provision. Reassurance is sought that there are no proposals to change the land released within the regeneration area from employment/commercial to housing.”
Seaton Town Council
15th November 2006
To read the report put forward to the EDDC Executive Board meeting of 15th November by Karime Hassan Executive Board Corporate Director - Environment EDDC. Click on this link Seaton Regeneration Property Considerations and the wider Regeneration Context
Archived Copies of Minutes
Copies of all Minutes of all the Council's meetings are held in the Council Office and copies are sent to Seaton Library once they have been signed by the chairman as a true record of proceedings at the subsequent meeting.