Agenda item

Report of the Gypsy and Traveller Site Provision Working Group.

Councillor Susan Hobson, Chair of the Gypsy and Traveller Site Provision Working Group introduced the report, reiterating that the District Council acknowledges its duty as the Housing Authority to provide accommodation to those specific Traveller families with an accepted local connection to the Derbyshire Dales. The report detailed the work and conclusions reached by the Members of the Working Group but should be viewed as a stepping stone that moves the Council forward in identifying potential temporary sites.

 

Whilst two sites had been recommended for designation as temporary sites, only one was noted as suitable for all-year round designation as a temporary site. No sites in the Council’s ownership had been identified in the south of the District, although there were other options in the southern and central areas of the Derbyshire Dales which were not in the District Council’s ownership that may be feasible and require further investigation and evaluation by the Working Group with the assistance of independent consultants.

 

The recommendations were endorsed for submission to Council by 9 Members of the Working Group (Councillors Jacqueline Allison and Steve Flitter were not present at the meeting where these proposals were agreed and did not indicate their consent).

 

The recommendations as set out in the report were moved by Councillor Tony Morley and seconded by Councillor Mike Ratcliffe.

 

During debate, an amendment to recommendation 1 was proposed by Councillor Peter O’Brien and seconded by Councillor David Hughes, this was detailed as follows:

 

“That the Council formally endorse and support the Urgent Decision taken by the Director of Corporate and Customer Services, on the recommendation of the Working Group and with the consent of the Chairman of the Council and the Leader of the Council, to designate the land at Matlock Bath Station Yard Car Park as a temporary site for use by a specific Traveller family until 31 January 2023 or until a suitable temporary or permanent site be identified”

 

In accordance with Rule of procedure 19d, a recorded vote was requested by

Councillor Steve Wain and seconded by Councillor Paul Cruise. The amendment was put to the vote and the vote recorded as follows:

 

Voting:

 

For - 9 Councillors: Jacqueline Allison, Neil Buttle, Paul Cruise, Clare Gamble, David
Hughes, Peter O’Brien, Mike Ratcliffe, Peter Slack and Steve Wain.

 

Against - 18 Councillors: Jason Atkin, Martin Burfoot, David Chapman, Tom Donnelly, Graham Elliott, Helen Froggatt, Chris Furness, Alyson Hill, Susan Hobson, Stuart Lees, Tony Morley, Michele Morley, Dermot Murphy, Janet Rose, Andrew Shirley, Andrew Statham, Alasdair Sutton and Mark Wakeman.

 

Abstention - 1 Councillor: Steve Flitter

 

The Chairman declared the amendment Lost.

 

In accordance with Rule of procedure 19d, a recorded vote was requested by Councillor Jason Atkin, seconded by Councillor Dermot Murphy. The substantive motion was put to the vote and the votes recorded as follows:

 

Voting:

 

For - 16 Councillors: Jason Atkin, David Chapman, Tom Donnelly, Graham Elliott, Helen Froggatt, Alyson Hill, Susan Hobson, Stuart Lees, Tony Morley, Michele Morley, Dermot Murphy, Janet Rose, Andrew Shirley, Andrew Statham, Alasdair Sutton and Mark Wakeman.

 

Against - 10 Councillors: Jaqueline Allison, Martin Burfoot, Neil Buttle, Paul Cruise, Steve Flitter, Clare Gamble, David Hughes, Peter O’Brien, Peter Slack and Steve Wain.

 

Abstention - 1 Councillor: Mike Ratcliffe.

 

It was therefore

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    That the Council formally endorse and support the Urgent Decision taken by the Director of Corporate and Customer Services, on the recommendation of the Working Group and with the consent of the Chairman of the Council and the Leader of the Council, to designate the land at Matlock Bath Station Yard Car Park as a temporary site for use by a specific Traveller family until 31 January 2023.

 

2.    That the land at the north of Derwent Way Car Park in Matlock be formally designated as a temporary site for use by a specific Traveller family with an accepted local connection to the Derbyshire Dales.

 

3.    That officers be authorised to install appropriate utilities for use by the specific Traveller family at that site.

 

4.    That the Chief Executive, Director of Corporate and Customer Services or Director of Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Chairman of the Council, be authorised to instruct specific Traveller families to vacate designated temporary sites and direct to alternative temporary sites (as identified and approved by the full Council) and that Ward Members be notified of any such instructions and directions.

 

5.    That the Working Group be authorised to continue its work to investigate and evaluate other sites that have been identified in the southern and central areas of the Derbyshire Dales that are not in the ownership of the District Council, engage with the specific Traveller families and report its findings and recommendations to a meeting of the Council in January 2023.

 

6.    That authority be delegated to officers to appoint consultants for the purpose of supporting the working group in determining whether other sites outside of the Council’s ownership in the southern and central areas of the Derbyshire Dales are viable and suitable for recommendation to the Council for development as temporary sites for use by Gypsies and Travellers.

 

7.    That the need for the Council to identify an additional temporary site to be utilised from 31 January 2023 and the legal implications of failing to designate an additional temporary site within that timeframe be noted.

 

8.    That having considered the views of Town/Parish Councils, local residents, businesses and Ward Members, the following sites not be considered as suitable for designation by the Council as potential temporary sites for Gypsies and Travellers with a local connection to the Derbyshire Dales:

 

i.              Auction Close Car Park, Ashbourne

ii.             Leisure Way Car Park, Ashbourne

iii.            Clifton Road Coach and Car Park, Ashbourne

iv.           Cokayne Avenue Recreation Ground, Ashbourne

v.             Cokayne Avenue Car Park

vi.           Shawcroft Car Park, Ashbourne

vii.          Fish Pond Meadow Overspill Car Park, Ashbourne

viii.         Fish Pond Meadows Playing Fields, Ashbourne

ix.           Playing Field, Ashes Avenue, Hulland Ward

x.             Old Station Close Car Park, Rowsley

xi.           Land north west of Middleton Cemetery, New Road, Middleton

xii.          Land adjacent to 26 Griggs Gardens, Wirksworth

xiii.         Land to South East of Hopton Works, Middleton Road, Wirksworth

xiv.         Arc Leisure Car Parks, Morledge

xv.          Temple Walk Car Park, Matlock Bath

xvi.         Artist Corner Car Park, Dale Road, Matlock Bath

xvii.        Huntsbridge Recreation Ground, Alfreton Road, Tansley

xviii.       Town Hall Rear Car Park, Edgefold Road, Matlock

xix.         High Tor, Matlock xx. Land at Harrison Way, Northwood

xx.          Monsal Head Car Park, Ashford

xxi.         Land to the south of 59 Yeld Close, Bakewell

xxii.        Car Park at Agricultural Way, Bakewell

xxiii.       Nether End Car Park, Baslow

xxiv.       Hawkhill Road Car Park, Eyam

xxv.        Parsons Croft Car Park, Mill Lane, Hartington

xxvi.       Land to the rear of Edge View, Stoney Middleton

 

*This would not preclude third parties from approaching the Council in respect of these sites or submitting planning applications for the development of these sites. This decision would not indicate predetermination in respect of any future deliberation in respect of these landholdings of the Council.

 

The Chairman declared the motion CARRIED.

 

Councillor Richard Bright left the meeting at 8:23pm during consideration of this item.

 

Councillor Chris Furness left the meeting at 8:52pm during consideration of this item.

 

Councillor Graham Elliott and Councillor David Chapman left the meeting at 8:58pm.