ARCHIVED news story
Council set to launch new Gypsy and Traveller sites consultation
Released on 24 November 2008
South Norfolk is one of the first councils to attempt to resolve the issue of finding sites for Gypsies and Travellers using this process, and no one said it would be easy
Council Leader John Fuller
South Norfolk Council's Cabinet team is next week being asked to back recommendations for a second major consultation on proposals for Gypsy and Traveller sites in the area.
This, and a number of other key recommendations, are published today in a report to the council's Cabinet, which will be discussed at its meeting on Monday 1 December.
The report sets out recommendations and other information concerning next steps in the preparation of its Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document.
The report recommendations are the direct result of a recent consultation on the Document, which attracted over a thousand comments from more than 600 people.
Council Leader John Fuller said the recent consultation had identified new issues that had not been fully anticipated.
And he said that another key recommendation in the report - to look again at the Gypsy and Traveller sites being proposed using revised assessment criteria - showed the council was really listening to local people.
If these and other key recommendations to Cabinet are accepted, it will mean a revised Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document and a new consultation on it, next spring.
Councillor Fuller said it was vital the council tackled the issue of unlawful Gypsy and Traveller sites in the district, but no one said it would be "easy":
"We can't just stand by and accept illegal encampments by the side of the road, so we must find a number of official sites that are controlled and contained."
He added:
"I am pleased with the number and the quality of the representations that have been made by local people.
"Now the responses are in, it is clear that it would be wrong to simply rubber-stamp the original plan when the public have identified a number of very important issues that must be addressed.
"South Norfolk is one of the first councils to attempt to resolve the issue of finding sites for Gypsies and Travellers using this process, and no one said it would be easy.
"If Cabinet agrees, will we ask the council's cross-party Gypsy and Traveller Working Group to revise the criteria by which sites are assessed. That may lead to changes being recommended to our original list of sites."
Councillor Fuller said that the responses to the first consultation had also identified three new potential Gypsy and Traveller sites.
He said these potential new sites would also need to be assessed using the new selection criteria - another example of the success of the consultation.
In addition, two public meetings are also being held in advance of Cabinet, to give the public a chance to make comments on the Cabinet report.
The meetings are at Kirby Cane village hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 25 November and at Wymondham Central Hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday 26 November.
The Cabinet report has been made available on the council's website since noon today (Monday 24 November), to give the public a chance to read it in advance of those public meetings.
The report can be found at www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/committeepapers.
Councillor Fuller - who will be attending the public meetings with Council officers - said:
"We know this issue is controversial and it would be wrong to expect people to take time off work to attend a daytime meeting of Cabinet in the run up to Christmas.
"So we are coming to the community at a time when it is convenient to the greatest number. I want to hear what people have to say, and I will report that back to Cabinet on December 1st."
Councillor Fuller said the council had adopted a pioneering approach to the issue of finding sites using the Development Plan Document process.
It wanted to access the Government funds available for setting up sites so as to ease the burden on local council taxpayers.
He said:
"South Norfolk’s pioneering approach to this process of finding sites has meant that we have had no 'template' or well worn path to follow.
"In the circumstances therefore, it is hardly surprising that the public have raised issues which were not fully anticipated.
"However, a delay now will allow the council to take on board lessons learned, and give the public more opportunity to get involved."
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| contact officer/team: | Communications Team |
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| web: | online enquiry form |
| email: | communicationsteam@s-norfolk.gov.uk |
| telephone: | 01508 533611 or 01508 533983 |
| minicom/textphone: | 01508 533622 |
| address: | South Norfolk House Swan Lane Long Stratton Norwich NR15 2XE |
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