Issue - items at meetings - Partial Review of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the South East: Provision for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

Report of the Director of Environment (copy attached).

(1)       That the Cabinet Member for Environment agrees the proposed response as set out in this report, which states that:

(a)     The council generally supports the overall levels of provision proposed in the submission document for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople (1,064 pitches for Gypsies and Travellers and 302 spaces for Travelling Showpeople for the South East region in the period to 2016).

(b)     The council supports the proposed allocation of 13 residential pitches for Gypsies and Travellers in Brighton & Hove.

(c)      The council supports the delegated approach to the determination of further transit provision made in the region.

(d)     The council is unable to support the allocation of 2 Travelling Showpeople spaces to Brighton & Hove.

(2)       That the Cabinet Member for Environment agrees that the report be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate.

24.1       The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Environment concerning the South East England Partnership Board‘s ‘preferred option’ for the provision of new pitches for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in the South East in the period 2006 – 2016 and the council’s response to the recommendations (for copy see minute book).

24.2       The Cabinet Member explained that the submitted proposals were largely supported and, with the exception of the allocation of Travelling Showpeople spaces, were in accordance with the council’s earlier advice to SEERA regarding the local need for Gypsy and Traveller site provision. He added that there was no evidence that provision for Travelling Showpeople was required in the city.

24.3       Councillor McCaffery welcomed the proposals and the council’s commitment to securing a permanent site for Travellers; she queried when the results of the contamination survey of the proposed site would be available.

24.4       The Assistant Director for Public Safety explained that the survey was ongoing, but that an interim report was expected shortly.

24.5       RESOLVED - That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:

(1)       That the proposed response be agreed, as set out in this report, stating the following:

(a)     The council generally supports the overall levels of provision proposed in the submission document for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople (1,064 pitches for Gypsies and Travellers and 302 spaces for Travelling Showpeople for the South East region in the period to 2016).

(b)     The council supports the proposed allocation of 13 residential pitches for Gypsies and Travellers in Brighton & Hove.

(c)      The council supports the delegated approach to the determination of further transit provision made in the region.

(d)     The council is unable to support the allocation of 2 Travelling Showpeople spaces to Brighton & Hove.

(2)       That the report be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate.