PAPER E

Economic Development, Planning, TOURISM AND LEISURE SERVICES Select COMMITTEE – 13 JANUARY 2005

Winter Storage for Caravans

Head of Select Committee AND BEST VALUE SUPPORT

REASON FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

At the meeting in June 2004 the Committee requested that a Task Group be set up to consider the storage of caravans during the winter season. This paper is to report on the findings.

The work was actually finished in October 2004, but this is the first opportunity to report.

ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE

1. To agree, or disagree, with the conclusions in the report.

2. To wind-up the Task Group or to ask it to carry out further work.

BACKGROUND

A survey was conducted of Caravan site owners, to help to establish whether there is a shortage of winter storage, either for Islanders or mainland tourists. 27 Questionnaires were sent out, of which 16 were returned. These showed a fairly even split as to whether site owners felt there was a problem or not. Some reference was made to Planning "problems", but a meeting with the Planning Policy Team Leader established that there is no general Planning problem, although there may be some issues specific to certain sites.

Co-incidentally, in the early autumn, a number of advertisements appeared in the County Press offering caravan (& boat) storage over the winter. Enquiries established that a number of spaces were available, and in the light of this it was decided to conclude the work of the Task Group on the grounds that there was not an on-going problem.

It was also decided that a letter would be sent to the Caravan Site owners originally surveyed, and local branches of caravan clubs, drawing their attention to the storage being advertised.

RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Unitary Development Plan (Policy T5A - Touring Caravan Sites)

CONSULTATION PROCESS

Described in Background

FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS

None

APPENDICES ATTACHED

None

BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT

Surveys to Caravan site owners

Task Group notes

Contact Point: Don Roe Best Value Review Team Manager 823687 [email protected]

Alistair R Drain

Head of Select Committee & Review Team