Agenda item

To receive a report from the Corporate Director, Place.

Resolved:

That Cabinet, having considered the response from the formal consultation:

a) Endorses the submission of the Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Document Pre-Submission Draft at Appendix 1 together with relevant associated documentation for independent examination;

b) Recommends to Full Council that the Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Document Pre-Submission Draft is submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government together with relevant associated documentation;

c) Directs that submission is accompanied by a request that the Inspector appointed to carry out the examination recommends any modifications necessary to make the Plan sound and legally compliant in accordance with Section 20(7C) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended); and

d) Authorises the Director of Planning to take or authorise such steps as may be necessary for the independent examination of the Plan to be completed, including:

i. Make appropriate arrangements for submission of the Plan and the completion and submission of all documents relating to the Plan;

ii. Make all necessary arrangements for examination including – the appointment of a Programme Officer; the undertaking and/or commissioning of other work necessary to prepare for and participate at examination; proposing main and/or minor modifications to the Plan and/or modifications to the Policies Map; entering into Memorandums of Understanding and Statements of Common Ground; and the delegation to officers and other commissioned experts to prepare and submit evidence, representations and submissions to the examination and, where necessary, appear at any hearing sessions and represent the council; and

iii. Implement any consequential actions relating to the examination, including undertaking any consultation that may be necessary, and publishing the recommendations and reasons of the person appointed to carry out the examination.

e) Recommends to Full Council that as part of submitting the Plan for examination, it is accompanied by the following request:

The council recognises that the plan will be examined in the context of site evidence and delivery. As the examination of the plan will take time and new sites have already begun to be approved on a speculative basis through the submission of planning applications, these will have implications for the number of pitches proposed for allocation. As such, the council resolves to ask the Inspector to take into account the additional supply of pitches that have been approved since the regulation 19 consultation and consider reducing the allocations when assessing the proposed allocations within the Plan.

Reason for Decision:

To ensure that progress continues to be made on updating Wiltshire’s local plan

in line with the commitment set out in the council’s Local Development Scheme

and statutory requirements, and an efficient examination process. This Plan together with the wider Wiltshire Local Plan review will complete the update of

the Wiltshire Core Strategy ensuring the housing needs of all sectors of the

community are addressed.

Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Finance, Development Management, and Strategic Planning, introduced the report which provided information on the response to the Regulation 19 consultation on the ‘Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Document – Pre-Submission Draft’, and asked Cabinet to recommended Council approve the submission of the Plan for independent examination.

Cllr Botterill explained that the Plan addressed the accommodation needs of Wiltshire’s travelling communities to 2038, and alongside the Wiltshire Local Plan review completes the update of the adopted local plan (the Wiltshire Core Strategy). It will ensure that the accommodation needs of all parts of Wiltshire’s communities can be addressed, and the council meets its equalities duty. Having considered all the comments received it is considered that the council has complied with the relevant requirements and the Plan is ready for submission for independent examination.

Cllr Botterill noted that the report gave an overview of the responses received and he highlighted the main issues raised during the consultation. Following consideration by Cabinet, Full Council would be recommended to approve the proposals so that the Plan can be submitted by 12 March 2025. Cllr Botterill proposed that there should be a request to the Inspector that when assessing the proposed allocations in the Plan that any additional supply of pitches that have been approved since the consultation are considered.

Cllr Laura Mayes, Deputy Leader raised an objection to the proposed site allocation ‘Policy GT28 – Land at Oxhouse Farm, Rowde’ in relation to highways and transport issues, flooding, harm to landscape and light pollution. Cllr Mayes asked for the site to be removed from the Plan.

Cabinet received public questions on this item, which were provided in the published agenda supplement together with written responses.

Supplementary questions and statements were received from Andrew Scott, Keith Taylor, Dave Webber and Emma Sorrell; in relation to the proposed site allocation ‘Policy GT29 – Land at Upper Seagry Farm, Upper Seagry’, which included points about: the high number of pitches in the Plan; site being undeliverable; the site being the least sustainable; the potential to increase the allocation of pitches at existing sites; the process to identify sites; accessibility; impact on village hall; and requests to remove the site from the Plan.

Supplementary questions and statements were also received from Caroline Minshell and Geoff Minshell in relation to the proposed site allocation ‘Policy GT27 – Land at Cleverton, Cleverton’. Points made included the high level of representations from the local community and how this would be communicated to the Inspector, comments about social tension and pedestrian access and the process to identify sites and requests to remove the site from the Plan. Officers confirmed that they would review the consultation statement to ensure it appropriately reflected the joint representation from the community of Little Somerford and Cleverton.

Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall questioned, on behalf of others, whether the Plan was being submitted prematurely, more could be provided on existing sites following site checks and a review of data, and why sites were not provided as part of large-scale housing sites Proposed site allocation GT27 suffered from drainage issues.

The Leader encouraged the public to engage in the examination process, as there would be the opportunity to provide evidence of the issues raised so that these could be considered further by the Inspector, and he referred to an example of a site in Salisbury previously removed following evidence of flooding provided by local residents.

Cllr Jerry Kunkler, Chairman of the Environment Select Committee, reported that Committee members had received several informal briefings on the Plan in 2024 (23 January, 21 March and 14 May). The briefings kept the committee up to date with the development of the Plan, explaining what the plan is intended to do, the progress made, and the challenges faced. It also allowed for questions and an exchange of suggestions and comments.