On the 15th May 2023, a meeting was held to discuss the design of the 3 Rifford Road ‘Floating bus stops’.
1. What was the role of, and brief given to the Principal Planning Officer (PPO) for this meeting?
The meeting was intended to capture feedback from Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) on the design of the floating bus stops, and find details of where/ how they could be improved. The meeting was arranged by the project engineers with the PPO attending as the client for the scheme and having responsibility for the Exeter transport strategy.
2. Why did the Devon County Council (DCC) PPO Officer take no notes in the meeting (as a record of the conversations held with the RNIB and to record any objections or reasonable adjustment ideas) and to whom (Name or Title), did the PPO report to immediately after the completion of the meeting?
The meeting was centred around the PowerPoint slides that were prepared in advance of the meeting, and, as no major issues were raised, the slides were sent following the meeting to the attendees. The RNIB responded to this. The only action to take away was a minor modification to the tactile paving, which was incorporated in to the scheme.
At the time, the PPO was a direct report of the Transport Planning Team Leader. However, the seniority of the PPO role is such that it would not be expected that every meeting is reported to their manager. It would be normal practice to report significant issues or areas of concern during regular catch ups.
3. This meeting was organised as a result of the commitment in the Rifford Road reports for both Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (16 January 2023) and Cabinet (10 May 2023), which stated ‘The design of these bus stops across the bi-directional cycleway is being discussed with groups representing disabled users as part of the final detailed design report’. As the RNIB have repeatedly said that they ‘would not condone bus stop bypasses’ at the 15th May 2023 meeting, whose responsibility was it (name) to report back any objections to the Cabinet for further discussions? If you cannot give the name then please state the post holders job title.
No objections were raised during the meeting and as there were no scheme design changes, it therefore did not need reporting to Cabinet; however, it would be the responsibility of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport if any major changes were required.
4. Why has the RNIB objection never been discussed by Cabinet since the meeting held on the 15th May 2023 at the request of the Cabinet on 10th May 2023?
There has been no need to take a report to Cabinet as per the response to Q3.
5. With several questions raised by the public in September and December 2024 highlighting the RNIB objections, and again in person by the RNIB all at full Council in February 2025, should this now be immediately investigated, reported back to cabinet and floating bus stops be discussed at the next cabinet meeting? With an apology sent to the RNIB and those that attended those council meeting?
DCC does not hold this information. Further engagement is planned with groups representing certain protected characteristics to discuss any concerns they have, and to make any modifications where appropriate.