To approve the Travellers’ Sites Development Plan Document for pre-submission publication and submission to the Secretary of State.

Council considered a report concerning the Travellers’ Sites Development Document which was introduced by the Cabinet Member Infrastructure who confirmed that the report contained the pre-submission documents which would be sent to the Secretary of State for approval. It was confirmed that during the preparation of the document there had been extensive consultations carried out with the gypsy, traveller and travelling show people communities.

Council raised the comments below in the debate which followed:

·         The identification of additional stopping places within the document was welcomed, it was felt that an additional stopping site close to Leominster was required but the location proposed in the document was questioned. The cabinet member explained that there had been significant assessment of the proposed new stopping sites with a lot of comment received. The Council continued to investigate other potential sites in the county and was working with the Showman’s Guild.

·         The requirement for the adequate maintenance of existing sites was raised. The proposal at the Turnpike site for an area of grazing or an orchard was queried and the ongoing maintenance that would be involved. It was suggested that the land be let to the adjacent owner of the property recently sold by the Council. The cabinet member confirmed a response would be provided.

·         The fence between the Turnpike site and the Kington Road required maintenance to ensure it provided adequate protection from the highway. The cabinet member confirmed a response would be provided.

·         The playground and play facilities proposed in the document needed to ensure they complemented the development of traveller children. The cabinet member confirmed a response would be provided.

·         Concern was expressed that the targets identified in the document were not sufficiently ambitious and more sites should be taken forward for development.

·         The arrangements for monitoring the success of the document were queried and it was recommended that a review of the entire development plan document should be conducted every five years. The cabinet member confirmed that the document would be subject to continual, ongoing review.

·         The incidence of illegal encampments within the county was raised and enforcement measures. It was queried whether there was sufficient resource in the council to undertaken adequate enforcement. The cabinet member confirmed that the comments of the council would be passed back to officers involved in enforcement.

·         The welfare of animals on sites was raised as a significant issue.

The recommendations in the report were approved by a majority of Council.

Resolved – that:

i.    the draft Travellers Sites Development Plan Document 2011 – 2031 at appendix 1 is approved for pre-submission consultation;

ii.   authority is delegated to the Programme Director Housing and Growth, following consultation with the Cabinet Member Infrastructure, to make any technical amendments required to the draft Travellers Development Plan Document and supporting documents resulting from the completion of ongoing technical work before pre-submission consultation begins;

iii.   authority is delegated to the Programme Director Housing and Growth, following consultation with the Cabinet Member Infrastructure, to make any minor textual or graphical  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30

To consider the Herefordshire Travellers Development Plan Document (DPD) for pre-submission publication, report the recommendations of General Scrutiny Committee in relation to the DPD and to refer the DPD to Council with a recommendation that, following the completion of the presubmission publication period and consideration of duly made representations, it be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent testing.

The report was introduced by the cabinet member for infrastructure. He noted that the document would be put to full council on 13 October 2017. A minor correction to the recommendation for this item was noted.

The senior planning officer spoke to the report. She highlighted that:

·         the traveller’s sites development plan document (DPD) was a part of the local plan development scheme and had been identified as a priority for the council as part of the examination of the Herefordshire Local Plan;

·         an issues and options paper had been produced in 2014 followed by further consultation in 2016 and three separate calls for sites;

·         the updated gypsy and traveller accommodation assessment had resulted in the identified need for pitches being reduced;

·         the draft DPD would be published for consultation for 6 weeks before being submitted to the secretary of state for examination in public;

·         there was identified need for three types of site: permanent pitches on council owned and managed sites, temporary stopping places to avoid unauthorised encampments which was supported by the police and plots for travelling showpeople with space for storage of equipment as well as living accommodation;

·         there was a definition of travellers and travelling showpeople in national policy which was subject to a legal challenge, this might have an impact on the council’s policy;

·         nine additional permanent pitches were proposed in the DPD, all the sites were within council ownership and detailed costings were being drawn up;

·         a temporary stopping place of five pitches was also proposed;

·         the council would work with partners such as the highways agency in developing the detailed proposals.

The vice-chairman of the general scrutiny committee was grateful to note how many of the recommendations from the scrutiny committee had been taken on.

In response to queries it was stated that:

·         no privately owned sites for temporary stopping places came forward from the three calls for sites, the council had not pursued compulsory purchase as it was able to meet the identified need on land already in its ownership;

·         the council was working with adjacent local authorities but no opportunities for co-location of facilities had so far come forward, the council was able to meet its own needs within the county;

·         no neighbourhood development plans had identified traveller pitches.

Resolved that:

(a)  the responses at paragraph 40 to the recommendations made by General Scrutiny Committee be agreed; and

(b)  the following be recommended to full Council:

                 (i)         the draft Travellers Sites Development Plan Document 2011 – 2031 at appendix 1 be approved for pre-submission consultation;

                (ii)         authority be delegated to the Programme Director Housing and Growth, following consultation with the Cabinet Member Infrastructure, to make any technical amendments required to the draft Travellers Development Plan Document and supporting documents resulting from the completion of ongoing technical work before pre-submission consultation begins;

                (iii)        authority be delegated to the Programme Director Housing and Growth, following consultation with the Cabinet Member Infrastructure, to make any minor textual or graphical amendments, prior to the submission  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42