The Community Protection Manager presented the report outlining Thurrock’s current response to unauthorised traveller encampments and ways to reduce the number thereof.

The Chair welcomed all measures outlined within the report.  The Vice-Chair noted that there was no mention of monitoring groups once they had moved onto a site, despite the fact that sites were being filled with rubbish on a daily basis.  It appeared nothing was done and then groups moved on with rubbish left for the Council to clear.  It was necessary to ensure iconic sites were properly target hardened as groups tended to move on from one site to another in Thurrock.

The Committee was advised that if there were an injunction in place on a site there could be punitive penalties for individuals or groups who set up encampments there.  The issue of fly-tipping the fact remained that the Council’s service was not 24hour and it was difficult at times to know how best to respond.  The reality was the speed at which encampments were dispersed was crucial.  The Community Protection Manager added that there were sites which were left in a reasonable condition and that should be noted.  Successful prosecutions were also difficult unless someone was caught in the act of fly-tipping.  There was now a more robust approach to the use of Section 61 powers and the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner was chairing a task and finish group to address the issue directly.

The Vice-Chair referred to the sums of money spent to identify those responsible for fly-tipping at 3am on country lanes and questioned why nothing could be done when the responsible parties were camped on the site where the fly-tipping had taken place.  Those responsible had to be held accountable and should not get away with such behaviour.  He suggested employing security companies to observe the site to catch them dumping waste.

Councillor Piccolo sought clarity as to whether the use of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) would weaken Section 61 powers.  Members were assured that a PSPO allowed for Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) but would not compromise the use of Section 61.

Councillor Piccolo referred to proposals to collect court costs and asked whether, since the date of a court appearance would be known, it would be possible to include an estimate of the clean-up costs too.  He also asked whether, if it could not be proven that an individual on an unauthorised encampment was responsible for fly-tipping, they could be challenged regarding a waste-transfer notice, as failure to comply allowed for penalties and seizure of vehicles.

The court cost recovery allowed no dispute about the figure as costs were set and it was necessary to minimise the ability of parties to haggle.  The proposal was less about recovering the costs, as the money would not go to Thurrock Council, and more about making Thurrock unattractive to travellers looking to set up unauthorised encampments.

Councillor Jones expressed his opinion that Thurrock had been viewed as a soft touch for too long and he was glad to see this was changing.  He recalled an unauthorised encampment at Belhus Park / Lakeside where there was blatant damage upon entry to the site, and those responsible had threatened people then they moved on and continued to do the same.  He expressed disgust at how the borough had been treated, especially with human and animal waste left at the Springhouse Road site.  It was good that Section 61 powers were being used more effectively as six or seven days at a site was too long.  It was crucial to deliver the message that Thurrock was no longer a soft touch and he expressed appreciation for the efforts made thus far.

The Committee heard that the site at Lakeside had been private land which made it difficult for the Council as they had to work with the landowners, though land owners had far greater powers than Local Authorities.  Local Authority timescales were not negotiable; they were set out in legislation.  It was also advised that human waste would justify the use of Section 61 and there was now far more clarity surrounding the matter.

Councillor Collins suggested entering registration numbers into the DVLA / police database to see whether vehicles at unauthorised encampments were taxed and/or insured which may make them less likely to continue.  He noted that this was a county wide issue and there had been talk of fixed sites and wondered whether anything was being done about this.  The Committee heard that the Police had been urged to use their database and more was being done.  In terms of the fixed transit sites however encampments being moved on in Thurrock could only be referred to a site within the Borough.

RESOLVED:

1)    That work in hand to seek a number of legal deterrents to those travellers who are responsible for multiple U/Es is expedited.

2)    That scope for further cost-effective, proportionate target-hardening, subject to funding, is undertaken.

3)    That the contents of this report be noted.

Councillor Stone left the meeting at 8.26pm.