Strategic and Policy Work

National Policy

We are actively involved in national policy development, LGTU is a member organisation of the Traveller Law Reform Project and line manage their policy development worker. The issues that the TLRP have covered are; Security of Tenure on Traveller sites, monitoring the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessments and campaigning for a speedy response to the needs being identified; the Education and Skills Bill; the merging of the CRE, into the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, and servicing the All Party Parliamentary Group on Traveller Law Reform. www.travellerslaw.org.uk

LGTU is a member of the Stakeholder Group convened by the Dept of Communities and Local Government(CLG) which meets three times a year to monitor the implementation of the 2004 Housing Act with regards the provision of sites for Gypsies and Travellers, and all other government initiatives relating to Gypsies and Travellers www.communities.gov.uk/communities

New government policy for Planning for Traveller sites

The government has introduced a new draft planning policy 'planning for traveller sites' to replace the existing guidance (circulars 1/2006 and 04/2007). This is part of the Localism Bill which is currently going through parliament. These changes will mean yet more delay in new sites being built

• There will be no regionally set targets - it will be left to the councils to decide on how many new pitches (if any) they will deliver.
• Local authorities will not have to recognise or use the existing needs assessments (the GTAA's) but can repeat the process by assessing the need for new pitches again – this will cause yet more delay.
• The needs of housed Travellers are not recognised because they no longer live on sites.

The needs of housed Travellers are not recognised because they no longer live on sites. For information and how to respond to the consultation go to.www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/travellersitesconsultation

Gypsy and Traveller Engagement in the consultation

We have produced a campaign card which can be downloaded here for Gypsies and Traveller to sign and return by post or to return via email click here

Consultation ends 6th July 2011

Letter to Eric Pickles MP on the new Planning Policy for Travellers sites

LGTU as members Traveller Law reform Project, along with other Gypsy and Traveller organisations are writing this week (last in June 2011) to Eric Pickles, the Communities secretary to express their grave concerns about the new policy 'planning for travellers sites' and to propose a brief moratorium for an expert panel to review the guidance.

Key changes we are looking for:

Delivering Sites

Alongside adequate planning guidance, we need a strategy to deliver sites.

• Reinstating the duty on local authorities to ensure the provision of sites.
• Enough site grant to make good the shortfall of accommodation within this Parliament and allowing Traveller organisations to apply, not just local authorities and Housing Associations.
• Establishing Housing Associations with expertise in site management and delivery, and supporting Gypsy and Traveller groups to set up their own.
• Including Traveller sites in the public land the Government is auctioning for housing.

Adequate Guidance

To deliver the sites not make their job harder, Councils want specific guidance that recognises the pressures on them, including the useful sections of 1/06 on delivering sites.

Evidence, targets and monitoring

The more relaxed approach to evidence Ministers propose means more delay and uncertainty. Reference to 'local need in the context of historical demand' should go and Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Need Assessments retained as key evidence, with the guidance on them updated. Local authorities should be required to monitor delivery, as for other housing.

Sub-Regional Plans

Many councils are too small to plan for Travellers because of green belts, flood areas, environmental designations, and tight boundaries. We need mechanisms to ensure cross-authority working, which will save councils money and make it easier for Travellers to engage.

Countryside and sustainability

The Government's proposals on where they can go will make it impossible to find sites. We need a realistic approach to sustainability. Rural sites with no special constraints should be acceptable and local environmental designations not used to refuse sites.

Transitional arrangements

• There is no need for more delay. We have good enough evidence.
• Regional Spatial Strategies established the level of need and how many pitches are needed in each area. If they are abolished, the GTAAs and the version of the targets, which reached the most advanced stage in each RSS, should be retained as material considerations, until replaced by local authorities' plans.
• Where a council has no firm plans and there is need, applications from Travellers should be looked on favourably. And, as with other housing, they should normally be permanent permissions.

Green Belt

The Government seeks a blanket ban on sites in the Green Belt, but will create a geographic apartheid with Travellers excluded from extensive areas, particularly around London. The guidance must ensure Travellers can live in all areas of the country.

Definitions

• References to Gypsies and Travellers should always be in capitals.
• The planning definition excludes many people who are culturally or ethnically Gypsies and Travellers, particularly Travellers in bricks and mortar housing. This is a sensitive issue and we need a proper debate and consultation.

Enabling Gypsies and Travellers to engage

We support the emphasis on consulting settled and Traveller communities. Support is needed to ensure Travellers are not excluded from engaging in plans. Due to the efforts of a small number of organisations they engaged in the 8 RSSs. Without specific support engaging in hundreds of local authority plans will be impossible.