Agenda item

To receive a report from the Corporate Director, Place.

The Chairman invited Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Finance, Development Management, and Strategic Planning, to introduce the report and recommendation.

Cllr Botterill stated that it was intended to progress the Draft Gypsy and Traveller DPD alongside the Local Plan review, and if approved after consultation would be considered by inspectors in 2025. The Plan would bring the provision of pitches and other sites into a more controlled state, with professionally assessed demand and consideration of appropriate sites, where possible through expansion of existing sites. He stated the consultation would enable local people to raise material concerns with any proposed or expanded sites, including raising any errors or omissions in the information. All responses would be carefully considered.

Cllr Botterill moved that the Draft Plan be approved for publication and consultation as set out in the report, which was seconded by Cllr Richard Clewer.

A number of public questions have been received relating to the item, with written responses detailed in the agenda supplements.

Geoff Minsell asked a supplementary question to question P24-16, asking if changes could be made to the Plan in response to the consultation comments and findings. Cllr Botterill confirmed changes could be made if the consultation response justified this, though he could not predict in advance where changes might be made.

Geoff Minsell asked a supplementary question to question P24-17 asking how the council would carry out necessary ecological, engineering surveys and impact assessments on the settled community. Cllr Botterill the planning process would assess such details, as it could be possible a site was deemed appropriate in the plan but the practicalities were not then addressed.

Caroline Minsell asked a supplementary question to question P24-18 asking for details of surveys and tools used to determine selection of sites and if this information would be available. Cllr Botterill stated the details would be available as part of the consultation.

Caroline Minsell asked a supplementary question to question P24-19 asking for details of consultation with parish councils on inclusion of sites around Lea and Cleverton and Somerford. Cllr Botterill confirmed parish councils were notified at earlier stages, though not all will have responded, and all would be able to respond further to the consultation and all responses would be available for the public to see.

Haydn Reynolds asked a supplementary question to question P24-20 asking for whether the council intended to buy any sites proposed within the plan, and if there had been discussion with landowners. Cllr Botterill stated all but two of the sites proposed were already owned by Wiltshire Council, with those two identified through standard procedures following the council seeking information about site interest.

Jeanne Reynolds asked a supplementary question to question P24-21 asking about enforcement notices active for a site which is included in the Plan. Cllr Botterill stated that Plan was about site allocation for pitches, whereas enforcement was a separate matter.

Kit Beazely asked a supplementary question to question P24-23 asking whether the council had a separate obligation to provide for Boaters, and provision for Boaters did not impact the number of assessed demand for Gypsy and Traveller pitches. Cllr Botterill confirmed this was the case.

Group Leaders were then given the opportunity to comment.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council, noted that in any Plan led process there would be contention in relation to some sites. He stated it was important to control the allocation of sites, identifying the best possible locations for people to live, and without a Plan appeals would be approved for other less sustainable suites due to a lack of supply. The need for planning evidence in any comments on sites was emphasised, and the first step was to consult to gather that evidence.

Cllr Ian Thorn, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, stated it was important to engage with communities who felt concern about any proposals, as well as provide for the needs of the Traveller and settled communities. He criticised the delay in bringing the Plan forward, but supported bringing the draft forward to public consultation.

Cllr Ernie Clark, Leader of the Independent Group, agreed there was a need to progress to the Regulation 19 consultation. He stated if the consultation was for 6 weeks he hoped this would not begin during the school holiday period.

Cllr Ricky Rogers, Leader of the Labour Group, sought reassurance the consultation period would be adequate, and noted the importance of assessing the comments that would arise from that consultation.

Cllr Jerry Kunkler, Chairman of the Environment Select Committee, stated the Committee had looked the Plan in general terms though not site-specific details, and were content with the need for it to progress. He added personal comments on the positive contributions to communities from many Travellers he had known.

The item was then opened to general debate, with comments including but not limited to the following points.

There were comments that a full Plan for Gypsy and Traveller sites was long overdue and therefore welcomed, though there was also some criticism about local councils or residents not being informed about potential sites earlier. Several comments were made by Members raising issues with existing sites in their local areas, the need for adequate building control and maintenance on any approved sites, dealing with unauthorised encampments, provision of emergency sites, noting recent decisions granting approval for sites and whether these were included within the draft Plan demand figures.

A comment was also made that there was much misinformation regarding the Travelling community. It was also argued that the council would need to consider removing some sites from the Plan if the consultation evidence demonstrated they were unsuitable.

In response to comments made during debate Cllr Botterill stated the consultation period would be longer than the statutory 6 week period to account for it starting during the holiday period, and that due to timing of meetings and the need to assess responses in detail it could not be extended further if timetables were to be met. He confirmed that the figures within the Plan had been updated in response to recent permissions granted, and stated that tenants and others locally could not be informed of the details of the draft plan until it was prepared for public circulation.

At the conclusion of debate, it was then,

Resolved:

1)    That the Gypsies and Travellers Plan - Pre-submission Draft Development Plan Document at Appendix 1 (subject to modification in (2) be approved for publication in line with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended), for a period of at least six weeks public consultation.

2)    To authorise the Director for Planning in consultation with the Director for Legal and Governance and Cabinet Member for Finance, Development Management and Strategic Planning: to make any necessary minor changes to the Pre-submission Draft Development Plan Document before it is published; to finalise the associated evidence documents for publication alongside the Plan; and to make arrangement for and undertake statutory consultation.

In accordance with the Constitution there was a recorded vote.

Votes for the motion (79)

Votes against the motion (0)

Votes in abstention (0)

Details of the recorded vote are attached to these minutes.

A break was taken from 13:10-14:00.