<p>Our planning policy for traveller sites makes clear that as part of the local plan-making process, councils should objectively assess their own traveller site needs and then identify a suitable five-year supply of sites to meet their need, as far as is consistent with national planning policy as a whole.</p><p>The local plan is subject to a public examination in front of an independent inspector. This will include testing the number of traveller pitches in the plan and checking that the council's proposals are supported by a robust evidence base. Following the examination, the inspector reports either that the plan is sound and can be adopted or that the plan is unsound and should be withdrawn.</p>