Issue - meetings

·         The Public Health Act 1936 covered tents and if land was used for the pitching of tents for more of 28 days in a calendar year planning permission was required

·         If a site was used for more than 42 days consecutively or 60 days in total in any 12 months there was the need for a licence to be in place

·         Section 269 of the Act created the need for a licence

·         A tent licence would contain conditions designed to protect people using the site

·         Conditions were based on national model standards in relation to site layout, fire precautions, and sanitary facilities etc. and could be varied or removed at any time in relation to change in circumstances

·         There were two main types of Caravan Site licence; residential sites and sites used for holiday purposes only

·         The legislation which covered caravan sites was as follows:

(a)  Mobile Homes Act 2013

(b)  The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960

(c)  Caravans Sites Act 1968

(d)  Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

·         In addition there were model conditions:

(a)  Model Standard Conditions Residential Parks 2008

(b)  Model Standard Conditions Holiday Parks 1989

·         A clear pre-requisite to be able to issue a licence was that Planning Permission was already in place

·         The definition of a caravan was given at section 29 of the Caravan and Sites and Control of Developments Act 1960 and was given as; any structure designed or adapted for human habitation capable of being moved from one place to another (whether  by being towed or  by being transported on a motor vehicle or trailer) or any motor vehicle so designed or adapted but does not include; rolling stock on a railway system or any tent

·         The act was amended by Section 13 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 to give guidance on twin units and maximum dimensions for units being 20 metres in length, 6.8 metres wide and 3.05 metres in height

·         This definition does cover motor homes

·         The definition of a caravan site was given at Section 1 (4) of the Caravan Sites and Control of Developments Act 1960 and reads as follows; “Land on which a caravan is stationed for the purpose of human habitation and land which is used in conjunction with land on which a caravan is so stationed”

·         Tent sites were not necessarily aware that motor homes were caravans, without the Local Authority enforcing or promoting the regulations this would have gone unchecked

·         Work was ongoing in-house to set up an electronic means of processing and storing applications made, this would ensure progress of applications was tracked

·         If a residential site had a residents association the Local Authority must consult with them as a stakeholder as well as the residents of the site.  The site owner must also ensure engagement with residents was carried out

·         In the law a residential park home was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20