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 and Party Spokespersons asked a variety of questions and had a detailed discussion regarding the provision of additional pitch provision for Gypsies and Travellers in Sefton, which were answered by Officers.
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.