Issue - meetings

1.       That a review of future arrangements for the management of its caravan sites be approved.

2.       That final recommendations will be made to Cabinet for full consideration in 2016.   

Reasons for Decisions:

Whilst historically a statutory duty was placed on County Councils to provide and manage caravan sites, this has not been the case for over 20 years, with relevant responsibilities now being placed upon the local housing and local planning authorities to ensure sufficient sites are provided in their area. 

Different approaches have been taken over the years to optimise the management of Surrey County Council’s existing sites, however such direct provision is not the Council’s core business and a review of alternatives could deliver this service more effectively, produce savings and provide an improved experience for site residents.

[The decision on this item may be called in by either the Council Overview Board or the Economic Prosperity, Environment and Highways Scrutiny Board]

Introducing this report, the Cabinet Member for Business Services and Resident Experience said that the statutory duty to ensure that there was sufficient provision of pitches for gypsies and travellers was the responsibility of Boroughs and Districts.

She said that Surrey County Council owned a portfolio of Gypsy Traveller Caravan sites and this report provided options as to how these sites might be managed in the future, developing a medium term strategy that would deliver financial savings to Surrey County Council whilst protecting their existing use.  Three options were set out in the report but that did not preclude other options being considered by Property Services.

At this early stage, Cabinet was being asked to approve the principle of looking at alternative ways in which sites can be managed.

RESOLVED:

1.       That a review of future arrangements for the management of its caravan sites be approved.

2.       That final recommendations will be made to Cabinet for full consideration in 2016.   

Reasons for Decisions:

Whilst historically a statutory duty was placed on County Councils to provide and manage caravan sites, this has not been the case for over 20 years, with relevant responsibilities now being placed upon the local housing and local planning authorities to ensure sufficient sites are provided in their area. 

Different approaches have been taken over the years to optimise the management of Surrey County Council’s existing sites, however such direct provision is not the Council’s core business and a review of alternatives could deliver this service more effectively, produce savings and provide an improved experience for site residents.