Decision details

Review of Unauthorised Traveller Encampment in Thanet - Report back by the Traveller Review Group

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Over the last six months, especially considering the impact of the global pandemic there has been a significant amount of change and as part of this the Council is reviewing how it delivers services in the future and how it can maximise the benefits of revenue opportunity from existing assets, which include some potential sites previously identified for use.

 

There has been significant interest from stakeholders and local residents regarding a temporary tolerated site including commentary on suitability of sites, level of need and other locations.  In order to capture this information and understand the views of all those with an interest in temporary stopping sites a robust engagement process is required.

 

The identification of possible temporary stopping sites has previously been restricted to land owned by Thanet District Council, a change in process has the potential to widen the scope for other sites to be identified.

 

The Local Plan has recently been adopted and is now subject to a review process. Part of this process has a defined consultation and the ability to place a general call to landowners to put forward sites for specific use.

Decision:

To undertake further work to assess the feasibility and cost implications of three temporary tolerated sites in the District, at Potten Street, St Nicholas at Wade, Tivoli Brooks and Ramsgate Port, with a view to using them on a rotational basis.

Reasons for the decision:

An extensive amount of work has already been undertaken to identify the three temporary tolerated sites in the district at Potten Street, St Nicholas at Wade,Tivoli Brooks and Ramsgate Port. The advantage with this type of sites is that it enables agencies to direct unauthorised encampments to these sites to be tolerated for an agreed amount of time. This will enable more effective enforcement on those unauthorised encampments which chose to ignore the direction and stay on other land.

Alternative options considered:

That Cabinet adopt the Overview & Scrutiny Panel recommendation that further work be undertaken including extensive public consultation to assess the feasibility and cost implications of establishing temporary tolerated sites in the district.

 

These were rejected by Cabinet due to a significant amount of work that has already been undertaken by the working group in assessing sites.

Publication date: 07/01/2020

Date of decision: 16/12/2019

Decided at meeting: 16/12/2019 - Cabinet

Effective from: 16/01/2020

Accompanying Documents: