Issue - meetings

To receive a report by the Heads of Planning and of Housing Services on the Council’s response to the consultation on the Regional Spatial Strategy Single Issue Review – “Accommodation for gypsy And travellers and travelling showpeople in the East of England, the Secretary of State's proposed changes March 2009”.

Noted and endorsed the content of the Council's response to the Secretary of State's proposed changes to the draft policy put forward by the East of England and Regional (EERA) for gypsy and traveller accommodation. 

By means of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the content of the Council's response to the Secretary of State's proposed changes to the draft policy put forward by the East of England and Regional (EERA) for gypsy and traveller accommodation. 

In considering the contents of the response, Executive Members concurred with officers that there was insufficient information or evidence to make specific District of County-based requirements and therefore suggested that this should be the subject of further research.  Having reiterated that the 3% compound increase in pitch provision up to 2021 appeared to be based on inadequate evidence and that the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments would be better placed to establish the level of longer term need, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report be noted and the Council's response to the Government's proposals endorsed.

To note the Council’s response to the consultation on the Regional Spatial Strategy Single Issue Review Accommodation For Gypsy And Travellers and Travelling Showpeople In The East of England The Secretary of State's Proposed Changes March 2009.

(Councillor D Dew, Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport was in attendance for this Item). 

Following an introduction by the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport the Panel considered a joint report by the Heads of Planning and Housing Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) summarising the Council's response to the Government's proposed changes to the draft policy put forward by the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA), for Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation.  The Panel also received a copy of the letter from the Planning Policy Manager to Go-East, outlining the comments of the District Council on the proposed changes to the draft policy in the East of England Plan.

The Panel was advised that the Cambridgeshire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment had been acknowledged as national best practice and the evidence had not been challenged by EERA.  However the proposed change now required provision of 25 pitches at the upper limit of the range suggested by the Cambridgeshire GTAA as a minimum.

The Panel was informed of the concerns with regard to a proposed change to introduce County requirements for transit pitches and provision for travelling show people by 2011, as the requirements had been introduced at a late stage in the process on the basis of limited evidence which had not been subject to full participation and scrutiny.  In response to questions, the Head of Planning Services acknowledged that transit sites would have to be managed to prevent them from becoming occupied as permanent sites and that the late addition of the requirement for transit and travelling show people provision might delay the adoption of the Plan which would affect the Council's ability to resist unsuitable sites for which planning permission was sought. 

It was reported that the District Council's comments had been sent to EERA before the closing date with a final announcement anticipated later in the year.  The Head of Planning Services undertook to report back to the Panel once EERA's response had been received.