Issue - meetings

At its meeting on 23 March 2023, the Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee had considered the Report of the Task Group on the development of a county-wide policy for the provision of longer and short term sites for Recreational Vehicles and Campers (Minute *107 refers).

The Committee had RESOLVED that Cabinet be requested approve the recommendations (on page 1 of the Report) and actions with a report against progress to this Committee in 9-12 months’ time.

Recommendations

(a) the Task Group report be welcomed and the Corporate, Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee be thanked for its work on this topic;

(b) the recommendations of the Task Group be supported; and

(c) that, to ensure fair and consistent enforcement and clarity to the public, benchmarking is undertaken with other Highway Authorities when considering any change to definitions of motorhomes / motor caravans within its Traffic Regulation Order.

RESOLVED

(a) the Task Group report is welcomed and the Corporate, Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee be thanked for its work on this topic;

(b) the recommendations of the Task Group be supported; and

(c) that, to ensure fair and consistent enforcement and clarity to the public, benchmarking be undertaken with other Highway Authorities when considering any change to definitions of motorhomes / motor caravans within its Traffic Regulation Order.

(Councillors Biederman, Dewhirst, Trail and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet noted that at its meeting on 23 March 2023, the Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee had considered the Report of the Task Group on the development of a county-wide policy for the provision of longer- and short-term sites for Recreational Vehicles and Campers (Minute *107 referred).

The Committee had RESOLVED that Cabinet be requested approve the recommendations (on page 1 of the Report) and actions with a report against progress to this Committee in 9-12 months’ time.

The recommendations of the report were as follows:

1.    Write to invite District Councils to review their policy on motorhomes and motor caravans in liaison with one another to ensure that there is a consistent approach across the County;

2.    Devon County Council, in partnership with District Councils to dedicate a webpage to provide clear and accessible information for motorhome users including outlining parking restrictions, good practice and available off street facilities;

3.    The Council’s definition of motorhomes / motor caravans within its Traffic Regulation Order be reviewed to more appropriately reflect current parking practices and enable consistent enforcement of rules with regards to vehicles being used in the manner of a motorhome (but which have not been permanently converted); and

4.    The Council adopts a consistent approach to managing parking for motorhomes and motor caravans for areas that it controls, to allow for consistent enforcement and clarity for motorhome users. This would include consistent times for restrictions to apply. This would typically focus on key destinations such as seafront locations.

The Cabinet Member welcomed the Report and added that neither the Report nor the Authority was opposed to the use of these vehicles on the network, but nonetheless, overnight sleeping in vehicles on the highway was of concern to residents and nationally, particularly in coastal communities and that all Highway Authorities needed to consider how to manage this effectively.

It was therefore MOVED by Councillor Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart and

RESOLVED

(a) the Task Group report is welcomed and the Corporate, Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee be thanked for its work on this topic;

(b) the recommendations of the Task Group be supported; and

(c) that, to ensure fair and consistent enforcement and clarity to the public, benchmarking be undertaken with other Highway Authorities when considering any change to definitions of motorhomes / motor caravans within its Traffic Regulation Order.

Report of the Task Group, attached

The Committee considered the Report of the Task Group on the development of a county-wide policy for the provision of longer and short term sites for Recreational Vehicles and Campers.

The Terms of Reference for the Task Group had been:

-       To understand the benefits and frictions that surround motor homes.

-       To examine the impact of overnight parking on local residential areas

-       To examine the above with reference to seafront areas and other tourist destinations throughout the whole area of Devon.

-       To consider what a county-wide consistent and clear policy for the provision of longer- and short-term sites for Recreational Vehicles and Campers with associated amenities and services should include, recognising the unique challenges of different areas of the county in developing the policy.

The Chair of the Task Group explained the rationale for the recommendations, complexities and issues involved and that this process represented the first part in policy development.

Members also referred to the good availability and excellent quality of commercial sites in Devon.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hartnell, SECONDED by Councillor A Dewhirst  and

RESOLVED that the Cabinet be requested approve the recommendations  and actions with a report against progress to this Committee in 9-12 months’ time.