Address by Cllr John Williams leader of TDBC, to Parish Council meeting 12th October 2005

WEST MONKTON PARISH COUNCIL

Cllr J Williams, Leader of the TDBC, Address to WMPC on 12th October 2005 on the subjects of Rural Policing, and sale of small parcels of land to gypsies

Rural Policing
Avon and Somerset Constabulary include Bristol, which drains local policing. The Police Tax has gone up by 30%, dictated by operational conditions at Bristol. If Bristol overspills it will affect Taunton, so the objective is to contain Bristol, leaving Taunton relatively crime free.
Government has required a merger of police forces, those smaller than 4000 operational officers being required to merge with another force. Avon and Somerset have 3300, but their position is slightly different because of Bristol. Change is inevitable, but exact nature of the changes not yet determined. Taunton has about 100 of the 3300 officers, but taking into account leave/away days/time in lieu there may be 8 -10 at any one time to cover Taunton, Sedgemoor, and West Somerset.
Detection rates are going up, 27%, which is above the national average.
Keeping people on the beat is difficult, assisted now by Specials, or extras for weekends and National holidays. A local Community Support Officer has been appointed to cover Creech and West Monkton.
Members of the public are urged to report all incidents. New Police Chief Superintendent Colin Port is proposing to initiate a system of investigating all incidents. As yet, no feedback. Reporting is very important, without a report there can be no follow up to any incident.
Following the smashing of the cars in North Curry, allegedly by gypsies, local police chief Inspector Mike Ashwin provided high profile policing in North Curry, in response.
The Christmas tree in Taunton will come down before New Year’s Eve in order to reduce anti-social behaviour risks.

Gypsies
Small fields pose a huge problem for local residents, situation impossible to resource across 52 Parishes of the Deane. Little can be done until the intent to occupy land is proven. The law has to be broken before anything can be done. If a permanent settlement is made e.g. laying roads, then there is infringement of planning regulations, and then TDBC can act.
Private owners can bar gates and block gateways, unless illegal use of bolt croppers is witnessed, then nothing can be done against any subsequent trespass.
The landowner can put a covenant on the land preventing mobile homes etc, before sale, but this might reduce the value of the land.
A gypsy owner could put a caravan on his own land for 24 days in any one year.
At Oxen Lane, intent was demonstrated because they served a planning application concurrent with moving onto the land. Twelve months to quit, once the decision was made that the site was illegal, was given in order to comply with Human Rights legislation.
The government has Emergency Stop Powers, but they are disingenuous. Legislation is framed in such a way that if the caravan of the person moving onto the land is their sole residence, then Stop Powers don’t apply.
In Ireland the laws against gypsies have become very tough, so England is suffering an influx. Ireland provides sites, but there are huge penalties imposed for straying from the dedicated sites.
On December 28 2004 the Government Consultation Document changing the regulations relating to Gypsies and Travellers was issued. More permanent sites will be provided by Local Authorities. If gypsies choose to buy land, planning permission is likely to be granted under the new regulations unless the site is in an SSSI or AONB. LGA know the views of TDBC and J Williams. The consultation document also required a survey of the housing needs of gypsies and travellers, which has been virtually impossible to deliver to government because the very nature of the target group makes it very difficult to survey them. Somerset has about 300 sites, of which 180 are in Taunton Deane. More sites will be put at Otterford.
Planning regulations and policies will be adhered to in order to protect the settled community.