Agenda item

To consider the issues relating to gypsy and traveller site provision raised by five Members of Council.

The Chairman introduced this item and invited Olwen Dutton from Bevan Britton to advise the meeting.

Olwen noted the comments that had been made thus far in the meeting but explained that this did not change the process that the Council had to follow which was governed by legislation.  She stated that, whilst Council Members had called this meeting in accordance with provisions within the Constitution, the definitive view on the matter rested with Cabinet.  Councillor Hanney asked whether Olwen believed that the draft officer report provided to her and/or the officer report now before Council provide sufficient necessary information and advice to Council as to the implications and risks of the decisions by Cabinet on 9^th May 2012 (including but not limited to decision 7 as referred to in his motion) on the DPD and Core Strategy process and as regards potential legal challenges by one or more of the Action groups.  Olwen responded that she considered they did.

Councillor Hanney then introduced the item and set out the reasons for calling the meeting and moved a motion (note 3), seconded by Councillor Haeberling.

An amendment (note 2) was then moved by Councillor Sandry, seconded by Councillor Bevan which, following a recorded vote became the substantive motion, (note 1) which was then

RESOLVED

1.  To note that Cabinet agreed at its meeting on 9th May 2012 to take forward a list of 6 'preferred' sites for public consultation in a Preferred Options paper;

2.  To note that the consultation remains open until 5:00 pm on 18th July 2012;

3.  To thank all residents and Councillors for their contributions to the debate surrounding the preferred options consultation including at the meetings of the Cabinet on 9th May 2012 and the Planning, Transport and Environment Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel on 15th May 2012;

4.  To ask the Cabinet, when it meets on 12 September 2012, to discuss the B&NES Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople sites allocation plan, to consider the views expressed at this meeting and previous meetings, in order to decide whether to take forward specific proposals for consultation.

[Notes -

1.  The above resolution was carried by a named vote with 30 for, 23 against, 1 abstention For: Councillors Allen, Appleyard, Tim Ball, Beath, Bevan, Brett, Bull, Butters, Coombes, Crossley, Curran, Deacon, Dixon, Fox, Hall, Hardman, Hartley, Jackson, Laming, Lees, Martin, Moss, Nicol, Player, Rigby, Roberts, Romero, Sandry, Stevens and Symonds; Against: Anketell-Jones, Batt, Blankley, Chalker, Clarke, Davis, Edwards, Evans, Gerrish, Haeberling, Hanney, Longstaff, Myers, Organ, Pritchard, Brian Simmons, Kate Simmons, Veal, Veale, Ward, Warren, Watt and Webber; Abstention: Sparks.

2.  The amendment moved on behalf of the Liberal Democrat group (which subsequently became the substantive motion) was carried by a named vote with 30 for, 23 against, 1 abstention For: Councillors Allen, Appleyard, Tim Ball, Beath, Bevan, Brett, Bull, Butters, Coombes, Crossley, Curran, Deacon, Dixon, Fox, Hall, Hardman, Hartley, Jackson, Laming, Lees, Martin, Moss, Nicol, Player, Rigby, Roberts, Romero, Sandry, Stevens and Symonds; Against: Anketell-Jones, Batt, Blankley, Chalker, Clarke, Davis, Edwards, Evans, Gerrish, Haeberling, Hanney, Longstaff, Myers, Organ, Pritchard, Brian Simmons, Kate Simmons, Veal, Veale, Ward, Warren, Watt and Webber; Abstention: Sparks.

3.  At the start of the debate, a motion was moved by Councillor Malcolm Hanney on behalf of the Conservative group calling for Cabinet to report back to Council on the appropriateness of a new Needs Assessment, requiring Cabinet to produce a new Scoring Matrix, calling for Cabinet to re-assess sites and asking Cabinet to halt the current consultation while the above actions take place.  A copy of the motion is attached to the minutes on the web and held on the Council’s Minute book.