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<p>The Localism Act 2011 has given councils stronger powers to tackle the abuse of
retrospective planning permission. We have also amended secondary legislation to give
councils enhanced powers to issue Temporary Stop Notices to tackle such unauthorised
sites.</p><p> </p><p>Our planning policy on traveller sites, published in March 2012,
removed guidance from the Labour Government’s ODPM Circular 01/06 that previously
restricted councils' ability to undertake planning enforcement action.</p><p> </p><p>We
have been consulting on proposals on further reforms to planning policy and guidance
on traveller sites, including ensuring that councils are not penalised for tackling
large-scale unauthorised sites.</p><p> </p><p>My Department published in 2013 an updated
guide to councils on the wide range of legal powers they have to tackle unauthorised
sites.</p><p> </p><p>However, as I explained in the recent Westminster Hall debate
of 26 November 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, column 314WH, we are reviewing what
further steps can be taken to ensure councils and the police use their powers effectively
to deal with unauthorised encampments.</p>
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