Agenda item

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

Submitted – a report by the Head of Housing Services in relation to the above.

The Portfolio Holder (Housing & Social Services) stated that three sites were considered :-

Site 1 - Strip of land between the A55/A5 between Llanfairpwll and Star Crossroads;

Site 2 - Parcel of land at Gaerwen smallholding;

Site 3 - Land adjacent to the A5 near Cymunod Farm, Bryngwran.

He noted that following extensive consultation it was considered that the site identified in Bryngwran was unsuitable due to issues raised by the Highways Authority regarding the access to the site not meeting the minimum visibility safety requirements. Sites 1 and 2 remained for consideration as temporary stopping places for gypsies and travellers.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation)

reported that in the period of consultation there have been Drop-In events and meetings with the Community Councils for the locations where sites could be situated.Questionnaires were completed online and correspondence received from numerous residents and businesses. Responses from public sector consultees were also received which were included with the report to this Committee.

The Officer stated that there are factors in favour and against the sites at Gaerwen and Star. Gaerwen smallholding is currently in the ownership of the County Council and access via the A55 would not impinge on local villages, however the proximity to the Science Park needs to be considered. The Gwynedd Archaeological Planning Service have noted a Major Restraint; this does not rule out this site since staged archaeological investigations, combined with careful consideration during the design of the site, could address these concerns. There are fewer economic development and technical concerns about the site at Star, however there would be additional costs due to the need to purchase two separate pieces of land to establish a site.

The Chair afforded Mr. Mark Inwood who is a resident and was representing the residents of Star, Gaerwen the opportunity to address the meeting. Mr. Inwood stated that a lot of work and effort has been made in understanding the policies with regard to how the Council has approach a decision with regard to the site in Star. He stated that presently the residents of Star are unable to accept the policies used by the authority; there is no reference as to whether the site is within a Landscape Conservation Area. The residents have numerous issues regarding the assessment process, one key concerns is that no risk assessment has been made on the site in Star; it is Mr. Inwood’s view that it is a legal requirement that such an assessment is made. Mr. Inwood further stated that recent correspondence between him and Council officials was not afforded to members of the Committee until 24 hours before the meeting; therefore the residents of Star have lost trust in the authority’s processes with regard to the traveller’s site in Star and have no option but

to trigger the complaints process with the Local Government Ombudsman. The Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation) responded and stated that the Authority has extensively responded to issues raised in recent correspondence and a meeting has been held between Officers and Mr. Inwood to address his concerns.

The Planning Policy Manager (Joint Planning Policy Unit – Gwynedd and Anglesey) stated that she was confident that the Authority had addressed issues raised with regard to the proposed Star Temporary Travellers Place; the factors the Authority have used to consider that the site are clearly documented in the consultation document and are acceptable. Other factors were also considered, such as accessibility, infrastructure, physical and environmental factors, habitat and protected spices when deciding of specific potential stopping places. Other issues raised by Mr. Inwood are more appropriate to be addressed as part of site design and in preparing a planning application, whilst others relate to the operational management of any site.

The Committee considered the report and raised the following main issues :-

·  A risk assessment needs to be undertaken on every potential traveller’s site. The

Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation)

responded that once a site has been earmarked, a site design will be undertaken and thereafter a planning application will need to be made to the local authority. A risk assessment will be part of the planning application process; the Planning Policy Manager confirmed that there is no requirement to undertake a risk assessment to identify sites for inclusion in the Joint Development Plan;

·  Questions were raised as to the possibility of gypsies and travellers deciding not to use the designated sites and encamping on unauthorised land on the Island. The

Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation)

responded that dialogue has been undertaken through an Independent Facilitator with the gypsies and travellers and it is understood that some have visited the Island over a number of years and would only need a site for a short period every year. They have stated that they would use a designated site and would be willing to pay a fee for the use of the site. This had been reaffirmed when the Technical Services Manager visited the unauthorized encampment at Mona during July; he was certain that the two sites identified are suitable;

·   Councillors stated that both sites at Gaerwen and Star would be visible from the

A55/A5. The Officer’s responded that screening options would need to be discussed during the site design process before submitting a planning application;

·   Councillors referred to recent reports that travellers had left a site in Mona in an untidy state with waste left all over the land. The Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation) responded that she visited the site following the departure of the traveller’s and the land where the caravans had been sited was not left in an untidy state, though there had been fly-tipping of industrial waste in another part of the site;

·  Questions raised regarding how the Authority will monitor and control the gypsy and travellers sites. The Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation) responded that resources will need to be put in place to open the site when required, and to liaise with the Gypsies and Travellers in advance of their visits; the authority will work closely with North Wales Police in designing the site and agreeing site management arrangements;

·  Concerns regarding the impact on the Science Park in attracting businesses to the site and potential of having to secure the Park so that it is not accessible to the use of the local residents;

·  A Councillor raised questions about what he perceived to be inconsistencies in the

consultation document, as well as some responses from Community Councils not

included;

·  No information available about the costs of preparing Temporary Stopping Places for gypsies and travellers have been made available. The Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation) responded that there are three types of costs – land will need to be purchased if the site in the Star is approved; costing will need to be calculated with regard to the creation of access to either site as well as preparing facilities for hard standing and screening; thereafter costing regarding the running of the site will apply regardless of which site is selected. She noted that the approval of the Executive will need to be secured before any resources can be released.

It was RESOLVED to recommend to the Executive that it gives consideration to all the recommendations in the report and decides on the preferred temporary site from the two options outlined in the report.

ACTION : As noted above.