Agenda item

The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure introduced the report providing background to the Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document (DPD); outlining the contents of the Scoping, Issues and Options consultation document; summarising the key findings of the Interim Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment (GTAA); and outlining the reasons for undertaking an additional, targeted, Call for Sites exercise alongside the pubic consultation.  It was noted that:

·  The Council had a statutory responsibility to assess and plan for the housing needs of all residents in the Borough, including the Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople population.

·  The emerging Local Plan Review (LPR) did not plan for the needs of the Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople population so the decision was taken to address the matter comprehensively and robustly through a separate DPD – based on the emerging evidence indicating a high accommodation need requirement, plus a relatively low number of sites submitted for this purpose during the 2019 Call for Sites exercise.

·  The Regulation 18a Scoping, Issues and Options consultation document was the first step in public consultation on this DPD.  Its aim was to set out the indicative interim accommodation needs of the Borough’s Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople population; to identify the challenges faced by the authority in this regard; and to ask how best to plan to meet the identified accommodation needs.

·  Underpinning the DPD was a Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment or GTAA.  This was currently in interim form and would require further work.  It had been undertaken by specialist independent consultants – Opinion Research Services.  The final GTAA and associated need figures were expected later this year once the final site survey work and interviews had concluded.

·  The interim GTAA expressed accommodation needs in terms of numbers of pitches and plots required over the period 2019 to 2040.  Whilst the interim GTAA showed an unadjusted need for several hundred pitches, the need that the authority would be required to find pitches for would be significantly less.  The remainder could be delivered through criteria-based policies.  The need figures would be adjusted as the GTAA was finalised.

·  The Regulation 18a document represented the first stage in public consultation on this DPD.  It was a high-level document, asking a series of questions on what the final DPD ought to contain and therefore fulfilled government requirements.

·  Respondents were free to answer as many questions as they liked, using the online objective system or by completing and returning a response form by email or post.  There would also be a page on the Council’s “Let’s Talk Maidstone” website, where people could provide comments using a map.

·  Alongside the Regulation 18a consultation, it was proposed to undertake a further targeted Call for Sites exercise – seeking to identify and assess any additional land that might be suitable to provide sites for future Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation.

In response to questions/comments:

The Officers/Lead Member undertook to:

·  Re-order the bullet points under Section 10 of the Regulation 18a Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople DPD to better reflect the Council’s proposed approach to the site selection process.

·  Liaise with the Communications Team and the Lead Member for Public Engagement to ensure that an inclusive approach is taken to consultation on the DPD, and that the consultation process is proportionate and accessible.

·  Use the evidence as it emerged to assess the need for affordable Gypsy and Traveller accommodation.

The Officers/Lead Member explained that:

·  In terms of the Call for Sites assessment exercise, Hedgerows were already included as a general constraint and reference was also made to Agricultural Land and the various types and quality of it.  To be consistent, the same methodology would be used as when the Strategic Land Availability Assessment for housing was undertaken as part of the Local Plan Review.

·  Unauthorised occupied sites formed part of the interim assessment and permissions granted since the assessment would reduce the need.

·  It was particularly important to involve the Gypsy and Traveller community in the process and Opinion Research Services were being used as they had the experience to maximise the level of engagement.

·  If the number of sites coming forward did not meet the assessed need, then it would be necessary to look at other sources of supply outside the Borough under the Duty to Cooperate arrangements.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE LEAD MEMBER FOR PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE:

1.  That the Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document – scoping, issues and options (Regulation 18a) (Appendix 1 to the report) is agreed, together with the additional comments arising in the discussion, including references to communications and public engagement, for a seven-week public consultation between 28 February and 17 April 2023.

2.  That a targeted Call for Sites exercise takes place concurrent to the Regulation 18a consultation (Appendices 4 and 5 to the report).

3.  That the Interim Local Plan Review Director be given delegated authority to finalise the format of the Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople DPD Scoping, Issues and Option Document for presentation to the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure, including any minor corrections required.