Leader of Bournemouth Council Re-Affirms Deletion of Proposed Traveller Sites

At the present time I can advise as follows on the next stages of preparing the Dorset-wide Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Joint Development Plan Document.

- At the Dorset and South Wiltshire Planning and Transportation Liaison Committee of the 5th October and subsequently at the LDF Steering Group on the 19th November and Cabinet on the 20th November it was agreed to carry out work on updating the Gypsy and Traveller Needs Assessment for both permanent residential and transit;

- Consultants undertaking the needs assessment are likely to be appointed in February 2013, it is envisaged this work will be completed by June 2013;

- Liaison Committee Members have requested the findings of the needs assessment be reported back to them, a meeting has yet to be scheduled;

- Not until the findings of the needs assessment are known will a definitive timetable for future DPD consultation stages be able to be finalised. My understanding is that a revised timetable for producing the DPD will have to be agreed by the Liaison Committee and by all participating Councils. It is difficult to predict this timetable as the findings of the needs assessment will determine the amount of work required, for example should the identified need be low less time will be required to prepare a consultation document and carry out consultation, conversely should a higher need be identified then more time will be required;

- Consultants (with input from LPAs) are presently assessing the suitability of sites put forward by representors at the last consultation stage, a further Issues and Options consultation document (following the same process as carried out previously) will be prepared identifying sites having regard to the findings of the updated needs assessment. The Liaison Committee and all Councils will have to agree the joint plan prior to consultation, no dates have been confirmed at present;

- Following the issues and options consultation the Pre-Submission draft DPD will be prepared and consulted on prior to submission to the secretary of state for examination, again no dates are yet established.

E-mail from TMSTH Area Forum Chairman
To: Councillor Ronald Whittaker, Councillor John Beesley, Mark Axford, Phil Robinson, KJ Mantock, Councillor Michael Weinhonig, Councillor Roger West, Councillor Robert Chapman
Sunday, 18 November 2012
Re: Local Development Framework Report

All,

In light of the Local Development Framework steering group meeting tomorrow (19th) and the release of the Baker's report; the TMSTH area forum was to consider making a deputation to council but have decided not to at this stage. Could we ask members to bear in mind and consider the following key points:

i) Whilst there is a sense of relief in the Forum area that the imminent threat to the greenbelt has been removed, as clarified by Cllr Beesley recently; there is an awareness that whilst the process is delayed and that planning grounds have identified the suggested sites to be unsuitable, there is still currently the possibility of the whole process beginning again.

ii) The 'needs assessment' to be carried out by the recent incantation of 'Bakers' associates' will only be as good as the funding provided and, once again, spread throughout the county, through the DPD, will not focus on Bournemouth as a single (unitary?) case.

iii) When we have looked into the requirements of travellers, as recognised by the council, with regard to social housing; it would appear that no records are available to the needs and requirements of this group to date.

Can the council please, please, please asure us that they will be providing a driving force in establishing an assessment of need, not simply box ticking and delaying but being pro-active in shaping the housing model for the future and ensuring that we do not remain in this cycle of revisiting the same questions and issues that cause so much unrest for residents every five years.

Sincerely,
Dominic Coleman
Chairman for Throop, Muscliffe, Strouden, Townsend and Holdenhurst Area Forum.

32. DORSET GYPSY, TRAVELLER AND TRAVELLING SHOWPEOPLE SITE ALLOCATIONS JOINT DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENT

The Steering Group considered a report on the findings of the Dorset Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Joint Development Plan Document - Final Report of Issues and Options Consultation 2011-2012.

The Steering Group was circulated with an email from the Chairman for the Throop, Muscliffe, Strouden, Townsend and Holdenhurst Area Forum setting out a number of key points which he had requested Members bear in mind when considering the outcome of the consultation.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer reported on the responses which had been received as part of the consultation in respect of the following sites in Bournemouth:

• Careys Road
• Land near Erlin Farm
• Land off Park Road
• Throop Road

The Steering Group was informed that they had been asked to note the contents of the Dorset Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Joint Development Plan Document - Final Report of Issues and Options Consultation 2011-12 and to reaffirm commitment to the Joint Development Plan Document process including the production of an updated Needs Assessment. Officers explained the role of the appointed consultants in any future work.

Councillor John Beesley, reminded the Steering Group of the statement he made on 22 October on the Council's position as follows:

'Bournemouth remains committed to the Joint Development Planning Document (DPD) process. However, having considered the nature and number of responses presented in Peter Brett Associates (formerly Bakers Associates) final report on the Issues and Options Public Consultation regarding the four sites identified in Bournemouth , it is clear that for sound planning reasons none of these are appropriate to be taken forward to later stages of the DPD process. For that reason, therefore, I can indicate that the sites included in the earlier consultation exercise, namely land near Erlin Farm, Careys Road, Throop Road and Park Road, will not be subject to further consideration and will not therefore appear in later stages of the DPD process. I hope that this will put at rest the minds of those residents who have understandably been expressing concern at these proposals.

I am aware that other sites were suggested by the public as part of the consultation process. However from our knowledge of Bournemouth and the borough-wide analysis undertaken by Bakers, it is very unlikely that a suitable alternative site will be forthcoming.'

Councillor Beesley, Leader of the Council confirmed the above statement acknowledging the commitment to the DPD process, the rejection of the 4 sites referred to above and that it was very unlikely that a suitable alternative site would be identified. He explained that it was important that the statement was not misinterpreted.

The Vice-Chairman reported that the Steering Group needed to continue to put pressure on the Government relating to current policies. He also highlighted the need to work with other authorities to identify joint sites. The Chairman suggested that the 2 Bournemouth MPs should be sent details of the decision of this Steering Group meeting.

The Steering Group requested, in response to his email, that the Chairman of the Throop, Muscliffe, Strouden, Townsend and Holdenhurst Area Forum be sent a copy of the minutes from this meeting. Officers confirmed that they would want to be actively involved in the needs assessment. Councillor Beesley informed the Steering Group that on behalf of the Council he had provided the Government with information on the impact and problems of dealing with unauthorised encampments in Bournemouth.

DECISION MADE:

Recommended to Cabinet:

1. That the approach set out in the above statement highlighted in bold, made by the Leader of the Council on 22 October 2012, be agreed.

2. That the contents of the Dorset Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Joint Development Plan - Final Report of Issues and Options Consultation 2011-12 be noted.

3. That commitment to work jointly with other Dorset Councils on the next stages of the Dorset, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Joint Development Plan Document including the production of an updated Needs Assessment be reaffirmed.

4. That the Council continue to lobby Central Government in respect of changing police and planning powers in relation to Gypsy and Traveller sites and work with other Local Authorities to identify a joint site in the County.

5. That the 2 Bournemouth Members of Parliament be sent a copy of the above recommendations.