Decision - Government Consultation on Proposed Replacement Planning Guidance for planning for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

2.1             That the Cabinet Member for Planning, Employment, Economy & Regeneration approves and endorses the council’s response to the Government’s consultation on Proposed Replacement Planning Guidance ‘Planning for Traveller Sites’ (see Appendix A).

To gain formal approval and endorsement of the council’s response to the Government consultation on proposed replacement policy guidance for planning for Gypsy and Traveller Sites. The response has been sent in order to meet the consultation deadline of 3 August 2011. This was on the understanding that formal approval would be sought at Cabinet Member Meeting.

The government has published an Impact Assessment (Annex B of the Consultation Document) which sets out the likely costs and benefits of policy options considered. In preparing the proposed new policy statement, three policy options were considered: 1) Do nothing, 2) withdraw the circulars and 3) withdraw circulars and replace with a new single Planning Policy Statement. Option 3 is preferred.