To approve the adoption of the Herefordshire travellers’ sites development plan document (DPD) 2018 -2031.

Council considered a report by the cabinet member infrastructure and transport to approve the adoption of the Herefordshire travellers’ sites development plan document 2018 – 2031. The cabinet member infrastructure and transport proposed the report and recommendation and explained that the development plan document (DPD) would form part of the core strategy. He went on to explain that the DPD incorporated a temporary stopping place on the A49 and that the proposal at Madley had not been pursued but would be considered as a potential growth location in future.

The report and recommendation was seconded by Councillor Alan Seldon.

During the discussion of the DPD members raised the principal points below:

·        Clarification was required concerning the allocation for Bosbury in the report and whether this was in addition to recent additional pitches at the site. The cabinet member infrastructure and transport agreed to provide the clarification following the meeting.

·        Support was expressed for the additional four pitches at Pembridge but it was felt that it would be difficult to support any further allocation which would be seen as disproportionate. The landscaping proposed at Pembridge required proper management to ensure it was successful and safety work was required to ensure that the adjacent Kingspan Road did not pose a risk to those children resident on the site.

·        There was disappointment that the section of the plan concerning animals and animal welfare had been deleted from the final version of the DPD. It was important that sites provided facilities for the protection of animal welfare and the welfare of the community within which animals were kept.

·        It was recognised that the implementation of sites was costly and the budget that was in place to establish and manage sites was queried.

·        The safety of the fencing around the Bromyard site was queried which was located alongside an old quarry with a deep pool.

·        It was queried how the Council would seek to achieve the objective in the DPD to respect the interests of the settled community on sites which were primarily private sites, such as Bosbury.

Councillor Alan Seldon in seconding the report and recommendation explained that the document would form part of the core strategy which was currently being reviewed.

The adoption of the Herefordshire traveller’s sites development plan document 2018-2031 was approved by a simple majority of Council.

RESOLVED: that:

(a) the Herefordshire Travellers Sites Development Plan Document (DPD) 2018-2031 (appendix 4), incorporating the Planning Inspector’s recommended main modifications (appendix 2) and the schedule of additional modifications (appendix 3) is adopted; and

(b) the Programme Director Growth be authorised to make any further minor modifications, (e.g. typographical) to ensure consistency with other development plan documentation.