Apology over ‘miscommunication’ about Travellers’ site expansion plan - Yorkshire

From the Press

A COUNCILLOR has demanded to know why parish leaders were misled over a council bid for Government cash to help fund the expansion of a York Travellers’ site.

Osbaldwick councillor Mark Warters said when representatives of Murton, Osbaldwick, Holtby and Dunnington attended a meeting on January 23, they were told by City of York Council’s assistant director of housing and community safety, Steve Waddington, that the council was still waiting for a decision on the bid.

He said housing manager Tom Brittain, who was also at the meeting, said nothing to correct his colleague.

But Coun Warters said he had now discovered through a Freedom of Information request that Mr Brittain was sent a letter from the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) on December 19, saying York’s application for funding had been successful.

It added: “We are proposing to contract with you to deliver a total of six pitches for £342,00 of funding from the HCA.”

Coun Warters said: “I cannot understand why Mr Brittain said nothing to put Mr Waddington right when he unintentionally misled the parish representatives.

“He could have ensured everyone was put in the picture that day.

“This mistake is just symptomatic of a council which is involved in a presentation exercise about the expansion plans rather than a proper consultation.”

A council spokeswoman said Mr Waddington had apologised for unintentionally misleading people at the meeting, and was not aware at the time that the council had received formal notification from the HCA of a successful bid.

“A miscommunication between those officers present meant that an officer felt it necessary to check the funding confirmation following the meeting, in order to ensure he was providing the correct information,” she said. “Coun Warters was contacted by Steve to confirm the funding the very next day.”

The plans involve an increase in the number of pitches at the Osbaldwick site from 12 to 18, along with the provision of a play area and creation of official grazing land for horses to help tackle the problem of tethered horses on roadside verges.