Seaton Town councillors received a report on the Seafront Enhancement Scheme from town clerk Julia Mutlow at their July meeting conducted by video conferencing.

The town clerk outlined the work that had been done and the issues that had arisen in respect of the implementation of planning permission prior to its expiry in August 2020.

Cllr Derek Haggerty opened the discussion, stating that there was a lack of information about the project and he would like to see it delayed until a new planning permission were granted and all the finance in place.

Cllr Martin Shaw countered that the project had been thoroughly and carefully developed over a long period of time, including three public consultations. He added that the seafront was the town's key asset, albeit not currently looking at its best, and it should go ahead with a new application being made on the same terms as the existing permission.

Deputy chairman Jack Rowland added that in order to apply for grant funding, planning permission would need to be in place. Furthermore, recent progress had been made on the redevelopment of the Moridunum and Fosseway Court and, if that came to fruition, then the seafront project was a key component.

The clerk reiterated the issues set out in her report and confirmed the current position regarding the recent announcement on a possible change in the law to extend the implementation period for the current permission but said at this stage this had not been confirmed.

Cllr Marcus Hartnell stated that he was disappointed that decisions had been taken regarding the project which could potentially have led to the project being implemented unlawfully, and was concerned that neither the current clerk, nor her predecessor, had been included in the Seafront Enhancement Working Group meetings.

He added that if the project was to proceed the tender process had to be carried out correctly and the submission of a new application would allow time for that to be done.

Cllr Hartnell proposed that a new application be submitted, mirroring the existing, with the associated costs to be taken from the existing budget for the project. The budget could then be topped up in the next financial year. He also stated that the clerk should attend and minute future working group meetings and that a project manager would need to be appointed.

Cllr Jack Russell expressed the view that whatever funding was required to complete the project should be available before it started.

Cllr Daniel Ledger questioned whether the funding from Devon County Council that had been made available had to be spent within a certain time period.

Cllr Martin Shaw, who sits on the county council, said he he was unsure on this point but would check the position.

The clerk stated that her understanding was, from communications received from DCC's legal team, was that at least some of the monies had to be utilised by December 21 2020.

Members acknowledged that the existing planning permission could not be implemented lawfully or in line with the council's Financial Regulations and Public Contract Rules prior to its current expiry date.

It was agreed to submit a new application to EDDC, mirroring the existing scheme and that the Town Clerk should attend any meeting the working group to take minutes.

It was also that the cost associated with that application should be met from the 2020-21 budget for the Seafront Enhancement Project.

The original planning application was approved in 2017.