Issue - meetings

To consider the report on addressing the need for Permanent Gypsy and Traveller sites.

The Committee considered the report on addressing the need for permanent gypsy and traveller sites in Cheshire East.

The need for adequate pitches to meet the housing need of both the Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople had been established through the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment, which was most recently updated in 2018. The updated Assessment informed policies in the SADPD, adopted in 2022, which identified the following level of need up to 2030 (policies HOU 5 and 6):

(a) 5 to 10 transit pitches for Gypsies and Travellers

(b) 32 permanent pitches for Gypsies and Travellers

(c) 5 plots for Travelling Showpeople.

One of the sites allocated in the SADPD to provide permanent residential Gypsy and Traveller pitches was located at Coppenhall Moss, Crewe and was within the ownership of Cheshire East.  A number of options had been considered to bring the site forward to provide seven residential pitches and these were outlined in Appendix 2 to the report.

The report recommended that option 2 – Conditional Sale, be taken forward as this would not place financial pressure on the Council and had the potential to bring forward a capital receipt, therefore resulting in a positive impact on the Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

RESOLVED:  That the Committee

1        note the options to bring forward the development of the Coppenhall Moss site in Crewe.

2       approve the progression of option two which is to proceed with a conditional sale of the land for the provision of a permanent residential Gypsy and Traveller site.