Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllrs de Rhé-Philipe, Scott, Tonge and Wheeler.

Cllrs Humphries, Mayes and Seed were substitutes.

Cllr Thomson was in the chair for the meeting.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Cabinet (Capital Assets) Committee meeting held on 18 March 2014.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2014.

There were no announcements from the chair.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public. This meeting is open to the public, who may ask a question or make a statement. Written notice of questions or statements should be given to Kirsty Butcher of Democratic Services by 12.00 noon on Wednesday 14 May 2014. Anyone wishing to ask a question or make a statement should contact the officer named above.

There were no questions asked or statements made.

Report author: Alistair Cunningham, Associate Director - Economic Development and Planning

Councillor Sturgis presented the report which outlined work proposed to undertake a review and roll forward of pitch requirements in the Wiltshire Core Strategy in the form of a Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment and sought member’s endorsement for the arrangements being undertaken to assess land in Council ownership for inclusion as new traveller sites in the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document to maintain a 5 year supply of sites in accordance with national policy.

He noted that the proposed traveller pitch requirements included in the Wiltshire Core Strategy, Core Policy 47 (as amended) seen in table 1 of the report were correct as of today but were subject to the outcome of the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment. Interviews with the travelling community were underway as part of the review on overall pitch requirements and it was expected that numbers may increase as with the settled community.

Resolved:

The Committee endorsed the arrangements being undertaken in order to assess land in Council ownership for inclusion as new traveller sites in the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document to maintain a 5 year supply of sites in accordance with national policy.

Reason for proposal:

There are a number of drivers for pursuing the opportunity to include Council land in the proposed Gypsy and Traveller DPD. These include:

i.                 The legal requirement in the Housing Acts for councils to provide for the accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers in its area

ii.                The requirement in national policy for councils to respond positively to the accommodation needs of travellers, a commitment the Council has also made to the Wiltshire Core Strategy Inspector

iii.              The benefits of reducing unauthorised encampments / developments

iv.              The need to provide a choice in the size, type and locations of traveller sites in Wiltshire

v.               The requirement to maintain a 5 year supply of housing included in national policy

There were no urgent items.