Councillor Brook introduced the report, emphasising that the Development Plan Document (DPD) had been subject to extensive consultation previously. However, in order to progress the DPD to statutory adoption, the Council must accept the Inspector’s Main Modifications as contained as Appendix 1 to the report.
At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Porter addressed the Committee as summarised below. She did not challenge the DPD but queried whether there was adequate Council capacity available to ensure effective enforcement of the DPD once adopted and also the quality of living accommodation on offer on sites (particularly on sites which were being sub-divided).
Councillor Brook acknowledged the importance of adequate enforcement measures, both in terms of mitigating the impact on local residents and also ensuring the provision of adequate accommodation on sites for those living there. She confirmed that the Council would take action as appropriate.
In response to questions, the Head of Strategic Planning advised that acceptance of the Inspector’s recommended Main Modifications were required to ensure the DPD was sound and could proceed to adoption. The key change related to the insertion of a new criteria based policy for the Council to consider additional sites that might come forward in the future.
Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons outlined above and set out in the Report.
RECOMMENDED:
THAT THE WINCHESTER DISTRICT GYPSY, TRAVELLER AND TRAVELLING SHOWPEOPLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENT (‘TRAVELLER DPD’), AS SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN MAY 2018 AND MODIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSPECTOR’S RECOMMENDED MAIN MODIFICATIONS (SEE APPENDIX 1 OF REPORT) AND THE ADDITIONAL MODIFICATIONS (SEE DPD AS RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION AT APPENDIX 2 OF THE REPORT), BE ADOPTED AND THAT FORMAL NOTICES BE PUBLISHED TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS OF STATUTORY ADOPTION.
RESOLVED:
That authority be delegated to the Head of Strategic Planning, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Built Environment, to undertake minor updating and amendments in order to incorporate the Modifications and consequential changes to the Plan, including to correct errors and format text, without altering the policy intentions of the Plan.