Agenda item

This report seeks approval to undertake a Regulation 18 Draft Gypsy & Traveller & Travelling Showmen (G&T) Site allocations Development Plan Document (Draft DPD) Preferred Options public consultation.  This consultation follows an earlier Issues and Options consultation in 2019 and is necessary before the draft DPD is published and submitted for examination.

            (In the course of discussion on this matter, Councillor Elkins declared a personal interest as a member of West Sussex County Council.  He remained in the meeting and took part in the debate and vote.)

            The Planning Policy Team Leader presented this report which sought approval to undertake a Regulation 18 Draft Gypsy & Traveller and Travelling Showmen Site Allocation Development Plan Document (Draft DPD) ‘Preferred Options’ public consultation. 

Members were appraised of the background and detail as to how the preferred options had been arrived at and particularly highlighted that a new location at Bilsham Corner had been identified for inclusion towards the end of the Plan period as it might offer scope for accommodating a range of Gypsy & Traveller (G&T) pitches and Traveller Showmen (TSM) plots and thus provide a degree of contingency and flexibility should delivery not progress in accordance with the plan accommodation requirements.  The Planning Policy Team Leader also clarified that Climate Change and flooding matters had been raised by the Environment Agency and West Sussex County Council (e.g. the Caravan site and Little Meadow Bilsham Corner). However, officers were confident the planning permission and level 2 Flood Risk Assessments at the Caravan Site showed that technical solutions on the ground were possible and the proposed Little Meadow broad location allocation towards the end of the plan period to accommodate a plot shortfall and contingency period was, similarly, likely to offer scope to mitigate risks and vulnerability to meet national policy requirements. There was little to choose from between sites according to the ‘G&T Site Identification Study’, the ‘Sustainability Appraisal’ and limited capacity and so the plan should progress to consultation which might generate further evidence and possible options.

Unfortunately, the Planning Policy Team Leader had to report that 5 existing sites that should have been included in the document for safeguarding as G&T and TSM sites on the polices map (these are separate from and not sites proposed for intensification) had been omitted due to a gremlin in the system but would be added and ARU044 2 Wyndham Acres should also have been listed in the safeguarding policy but was correctly shown on the policies map.  These were:-

ARU030 Ryebank Caravan Park G&T

ARU052 Cottage Piggeries G&T

ARU045 The Paddocks  G&T

ARU022 The Drive TSM

ARU023 Fairfield Eastergate Lane TSM

            In debating the matter, questions were asked relating to the consultation process and the Planning Team Leader advised Members of the steps that would be taken to ensure that the consultation was in line with Regulation 18 and, particularly, to take account of the effect that the pandemic might have on accessibility.  In fact, the consultation period had been extended to 8 weeks from 6 weeks specifically because of the pandemic.

            Further debate centred around suitability and sustainability of sites; social cohesion and social harmony; and site notices, all of which were addressed at the meeting by the Planning Team Leader.

            The Subcommittee

RESOLVED – That

(1)  The consultation Draft Gypsy & Traveller and Travelling Showmen Site Allocations Development Plan Document ‘Preferred Options’ be agreed for an eight week public consultation in October 2020; and

(2)  The Group Head of Planning, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder and the Chairman be granted delegated authority to finalise the draft Preferred Options DPD and accompanying consultation documentation.