The Extraordinary full meeting of the District Council on 9 December withdrew two sites - at Arc Leisure Matlock and Hopton Road Wirksworth - from the list of six possible temporary Traveller sites.
The results of a public consultation that took place from July to late September this year about possible temporary Traveller sites in the Derbyshire Dales were reported to the meeting.
While the Council's main priority is to find acceptable permanent sites, it was agreed that, subject to planning permission, land at Matlock Station car park should be progressed for a site occupation period of two years - just for named Travellers for whom the Council has a homelessness obligation.
It was agreed that subject to planning permission being granted, the other three sites consulted on - at Matlock Bath Station car park, Rowsley's Old Station Close and New Road Middleton by Wirksworth - should be progressed as seasonal temporary Traveller sites for a period of two years. Occupation would be restricted at the Matlock Bath site from 1 November to 28 February - outside that site's peak tourist season.
Occupation at the sites in Rowsley and Middleton by Wirksworth would both be restricted to the period from 1 March to 31 October.
Here's the Motion, proposed by Council Leader Councillor Steve Flitter, seconded by Joint Deputy Leader Councillor Neil Buttle and passed by a majority vote of the Council:
1. That Council note the responses received to the public consultation exercise, has due regard to the responses, and consider which, if any, of the six potential sites previously identified are to be progressed as temporary site(s) for use by Travellers.
2. That in accordance with the 2024 – 2028 Derbyshire Dales Corporate Plan commitment to deliver permanent and temporary sites for Travellers, authority be delegated to the Director of Housing to progress the provision of a temporary site (subject to planning permission) on land at Matlock Station, Derwent Way, Matlock for a site occupation period of 2 years and just for named Travellers for whom the Council has a homelessness obligation through their local connection. Such provision is to include necessary facilities and services to satisfy the human welfare needs of the site occupiers and to mitigate potential impacts identified through the consultation, on the surrounding environment, and on the host communities, as far as possible.
3. That subject to planning permission, further temporary site provision be made for a site occupation period of 2 years just for named Travellers for whom the Council has a homelessness obligation through their local connection, at the following sites: at Station Yard Car Park, Matlock Bath (occupation annually restricted to 1st November – 28th February), land beyond the Car Park Old Station Close, Rowsley (occupation annually restricted to 1st March – 31st October), and Land to north-west of cemetery, New Road, Middleton (occupation annually restricted to 1st March –31st October), with a week’s leeway allowed in each restriction. Such provision is to include necessary facilities and services to satisfy the human welfare needs of the site occupiers and measures to mitigate potential impacts identified through the consultation, on the surrounding environment, and on the host communities, as far as possible.
4. That authority be delegated to the Director of Housing to submit applications for planning permission in respect of the above sites.
5. That subject to (1) (2) (3) and (4) above an initial sum of £10,000 be included in the capital programme for a temporary Traveller site, financed from the corporate plan priority reserve, and that authority be delegated to the Director of Housing to formulate proposals for further capital funding to enable the selected sites to be included in the capital programme in accordance with the council’s financial regulations.
6. That sites at the ARC at Matlock and the land to the southwest of Hopton Rd Wirksworth be withdrawn on the grounds of location and environmental issues
The meeting was held off-site in the Council Chamber at Matlock's County Hall to cater for the anticipated public interest in the debate.
The consultation, including a survey that attracted 1,751 responses, took place from July to late September this year and also featured five public meetings in the vicinity of the six potential temporary Traveller sites proposed by a Council cross-party working group.
The main priority for the District Council is to find acceptable permanent sites for the small number of Travellers for whom it has a legal duty with regard to homelessness. In the meantime, temporary sites are required to meet the authority's statutory obligation, taking into account the real concerns of local residents.
A report to the meeting included a 79-page analysis of the survey responses carried out by the University of Derby.
It also reflected comments made at the series of public meetings and those submitted separately, providing an early assessment of the sites and cost estimates of making them adequate for use by the specific Travellers to whom the Council has responsibility.
Councillors heard some common themes, with the majority of possible locations repeating the desire to find alternative permanent sites, the impact on seasonal events and tourism, enforcing the Council's code of conduct, supporting community integration, charging rents and council tax and the need to provide screening.
Costings to bring each potential location up to the required specification for a temporary site also featured in the report, ranging from the lowest amount - £42,940 - at Rowsley, to the highest - £179,539 - at Hopton Works.
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