Agenda item

To receive a report by the Head of Planning on the Council’s response to the Government’s consultation on the draft planning policy statement – Planning for Travellers Sites.

(Councillor N J Guyatt, Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing and Councillor R B Howe, Ward Member for Upwood and The Raveleys, were in attendance for consideration of this item).

With the aid of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel gave consideration to a draft response to the Government’s consultation on “Planning for Traveller Sites”. The Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing reported that comments which had been raised at a recent Member Seminar had been incorporated within the draft response.

In response to a question by a Member on the means by which the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment would be undertaken, the Head of Planning Services reported on the challenge faced by the Council as the Planning Authority to define and assess local needs in this respect. Members were informed that the County Council would carry out the Assessment and that the methodology employed to undertake this work would be discussed with the County Council’s Research Officer. They accepted a suggestion that they should discuss the methodology with the Officer who would be responsible to conducting the Assessment.

The Panel’s attention was drawn to two recent decisions by the Planning Inspectorate, which overturned the Council’s refusal of planning applications for permanent and temporary traveller pitches in the District. Members concurred with the view that this was reflective of the future requirement to make provision for such sites at a local level.

Councillor R B Howe, Ward Member for Upwood and The Raveleys, addressed the Panel on the predicted growth in traveller numbers identified within the Regional Spatial Strategy and expressed the view that the timeframe for the prediction of 15 years was inappropriate given that by their nature, travellers were a transient community. The number of travellers within the District would not be as significant as anticipated. Councillor Howe also commented that a more appropriate model for traveller sites was required and that it should take into account its effect on adjacent communities.

Arising from discussions on each of the questions raised in the consultation, the Panel commented on the need for travellers to have access to the necessary infrastructure and for the issue of separation between the traveller and local communities to be addressed when identifying future site provision. The Head of Planning Services reported that the Council generally planned to encourage the establishment of smaller sites for travellers. Past experience revealed that smaller sites were preferred by both travellers and local communities. Members welcomed this approach.

The Panel discussed whether the same tests of sustainability should be applied to traveller sites and other housing sites. Whilst Members recognised that there was public interest in having consistency in this respect, the view was expressed that the two communities would regard sustainability differently. Having expressed their satisfaction with the content of the Council’s response, which was required by the 6^th July 2011, the Panel

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended to endorse the content of the Council’s formal response to the consultation on the draft Planning Policy Statement “Planning for Traveller Sites” as appended to the report now submitted.