Agenda item

The Public Questions and Responses are attached to the minutes.

Members of the Public asked the following supplementary questions, the answer to which would be provided in writing later in the week. [For ease of reference the answers are set out in square brackets below]:-

Members of the Public asked the following supplementary questions:-

Question 1:

In response to the supplementary question regarding the evidence that this restriction will do anything other than penalise responsible dog owners? Especially as the introduction of this PSPO’s will apply to any dog walker regardless of whether they are walking 1 or 10 dogs? The following reply from Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeingwas circulated:-

[The evidence for the restriction is based on the public consultation and the views of Councillors that controlling the number of dogs one individual can walk will reduce dog fouling.  The impact of the control will be monitoring through the implementation of the PSPO by the working group which is scheduled to have its first meeting on the 4^th March 2019.]

Question 2:

In response to the supplementary question regarding the implementation of a full Environmental Impact Report and what measures are being taken to reduce the current levels of pollution on Wolborough Road together with how these will not increase when there is further development and the real need for further housing in Devon. The following reply from Portfolio Holder for Planning & Housing was circulated:-

[On 14 January Council resolved to prepare a new Development Plan Document for Wolborough.  This will involve new ecological surveys and sustainability appraisal work.  The development allocation at Wolborough includes a new main street, which will have the effect of diverting some existing town centre through traffic away from Wolborough Street.]

Housing need in Teignbridge is explained and evidenced here: www.teignbridge.gov.uk/wolboroughfacts

Question 3:

In response to the supplementary question regarding indicating to Government that if it funded the Kingskerswell by-pass it would open up the opportunity to build thousands of houses? The following reply from Portfolio Holder for Planning & Housing was circulated:-

[Torbay and Devon led the engagement with Government and statements were made about the capacity of the existing highway network constraining development growth.  The South Devon Highway and Kingskerswell Road improvements will help to support development at Wolborough.  However, the main focus of the South Devon Highway project was on addressing the limitations of the old A380 (Torquay Road).]

Question 4:

In response to the supplementary question regarding putting a Devon Covenant on 80 per cent of the new builds? The following reply from Portfolio Holder for Planning & Housing was circulated:-

[Office of National Statistics data shows that in 2016/17 80 per cent of people moving to Teignbridge moved from Devon, Cornwall and the South West.  This data covers both new and existing homes and reflects Teignbridge’s own data on new home occupants, which is available at the following links:

2018 survey, page 4 - 7578% from Devon and the South West*

2017 survey, page 6 – 83% from Devon and the South West

2016 survey, page 5 – 82% from Devon and the South West

2015 survey, page 5 – 8087% from Devon and the South West

Our local economy would not function effectively without people being able to move across Devon’s border for a variety of reasons that include access to jobs and education.  Whilst affordable housing is almost entirely occupied by families and individuals who have moved from within Teignbridge and Devon, the Council is required to plan for overall housing needs.]

*amendments agreed when minutes signed 28 February 2019.