Mick Grant

There has been a criticism of the council and myself that North Lincs is taking on more gypsy and traveller pitches than other areas of the country. This is not true and a number of newspapers have now picked up on the issue.  While the right-wing press is hardly backing the proposals, they at least outline the scenario we face:

As you can see the Yorkshire and Humber area already has a large number of pitches and it will have to add a couple of hundred more. We believe we have identified the correct number of pitches, with the help of experts from Salford, and they have been fed into the bigger picture.  However, in the east, south east and south west there is a lot of work to be done to ensure local authorities provide the number of pitches the government suggests there should be.  Further details about the national picture can be found here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/3491781/Gipsies-get-100-million-from-Government-for-new-camp-sites.html

Our region will have a share of £10-million to fund new sites and while we have identified two sites as part of the first wave of consultation there is still a long way to go before the Planning Inspectorate makes an independent final decision.

I wanted to blog to reply to a few people who have left me comments in the last few days regarding the issue of gypsy and traveller sites.  The comments of some have left me slightly confused as to what they want.  When we went out to consultation those who wrote in regarding the Conesby site said they would accept managed sites with proper wardens. I have written correspondence from senior figures within the Speedway set-up saying the same thing and the local press has published quotes to back this up.  When we made the decision to take Conesby to the second stage we fed these comments into the process.  Now I'm getting mixed messages as the comments on the last blog show.  I understand people who take a certain stance and stick to it but I'm confused as to what people actually want if they say one thing and then another. 

I've also been asked about the transparency of the first wave of consultation. I have to say I'm disappointed with this desperate line of attack. We have been very, very open in terms of engaging with the public.  We have met with local residents and groups, we have invited comments from residents - and even written to them if their comments were unacceptable giving them a second chance.  I have met with the MPs who had, in turn, met with local people who had expressed their concern and I have blogged in great detail about every step of the process. We have even given objectors an extra 6 weeks to get their act together before the second phase starts.  'Cloak and dagger' is the last way you could describe the process - I'd suggest anyone who thinks otherwise should ask the residents of South Leys or those who campaigned to save the Baths Hall what they think about Tory consultation ideas!  

Finally there have been remarks about the cost of providing sites and their upkeep. Travellers will pay rent and council tax and the government is providing councils with a share of £100-million of funding to ensure we get it right. The set up cost will not come out of the local council tax.  I hope that clears up a few of the issues which have been raised through my blog.  

As I blogged last week I recently went to watch the wrestling with my son.  I took a number of photos and some of them are below.  It was a very entertaining night and I learned a few moves I may try and put to use in the council chamber in the future! 

This week I have had three meetings regarding the issue of gypsies and travellers in North Lincolnshire so I shall use this blog to update people about what has gone on.

On Monday I had three petition hearings.  There was an excellent presentation from three people in Barton and we enjoyed a very constructive and adult discussion.  I was very impressed with the way they had done their research and the way in which they presented their argument. There was also a presentation from three representatives of the Scunthorpe Speedway team regarding the Conesby Quarry site. Even though I explained before the meeting started we would not be going to the press about what was discussed I was dismayed to pick up the Telegraph today to see comments about the meeting from someone who wasn't even there!  I would have hoped that person would know better.  Contrary to what this person has said, no final decisions have been made. I have said it before, but it seems as though I will have to say it again - the final decision on gypsy and traveller sites is not made by the council, it is made by the Planning Inspectorate. Anyone who accuses the council or myself of 'already making up our mind' is completely wrong. We can put forward sites following consultation, as we have done, but we can be overruled. Most importantly we will be starting the second phase of the consultation process in the New Year - when we have all the details I will ensure they are posted on this blog. Any racist or abusive comments received will not be tolerated. But the consultation does not start until next year so please do not send any comments in now. They will not be accepted. We will give people plenty of notice and warning when it will start.

On Wednesday afternoon I sat in on a scrutiny call in as the Conservatives made their first desperate attempt to block and stall the issue of traveller sites. There is no real logic to their argument, they basically believe our decision to announce our findings early is a bad thing. It seems as though the Tories are against informing people of decisions and against explaining how they can object!  The call in was thrown out and the original decision stands.

Then last night the Tories put forward a poorly phrased motion to council which wanted us to scrap the work we have done so far and bring all of the gypsy and traveller sites back into play - even those we have so far ruled out. Again the arguments they use lack substance. The Tories from Barton have been very clear they don't want sites in their town and feel they'd be better suited somewhere else - Brigg!  Their arguments are a blatant act of Nimby-ism!  The motion they put forward, which was thankfully defeated, suggested all decisions made are scrapped and that we should start again. All this would do is bring Brigg back into play and is not at all helpful.

On Sunday I went with my Son to watch the WWE wrestlers from America in Sheffield. I can say it was still a joy to find time to relax and to know there is more to life then Gypsies and Travellers. It was good to see many more people there with their families enjoying the entertainment.

When I download the pictures from my camera I will post a few on my blog.

I feel sorry for some of you as there will be no pictures of the wrestlers sorting me out (I'm too old for that now)

This morning I took a decision to announce which gypsy and traveller sites we will look at for providing managed camps in the future.  I was originally due to make this decision on December 10 at the cabinet meeting but because of the unprecedented public interest in the matter, and because officers had completed work on the issue sooner than expected, I felt it on right to announce the outcomes earlier than planned.  It would have been wrong of me to sit on the information for six weeks.

The campaign from residents in Brigg was very strong. There were more than 700 comments made with the vast majority objecting to the proposals. Residents told me they felt the proposed site of Station Road was too close to the town centre, a residential area and the local school. The site is also used for recreation and seen as important areas of public space. There are also existing sites, albeit illegal, in Brigg and we must take these into account too. I agree with these comments and as a result all three suggested sites in Brigg have been rejected as part of this consultation. I now hope the people of Brigg will work with the MP and get a village green for this area as they have started to campaign for and I think this proves the consultation was not a foregone conclusion as was claimed by Brigg ward councillors.

We had just over 100 responses for the three suggested sites in Barton. Of these Caistor Road received the least number and also had comments in support. It was felt this particular site had been a traditional stopping place for the gypsy and traveller community for several generations and, after consultation with that community, was looked at favourably. There are no neighbours overlooking and the site is good in size, well drained and not located on a flood plain.  As a result we have dismissed proposed sites on Falklands Way but will look at Caistor Road further.

There were 61 comments raised regarding the Conesby Quarry site on Normanby Road, Scunthorpe. 59 of these were objections. Most comments felt it was too close to the Scunthorpe Speedway site. Many others mentioned the site should have increased security and be properly managed. It has, of course, been used as a transit site in the past.  Many objections raised were directly related to the behaviour of one group of travellers, problems which could have been alleviated if there was robust management of the site.  As a result of the comments the council can assure residents sites will only be opened if there is a proper warden system in place.

As a result we are taking two sites forward - one in Scunthorpe and one in Barton. The rest have been dismissed.

But this is not the end of the matter. These two sites will be discussed, debated and consulted on as part of the Local Development Framework (LDF). It is not a case of these sites being opened from tomorrow. This will not happen. The LDF will be debated in the New Year and residents will have their say once again during this process.