Decision details

Further to Minute No.113 of the meeting of Cabinet Member – Regeneration held on 17 March 2010, the Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Planning and Economic Development Director and the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director that explained the requirement on the local authority to secure additional pitch provision for gypsies and travellers; sought approval for the methodology for site appraisal and selection; explained the process and likely timescale for site appraisal and submission of an application for gypsy and traveller site grant; and sought delegated authority for the relevant Directors to make and submit an application for site grant should a suitable site (or sites) be identified, subject to subsequent endorsement by Cabinet.

The Cabinet Member expressed her concern at the possibility of additional pitch provision being identified in Green Belt land.

Attached as an annexe to the report was a Scoring Framework / Methodology for the appraisal and selection of potential Gypsy and Traveller sites in Sefton.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the report and the need to secure additional pitch provision (transit and permanent) for Gypsies and Travellers be noted;

(2)      the Cabinet be recommended to approve the methodology for site appraisal and selection as detailed within the report and its annexe;

(3)      the Cabinet be recommended to authorise the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director, in consultation with the Planning and Economic Development Director, to make minor changes to the scoring framework if early consultations with key partners/stakeholders show that this is necessary; and

(4)      the Planning and Economic Development Director and the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director be requested to draft a further report regarding potential sites and taking into account the view of the Cabinet Member that no additional pitch provision should be identified in the Green Belt.