Agenda item

Any discussion on this item that relates to existing Gypsy, Roma and Traveller sites or any proposed private sites or any information relating to a particular individual or family or which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual or information relating to any consultation or negotiations which relate to the financial or business affairs of any particular person will be exempt in line with the Local Government Act, Schedule 12A part 4 and will require the Committee to move into a closed session and the press and public will be asked to leave the meeting.

The Chair of the Place Scrutiny Committee presented a report of the Committee on the Call-In of Meeting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Pitch Needs – Land Identification.

Full Council were provided with the opportunity to consider the decision taken by Cabinet on the 4^th October 2023, concerning meeting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Pitch Needs – Land Identification. This follows the call-in of the decision and the subsequent recommendation of the Place Scrutiny Committee to refer the matter to full Council.

The Vice Chair read out the following questions from Mrs Aileen Wallen and Mrs Sandy Lloyd received under public questions, in relation to the agenda item.

It is understood that the place scrutiny committee meeting of 23^rd October 2023 referred the decision call-in to council on the basis that the financial implications of including sites which have so many constraints is unknown.

The below questions refer to the information imparted by the cabinet member (Cllr Griffiths) and estates officer at the place scrutiny meeting and clarifications are sought.

Question 1

The Cabinet Member stated that high level assessments will be conducted on the Langley Close site with regards to noise, air pollution and land contamination during the public consultation period:

·        For the Langley Close site, will the Cabinet Member please define what is meant by high level assessments, i.e. what specific tests will be undertaken and will these be newly commissioned studies involving physical receptors to collect current air and noise pollution levels and boreholes for land contamination or will existing historic and irrelevant reports that are based on out of date data be used. E.g. From the Rockfield Farm and Vinegar Hill developments which are from a different location with different geographic attributes and issues?

Question 2

The estates officer stated that quotes had been secured for air, noise and land surveys which equates to around £14k per site for these high level assessments but that that cost is not consistent across all sites and depends on the findings. Some sites will require further surveys so this is not the final cost. The residents at the scrutiny committee meeting provided evidence that on the Langley Close site, noise and air pollution exceed safe levels and there is potential land contamination and so those further surveys will have to be conducted.

·        For the Langley Close site, will the Cabinet Member please state the breakdown of costs for each initial assessment and costs for the further more detailed assessments?

The Chair asked that the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development to address the questions in his response.

https://www.youtube.com/live/WXW4tpnPFZ0?feature=shared&t=16564

Upon being put to a recorded vote, Council resolved to accept the Cabinet decision:

Votes to accept the Cabinet decision: 22

Votes to refer the decision to Cabinet for reconsideration (with reasons): 21

Recorded Vote: Report of the Place Scrutiny Committee: Call-in of meeting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pitch needs – land identification

County Councillor Tomos Davies left the meeting at 19:15pm