Agenda item

Report attached.

Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE provided a report onthe work that had been undertaken in relation to Gypsy and Traveller site allocation and policy, following the Cabinet update provided in January 2021 and which set out the current position in relation to such provision.

The report also set out the proposed planning policy approach to address the needs of travellers in the new Local Plan.  The Council were currently involved in two Planning and Enforcement Appeals, relating to unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller development and the report was intended to set out the direction of travel that the Council was proposing to take in relation to Gypsy and Traveller site provision.  This was with a view to addressing any concerns raised by Members prior to the ‘Publication’ version of the Local Plan being issued.

Councillor Parkinson highlighted that the Council had to meet identified accommodation need for gypsies and travellers and the report provided the context for this process, as well as the grounds to defend Planning and Enforcement Appeals, such as those on-going in relation to Back Lane, Baxenden and Moss Lane, Oswaldtwistle.

Councillor Munsif Dad BEM JP expressed concerns about proposed additional caravans at Springvale, Accrington, as there had previously been friction between the residents of Fairfield Street and Springvale Avenue and existing caravan residents at the site.  Councillor Marlene Haworth expressed similar concerns in respect of an extension to the Sough Lane, Oswaldtwistle site.  The Leader reiterated the intention to address elected Members questions and concerns before the publication of the formal ‘Publication’ version of the Local Plan.  The Council was happy to make appropriate provision for the travelling community and could not base its decisions on speculation and prejudice.  However, it did understand that residents might have strongly held views on site locations.  It was the Council’s view that the sites identified were the most suitable available.

Councillor Howarth queried whether the Council had reached the point where it had already made enough provision available and questioned whether there was a finite limit.  The Leader responded that this was determined by Government policy.  Ideally the travelling community would be dispersed fairly and evenly across the whole country.  In the past Hyndburn had met its responsibilities proactively, whereas some of its neighbours and neighbouring counties had not done so.  This had led to an established gypsy and traveller community in the Borough and increasing accommodation need.

Councillor Michael Miller asked if the Hyndburn’s reduced housing needs allocation applied proportionately to the need for gypsy and traveller accommodation.  The Leader commented that these were separate issues.  For mainstream housing it was known that Hyndburn had an overprovision of 1 and 2 bedroom accommodation and terraced homes and aspired to create more large family homes.  The accommodation need identified for travellers had been based on the minimum figures necessary, but the reality was that these were still higher than neighbouring authorities due to historic provision.

Councillor Miller enquired if more could be done to promote use of brownfield sites, rather than Green Belt.  Councillor Parkinson commented that many of the sites identified were in fact brownfield.  However, in some instances the allocation of out-of-urban-area sites helped to avoid the conflict issues mentioned previously.  In so far as possible, the Council would endeavour to take into account the views of residents, but the planning officers had to work within the legal framework.

Councillor Haworth suggested that it might be worth writing to Government about the situation to explain that Hyndburn already provided for its share of gypsies and travellers.  The proposals were somewhat at odds with the intention of Levelling Up the Borough and improving the quality of life for all.  The Leader confirmed that letters had been sent in the past and might be useful.  The Borough remained proud of its diverse community which catered for travellers, refugees, asylum seekers and every class of society.  This was not replicated elsewhere, for example, with around one third of councils not offering support to Afghan refugees.  The Leader reiterated that because of the establish gypsy and traveller community in Hyndburn their future accommodation need was correspondingly greater.

Approval of the report was not deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

The full reasons are set out in the main report, which includes information on the following matters:

• National policy for traveller sites;
• Hyndburn Local Plan 2016-2036;
• Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) (including pitch and plot requirements);
• Gypsy and Traveller Policy and Site Options - proposed approach (including Steps 1 and 2 and meeting the short term and longer term requirements);
• Current policy position in relation to gypsy and traveller site provision; and
• Consultations.

There were no alternative options considered or reasons proposed for rejection

Resolved                                    -    That Cabinet supports the Council in seeking to develop an approach to Gypsy and Traveller provision that is based on the following:

(i)      Takes account of the content and findings of the Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showperson Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) 2019 (provided with the report as background paper 1);

(ii)     An agreement to use the proposed strategy to meet Gypsy and Traveller requirements as set out in this paper;

(iii)    Includes the sites identified in this report as proposed Gypsy and Traveller site allocations in the emerging Local Plan (the Regulation 19 version);

(iv)    That land at Spring Vale, Accrington (Site ref. 155); land at Crossland Street, Accrington (Site ref. 262); and land off Enfield Road, Huncoat (Site ref. 266) provide a range of sites that could meet the identified short term need for gypsy and traveller provision; in particular site 155 was granted permission in 2001 for the siting of 10 static caravans and again in 2006 for the siting of 9 mobile homes and remains undeveloped;

(v)     That the medium to longer term needs are met by those sites identified in paragraphs 3.18 and 3.20 of the report.