Agenda item

To consider a report (which contains a confidential appendix) by Councillor Win Mullen-James, Lead Member for Local Development and Housing (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet approval of the revised draft Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment for submission to the Welsh Government.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      confirms support for the approach adopted for the delivery of revision of Denbighshire’s Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment as being robust and in line with Welsh Government guidance;

(b)      approves Denbighshire’s revised Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment for submission to Welsh Government;

(c)      delegates authority for the Lead Member Local Development and Planning to agree any minor editorial changes required to the draft Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment, prior to submission to Welsh Government, and

(d)      confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix 4 to the report) as part of its consideration.  This was completed prior to the first assessment submission in 2021 and had been reviewed in 2023.

Councillor Win Mullen-James presented the report seeking Cabinet approval of the revised draft Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) for submission to the Welsh Government.  The report included a confidential appendix detailing personal information and Cabinet was asked to move into private session in the event they were minded to discuss the confidential element of the report.

The report set out the legislative requirements relating to the assessment of accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers and confirmed submission of the Council’s assessment to the Welsh Government in December 2021.  Since then, a family with an existing need who had previously declined to participate asked to be included and it was agreed to review the assessment.  A Task and Finish (T&F) Group was established to support work on the new assessment and their report was presented to Communities Scrutiny Committee in October 2023 who endorsed their conclusions and recommended to Cabinet that the revised draft GTAA be approved for re-submission to the Welsh Government.

Councillor Peter Scott, Chair of the T&F Group explained the background to the establishment of the Group and detailed the work carried out which culminated in a final report being presented to Communities Scrutiny Committee on the Group’s conclusions and recommendations.  The Scrutiny Committee had endorsed the conclusions of the T&F Group: that the Welsh Government methodology had been applied appropriately to the analysis of need and the approach adopted for delivery of the GTAA was robust and in line with Welsh Government Guidance, and the recommendation that the revised GTAA be approved for resubmission to the Welsh Government.  The T&F Group considered that the approach taken to this work, with member representation from each Member Area Group, had worked well and the current membership were keen to continue working together on future work.

Councillor Win Mullen-James guided Cabinet through the report detail.  In brief –

·       the estimated additional pitch provision needed for the first 5 years of the study period (2023/24 – 2028/29) was for 16 permanent residential pitches

·       based on the need by 2033 was for a further 2 permanent residential pitches

·       therefore, the total for the whole period across Denbighshire was 18 permanent residential pitches which was an increase of 6 permanent residential pitches from the previous GTAA completed in 2021

·       there was no evidence of need for a permanent transit site.

Councillor Mullen-James urged Cabinet to approve the report recommendations to ensure the Council met its legislative duties.  Following re-submission of the revised GTAA, the next stage involved identifying sites to meet those needs with support from the existing T&F Group.  Councillor Mullen-James commended the valuable and collaborative work undertaken by the T&F Group and officers on the GTAA and those sentiments were echoed by the Leader, wider Cabinet and Chief Executive.

The Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services thanked members for their support and challenge throughout the process and reiterated the importance of a robust methodology and approach as demonstrated in this work.  The Strategic Planning and Housing Manager also set out the definition of both residential and transit pitches with the focus of the current work on the GTAA and identifying need; the next stage of the process involved addressing that need.

Cabinet acknowledged the comprehensive report and positive member and officer engagement with the outcome testament to that hard work.  Councillor Julie Matthews referred to the updated Wellbeing Impact Assessment and was pleased to see further work planned in continuing to build relationships with the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community and improve health and wellbeing outcomes.

Councillor Emrys Wynne referred to the occasional difficulties caused as a result of unauthorised encampments in particular areas, and he felt there would be merit in exploring the potential for ‘negotiated sites’ as referred to in the report to ensure that a suitable site was available for use to address the issue.  Officers reported on the current process for managing unauthorised encampments and the work of the Gypsy, Roma & Traveller Liaison Officer to ensure appropriate engagement with those travelling through Denbighshire and ensure welfare checks were undertaken and facilities provided.  Work was currently ongoing to further develop a protocol on that managed approach which would include further member involvement as the matter progressed.  It was accepted that there were areas of good practice across the UK and lessons to be learned from those different approaches.  Councillor Scott added that there was no evidence of need for a permanent transit site.  He reported further on the development of the unauthorised encampment policy which aimed to protect the rights and responsibilities of Gypsy and Travellers, local residents and key stakeholders and also minimise any environmental and community impacts.  That policy would follow the democratic process for approval.  Councillor Wynne noted there was no evidence of need for a permanent transit site but felt it would be good practice, in order to prepare for any future demand and given the previous difficulties experienced, to be able to offer a suitable site for that purpose.  With regard to future work to be carried out, including site selection for pitches, it was confirmed that the intention was for the T&F Group to be involved in that process.

At the end of debate, the Lead Member reiterated the valuable work carried out by both members and officers on the GTAA and thanked them for their involvement.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      confirms support for the approach adopted for the delivery of revision of Denbighshire’s Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment as being robust and in line with Welsh Government guidance;

(b)      approves Denbighshire’s revised Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment for submission to Welsh Government;

(c)      delegates authority for the Lead Member Local Development and Planning to agree any minor editorial changes required to the draft Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment, prior to submission to Welsh Government, and

(d)      confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix 4 to the report) as part of its consideration.  This was completed prior to the first assessment submission in 2021 and had been reviewed in 2023.