William Eichler 16 October 2018

Council spent £4m clearing illegal traveller site

The local authority responsible for removing the illegal Dale Farm traveller encampment is seeking to recover the over £4m of costs incurred by the action.

Basildon Borough Council spent £4.18m clearing the camps at Dale Farm and Hovefields in 2010 and 2011.

They did not pursue debt recovery measures at the time because of a ‘lack of information’ about the landowners’ whereabouts and the low likelihood of success.

The council also decided not to acquire the land because of the liabilities they would be accepting responsibility for.

Basildon council has since placed charges on plots in an attempt to recover some of their costs.

However, to date, they have only managed to get around £2,000 back.

There were 400 people living on the illegal site in Basildon and the eviction led to 15 police officers being injured and 45 arrests being made.

A report detailing the costs will be considered by the council’s scrutiny committee tomorrow.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Part Time Finance Administrator

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Finance AdministratorPermanent, Part Time£25,081 per annum, full time equivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Customer Services Adviser (Housing Repairs

Mansfield District Council
£28,598 - £33,699 per annum
Mansfield is a town of towns at the centre of things in Nottinghamshire - a place of many strong connections Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

No Wrong Door Deputy Manager

North Yorkshire Council
From £47,181 up to £51,356 per annum pro rata
We’re looking for a passionate, driven, and dynamic professional to join our management team within our innovative No Wrong Door (NWD) service. Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior Resource Centre Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£34,434 - £38,220 per annum pro rata
You will work closely with families and other professionals to ensure that you have sound knowledge of the children you are caring for Morton on Swale, Northallerton
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Social Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£38,220 - £42,839 per annum, pro rata
Our Family Assessment and Support Teams you will work with a range of children and their families, carers and networks. Selby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner