Agenda item

The Panel received an update on the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Services.

The Assistant Director for Communities introduced the report and the Cabinet Member with Responsibility (CMR) for Communities advised the Panel that as Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Services was within his portfolio he had visited sites at Worcester and Stourport, had met with tenants and would visit further sites in the coming twelve months.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and the following main points were raised:

·         Clarification was requested as to how the debt recovery process worked and if there were issues arising from unrecovered debt. The Strategic Director for Communities confirmed that there was an arrears process and the Gypsy, Roma Traveller Team worked closely with the Council’s Legal Team. There was also joint working with Warwickshire County Council who had shared the documentation they used to recover arrears. It was possible for any arrears to be paid back in instalments as part of an agreed payment plan. Any arrears recovered would be reinvested in sites, however, the recovery process could be a long-term process.

·         With regard to the shortage of Council traveller sites it was confirmed that  there was a waiting list of 50 families. The Panel noted that some sites, rarely had vacancies and other sites had more turnover.  The waiting list was frequently updated and those on the waiting list would be contacted as soon as a vacancy occurred.

·         A Member referred to the Joint Protocol for the Management of Unauthorised Encampments of Gypsies and Travellers on Local Authority Land and it was confirmed that although the Protocol was a joint protocol with District Council’s, the Council would only deal with unauthorised encampments on its own land. The Protocol was reviewed every 3 years with the last review being January 2021.

·         It was confirmed that there was a national definition of a travelling community and that in Worcestershire the widest definition was used to identify ‘real need’ and would include roadside and private sites. The Council managed 7 residential traveller sites in total.

·         It was confirmed that tenants on the Council sites would pay Council Tax.

·         The Panel received clarification regarding the point system which was used to allocate plots and took into account any occurrences of damage to property or anti-social behaviour. The Panel noted that instances of malicious damage were very rare.

·         The Council would take action with regard to unauthorised encampments using the legal process where necessary.

·         It was confirmed that members of the travelling community were able to vote if they lived permanently on one of the Council’s managed traveller sites.

·         It was noted that a bid for funding training for social workers in Adult Services and Worcestershire Children First had been made which if successful would assist professional to understand and engage better with the Gypsy Traveller community.

·         Unauthorised temporary encampments were very challenging but Council Officers would where possible carry our welfare checks and signpost to other public services.

·         The Panel was advised that in situations where Gypsy Travellers crossed county lines, Council Officers would work with neighbouring authorities to arrange joint visits.  In addition, the National Association of Gypsy Traveller Officers (NAGTO) was useful for sharing best practice.