Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods providing an update on the response to the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) Inquiry into site provision for gypsies and travellers in Leeds.

Further to Minute No. 168, 11^th February 2011, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report providing an update on the work undertaken following the Board’s consideration of the response to the inquiry undertaken by the former Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) Inquiry into site provision for Gypsies and Travellers in Leeds.

Members made enquiries into the content of the report, when compared to the current governmental guidance relating to site development for Gypsies and Travellers and due to the fact that the government was currently consulting on new planning policy for such sites. In response, Members received assurances in respect of their enquiries, including those in respect of external funding proposals, whilst officers undertook to circulate the relevant governmental guidance on this matter as appropriate. In addition, it was proposed that a further report was submitted to the Board in due course when the new governmental planning policy for Gypsy and Traveller sites had been released.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the submitted report be noted.

(b)  That the instigation of a search for a new site or sites, in accordance with the principles set out at paragraph 3.9 and 3.10 of the submitted report, be approved.

(c)  That a further report be submitted to the Board in due course when the new governmental planning policy for Gypsy and Traveller sites had been released.

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor A Carter required it to be recorded that he voted against the decisions taken above, whilst Councillor Golton required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on these matters).