Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Planning Policy Manager inviting responses to the Regional Spatial Strategy Gypsy and Traveller Policy. The views of the Overview and Scrutiny (Service Support) on the matter are also attached.

Considered the Council’s response to the policy proposal and agreed to support it on the basis that it is consistent with the local need for Huntingdonshire identified in the Assessment of Need and the evidence base; noted the requirement for all local authorities to provide at least some pitches, including in areas where previously no or little provision has been made, and agreed that the Council reserves its position should some local authorities seek to challenge this equality of provision by any alternative redistribution which would result in unjustified increase in provision within Huntingdonshire and requested the East of England Regional Assembly to include within the policy an explanation as to why a 3% compound rate of increase is proposed and an indication that a future review will need into account the need for transit sites and the needs of travelling show people.

Further to Minutes No. 07/50 and with the aid of a joint report by the Heads of Planning Services and of Housing Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet gave consideration to the Council’s suggested response to a draft policy proposed by the East of England Regional Assembly on the accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers within Huntingdonshire.

Having considered the information contained in the report and in noting the deliberations of the Overview and Scrutiny Plan (Service Support) on the matter, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the draft policy proposed by the East of England Regional Assembly on the accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers be supported on the basis that it is consistent with the local need for Huntingdonshire identified in the Assessment of Need and the evidence base.

(b)  that the requirement for all local authorities to provide at least some pitches, including areas where previously no or little provision has been made, be noted and that the Council reserves its position should some local authorities seek to challenge this equality of provision by any alternative redistribution which would result in unjustified increase in provision within Huntingdonshire; and

(c)  that the East of England Regional Assembly be requested to include within the policy an explanation as to why a 3% compound rate of increase is proposed and an indication that a future review will need to take into account the requirement for transit sites and the needs of travelling show people.

To consider and comment on the Council’s response to the draft policy prepared by the East of England Assembly.

With the aid of a joint report by the Heads of Planning Services and of Housing Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel gave consideration to the Council’s suggested response to a draft policy by the East of England Regional Assembly on the accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers within local authority planning areas.

The Planning Policy Manager explained that, in terms of the future requirements for pitches in Huntingdonshire, the draft policy was consistent with the level of need identified in the 2005 Gypsy and Traveller Assessment.  It had been proposed that provision beyond 2011 should be made on the basis of a 3% increase per annum, which would equate to a further 18 pitches being required for the period  2011 – 21. Members were advised that a future review of the policy would need to take into account the need for transit sites and the needs of travelling show people.

In discussing the report, Members endorsed the recommendations as a practical and sensible approach to the draft policy.  However concerns were expressed about the potential for some authorities to object to the proposed allocation because they wished to make no or inadequate provision for gypsies and travellers in their areas.  Any consequential re-distribution of pitches could adversely impact on Huntingdonshire’s current proposed allocation and the report made it clear that, in such circumstances, the Council would wish to reserve its position and consider the response

In reply to a question by the Chairman, the Planning Policy Manager informed the Panel that the preparation of a Development Plan Document (DPD) to determine sites for gypsies and travellers in the District was unlikely to be finalised until some time in 2009 as part of the Local Development Framework (LDF).  Concerns were expressed by Members in relation to the potential difficulty in dealing with unauthorised encampments and determining planning applications in the interim.  Reference was made to a number of specific locations within the District where planning issues had risen in respect of gypsies and travellers and concerns were expressed about a growing number of temporary permissions being granted if sites were not earmarked at an early stage.  With this in mind, Members suggested that the DPD on site provision should be developed as soon as practicable within the LDF timescale.

RESOLVED

that the report be endorsed and the Cabinet informed of the Panel’s views on the matter.