To receive from Members any declarations of interest and of any political whip in relation to any agenda item.

None.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman and any matters of communication.

The Chairman reminded Members of the Committee who were also Members of Development Management of the importance of not prejudicing any discussion that they may take part in at a later date on that Committee.  The Chairman also reminded all those in attendance of the importance of conducting the meeting in a way which ensured that discussions took place in an environment in which all groups felt that their dignity was respected.

To receive petitions from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

None.

To receive any questions, statements or deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 of part A4 of the Constitution.

The Chairman informed the Committee that several members of the public had registered to speak on the Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan.  There would be several opportunities to speak throughout the meeting and all those requesting to speak would be invited to do so at the relevant time.

To consider the findings of the Gypsy, Traveller Accommodation Assessment 2014 (GTAA) and proposed changes to the draft Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan following the Pre-Submission Public Consultation.

Due to the length of Appendix E (Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan Site Assessment) hard copies have been circulated to Members of the Committee only.  The document can be downloaded and printed from the Council’s website:-

http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/modgov/ieListMeetings.aspx?CId=648&Year=0

Cllr Young introduced a report that set out the findings of the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) and introduced the proposed changes to the draft Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan (GTLP) in light of the responses received during public consultation.

In addition, Cllr Young outlined the background to the GTLP including the legal obligation to develop a GTLP that, when adopted, would form part of the statutory development plan for Central Bedfordshire.  Cllr Young also informed the Committee of a previous Inspector’s Report (IR) regarding the Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for gypsy and traveller pitches at Mile Tree Road.  Cllr Young pointed out that the IR had given temporary consent to those pitches, which were in the Green Belt and had also suggested that the Council’s previous GTAA was not robust, as the Council had not recommended a 3% compound growth rate and did not take account of ‘hidden households’. Cllr Young pointed out that the IR was being challenged by the Council during 2014.

Cllr Young informed the Committee that following their previous meetings in 2013 a full, revised GTAA had been undertaken and as a result there had been significant work and discussion with regards the appropriate compound growth rate that should be proposed.  In Cllr Young’s opinion there was no evidence for a compound growth rate of 2.5 - 3%, despite planning inspectors stating other cases that a 3% growth rate was appropriate.  With regard to the GTAA, Cllr Young specifically referred to the difficulty of undertaking an accurate Gypsy Caravan Count and the issue of delivering additional pitches in Central Bedfordshire in light of the previous numbers that had been provided.  In light of local evidence, Cllr Young considered that a compound growth rate of 2% was appropriate for Central Bedfordshire.  Cllr Young also advised the Committee of two errors contained in the report;

1.    Table 2: the total number of pitches at 2.5% growth rate per annum in table 2 should read ‘165’ not ‘156’.  The numbers had also been rounded and may not sum.

2.    Table 3: the growth rate used should read ‘1.5%’ and refer to ‘plots’ rather than ‘pitches’.

The Chairman invited two members of the public to speak with regard the GTAA and the numbers of recommended pitches.  In summary, the following issues were raised by those speakers:-

·         The GTAA did not provide a sufficient level of evidence on which to base the numbers of pitches that were recommended up to 2031.  National evidence supported a compound growth rate of 1.5% - 2.5%, so it was not clear why the Council would recommend a 3% compound growth rate.

·         The growth calculations included in the GTAA were inaccurate and an expert on growth statistics should be engaged to advise on the appropriate number of pitches required.

·         The Council had not identified any ‘exceptional circumstances’ in which the use of Green Belt for gypsy and traveller pitches was appropriate.

·         The consultation documents on the draft GTLP had not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 92.