To consider a report of the Executive Members for Housing and Neighbourhoods, Environmental Services and Economy and Regeneration.

Councillor Acton welcomed the response of the Executive, acknowledging, as emphasised by the Leader of the Council, that the issues were complex and that further work would be required to explore the recommendations of the Task and Finish group. He hoped that a further update would be made to the Scrutiny Committee once this work had been progressed. Councillor Dagnall, a member of the task and Finish Group, provided the Executive with additional context to the Group’s recommendations; and questions were raised by Members regarding the current and envisaged financial implications, and the extent to which account would be taken of current issues in the developing Local Plan. The Leader of the Council concluded that a further update report would be considered by the Executive later in the year, taking account of the points now raised.

            RESOLVED -

(1)       That the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee Task & Finish Group be noted.

(2)       That in response to the recommendations of the Task & Finish Group, the Corporate Director, Place be directed to:

a.    Investigate in more detail the siting of temporary toilet provision at encampments

b.    Investigate suitable consultees on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller issues within the Local Plan

c.    Explore the feasibility of providing a Temporary Stopping Place within the Borough and provide a further report on the matter by December 2022