Exmouth seafront improvement plans rejigged as bidding process temporarily ‘aborted’

A bidding process for the design work to improve parts of Exmouth seafront have been temporarily halted.

A group overseeing the plans for regeneration in parts of Exmouth has been told that efforts to select a contractor to come up with ideas for Queen’s Drive and Beach Gardens has stopped while a new brief for the work is created.
The delay will add pressure on this part of the ‘placemaking in Exmouth town and seafront’ (Pets) group’s plans because cash to fund design ideas is linked to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
This money – around £45,000 – has to be used by the end of March.
The Pets’ meeting heard that while a brief had been created, this had now been “reconsidered”.
“The procurement exercise for the UKSPF funded project that commenced in August 2024 [was] aborted with all bidders notified of this outcome during week beginning 25 November,” a report to the meeting stated.
“The revised brief for this work [was] issued in the first week of December through a procurement framework to provide greater certainty on timescale and cost of the work.”
Naomi Harnett, corporate lead for major projects, told the meeting on Tuesday 10 December that her team had gone through the revised procurement process “swiftly” and that a new consultant would be making an initial visit to Exmouth this month to “undertake feasibility studies for Queen’s Drive Space and Beach Gardens”.
The update came as it was announced that Gerry Mills, project manager for place and prosperity in Exmouth, had left East Devon District Council.
Ms Harnett added that a temporary member of staff had been hired to ensure progress continued, and that they would be in place until a replacement had been hired.
Resident Ann Membery said a new timetable produced by East Devon for the placemaking plan didn’t include dates for engaging with the public.
“We keep being told there has been public consultation, but we have never heard or seen the results of it,” Ms Membery said.
“Isn’t it time the committee was more transparent with the public and gave them an opportunity to attend an open consultation where there is a chance to see dates and plans, and to speak to the committee?”
Ms Membery added that she had asked whether the money paid to consultants WSP so far for the whole Exmouth placemaking plan – which includes other areas beyond Queen’s Drive and Beach Gardens – was justified, and was due to meet Ms Harnett for a discussion.
PETS’ group chair, Cllr Nick Hookway (Liberal Democrats, Exmouth Littleham) noted the comments, but said public consultations had taken place.
“Perhaps it is time to make sure the information is republished and to consider the comments about a public meeting in the future,” he said.
“I do reiterate, though, that we have to go through due process. It is very important to follow a legal process as recommended by officers as we don’t want to get into any form of legal action with anyone.”
He added that WSP’s charges were “standard” for the consulting industry, and that East Devon would be working with the firm and would “make sure we do get value for money for residents”.