Issue - meetings

Georgia Foster (Cabinet Member for Communities and Regulatory Services), Stephanie Holt-Castle (Director of Growth and Communities) and Natalie Liddiard (Head of Gypsy Roma Traveller Resident Service) were in attendance for this item.

1.Mrs Foster presented the Following:

a)    Advised that the current policy had last been updated in 2023, with the revised version following a public consultation had received a limited response.

b)     Members noted that KCC owned, provided, managed and maintained seven sites across Kent. The refreshed policy had been clarified for applicants, with a small number of amendments introduced to align with housing allocation processes used by borough and district councils.

2.No questions were raised on the decision; Members endorsed the proposed decision.

RESOLVED to endorse the proposed decision, namely:

a)    ADOPT the Gypsy and Traveller Site Pitch Allocation Policy 2026

b)    DELEGATE authority to the Director of Growth & Communities to take all relevant actions and decisions necessary for its implementation, where such changes do not alter the intent of the policy and do not require further Member decision making.

c)    DELEGATE authority to the Director of Growth & Communities or other officer (as authorised through the Council’s Scheme of Delegation) as required to review the policy on an annual basis and revise the policy where changes do not require additional governance.