Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Bridgen Excerpts

Monday 12th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Brandon Lewis]

That is an extraordinary comment to make about local external auditors, who have already shown local council savings of around 40%, which is part of the savings we can see for local councils, which they need to make. I met the new chairman of the Audit Commission recently. He is working with the teams, which are working well, towards the wind-down that will save this country around £650 million.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

3. What steps he is taking to tackle (a) unauthorised development and (b) illegal encampments.

[David Mowat (Warrington South) (Con)]

7. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the powers of local authorities to deal with illegal Traveller sites.

[The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Eric Pickles)]

We have renewed councils’ powers to deal with illegal and unauthorised encampments. On 28 August, we sent new guidance to council leaders on how to best use these existing powers. We will also consult on giving councils greater freedom to stop unauthorised development related to caravans.

[Andrew Bridgen]

Over the past two years, there have been 78 reported incidents of illegal encampments in my constituency. Travellers are telling my local residents that they had better sell their properties to them now, because they will not be able to sell them at all when there is an encampment at the back of the property. That tends to undermine social cohesion in my constituency and people’s belief in the planning system. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the Government will ensure that all parts of our society are dealt with fairly and equally under the planning guidelines?

[Mr Pickles]

My hon. Friend makes a reasonable point. It is immensely important to ensure that communities are free from intimidation, and that all communities can safely go about their work in the sure and certain knowledge that the Town and Country Planning Acts treat people the same. That is why we have issued the guidance. There can be absolutely no excuse for any local authority not taking prompt action.