Decision details

The purpose of this report is to consider the results of the consultation on the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document Issues and Options 2 - Site Options and Policies, and its supporting documents. The expectation by this time was that the Government would have published the draft Localism Bill, and provided the promised new guidance regarding planning for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation. This has not been the case. Therefore the report is focused on identifying which sites are no longer site options as a result of issues raised in the consultation, and to outline the next steps in the plan making process.

Council RESOLVED to:

(a)               approve the 'three tier scoring matrix' at Appendix 1 for use in the site search phase of the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document (GTDPD) Issues and Options process;

(b)               delegate authority to the Corporate Manager for Planning and Sustainable Communities, to make any minor editing changes necessary to the 'three tier scoring matrix', with any which involve a material change being delegated to the Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder; and

(c)               hold Special Council meetings at future stages of the GTDPD in order to discuss the development of the GTDPD therefore disbanding the GTDPD Member Reference Group, subject to this process being reviewed following the wider review of decision-making structures in response to the Corporate Governance Inspection of the Council. 

Council NOTED the comments from Members and the officer responses to them included at Appendix 2 to the report.