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 amendments, and to produce a plain English guide regarding the development policy document prior to the submission to the Secretary of State; and

iv.   following completion of the pre-submission publication of the Travellers Sites Development Plan Document and its supporting documents, the documents are submitted to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public.

Councillor Tawn left the meeting at 11.10 a.m.