COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (241) issued by The Government News Network
on 11 December 2007
Communities
Minister Iain Wright today announced a further £97 million in
Government funding to help local councils meet the housing needs
of Gypsy and Traveller families in their area. The funding is
part of a package of new measures aimed at cutting the number of
unauthorised sites in inappropriate locations, such as car parks
or lay-bys.
The Gypsy and Traveller site grants will be available for
councils to deliver new and refurbished sites for Gypsies and
Travellers in their areas. The grants cover 100 per cent of the
cost of local council schemes that provide additional pitches
through new sites, extensions to existing sites, or bring pitches
back into use.
By increasing the supply of authorised sites, the Government aims
to improve the current levels of unauthorised encampment and
development, which are a result of nearly a quarter of Gypsies and
Travellers living in caravans having no authorised place to stay.
This renewed commitment to tackle the problem of unauthorised
sites follows publication of a Government-commissioned report from
the Task Group on Site Provision and Enforcement. The
group's report concludes that Government policy on site
provision and enforcement is sound, and calls for a consensus
around the need for authorised Gypsy and Traveller sites.
Other measures being taken forward following the report's
recommendations include:
* New Government guidance for councils on tackling anti-social
behaviour - the guidance will support local authorities and the
police in dealing with anti-social behaviour where Gypsies and
Travellers are either the victims or perpetrators;
* A Gypsy and Traveller 'summit' - Ministers will meet
with Gypsy and Traveller representatives to discuss their concerns
about the different definitions used for Gypsies and Travellers
for housing and planning purposes;
* Improved monitoring - the Government will report annually to
Parliament on progress on Gypsy and Traveller issues.
Iain Wright said:
"We are increasing council funding to ensure that local
authorities can thoroughly assess and meet the accommodation needs
of Gypsies and Travellers, as required by legislation.
"This funding will help councils deliver more and better
sites for Gypsies and Travellers, reducing the £18 million annual
enforcement bill, and helping improve the health and education
prospects of one of the most socially excluded groups in the country.
"It is important that councils ensure there are enough
authorised sites for travelling communities. A good supply of
legal sites can break the vicious circle of evictions that is
costly in terms of both local tensions and taxpayers' cash."
Commenting on publication of the Task Group on Site Provision and
Enforcement report, he continued:
"It's pleasing to see that the task group finds that
our policies on site provision and enforcement are sound, but we
recognise there needs to be further progress.
"We are determined to do our bit to help local government
provide the extra pitches needed and will work to remove the
problem of unauthorised encampments.
"Today we are announcing our intention to publish new
guidance for councils on tackling anti-social behaviour and I will
also be meeting with representatives from the travelling community
to discuss their concerns."
Sir Brian Briscoe, chair of the Task Group on Site Provision and
Enforcement, said:
"The evidence that the Task Group has collected demonstrates
that policy on site provision and enforcement is broadly right.
But the challenge, to Government and local Councils, is to get
sites on the ground to meet the need for 4000 pitches, so that
Gypsies and Travellers can have secure homes and that the £18m
spent each year on enforcement is put to better use. This will
require resources and political will, but it is a task that can be done.
Our Report is not the end of the matter and we think it is
crucial that Government, with the organisations represented on the
Task Group and the Gypsy and Traveller community, regularly
monitors progress, to ensure that there is no slackening of the
pace in securing better lives for the children and young people of
this small but important ethnic minority."
Between 2006-08, Communities and Local Government have made £56
million available in site grants, which are on course to deliver
at least 450 additional pitches and 128 refurbished sites across
the country.
Notes to Editors
1. Gypsy and traveller site grants have been available since
2001/02 for the refurbishment of existing sites, and since 2005/06
for the provision of new sites as well.
2. Regional assemblies make recommendations to Ministers on which
schemes should be funded, considering need, sustainability, value
for money and deliverability.
3. Allocation of funding for the next three years are:
* 2008/09 - £33 million
* 2009/10 - £32 million
* 2010/11
- £32 million
4. Bids for funding are invited until the end of March 2008, with
the announcement of successful schemes scheduled for late summer 2008.
5. The Task Group on Site Provision and Enforcement was set up by
Ministers in 2006 in response to public concern about unauthorised
encampments and developments by Gypsies and Travellers.
6. The Task Group's recommendations, published today in its
final report, The Road Ahead, include:
* Communities and Local Government should monitor the pace of
delivery by local planning authorities.
* Ministers should meet Gypsies and Travellers to discuss their
concerns about the different definitions used for Gypsies and
Travellers for planning and housing purposes.
* The Government should proceed with the proposal in the planning
white paper to reduce the time limit for planning appeals when the
same development is the subject of an enforcement notice.
* Communities and Local Government should ensure that guidance on
tackling anti-social behaviour is completed at the earliest opportunity.
* The Government should maintain the level of funding provided
between 2006 and 2008 for the Gypsy and Traveller site grant in
real terms, throughout the CSR07 period.
* The Government should report annually to parliament on progress
on Gypsy and Traveller issues.
* Local authorities should urgently consider the scope for
emergency stopping places within their areas that can provide an
alternative location for Gypsies and Travellers on unauthorised
sites in dangerous or damaging locations.
* In considering whether new public provision should be provided
through new sites or extensions to existing sites, local
authorities should take into account guidance on the appropriate
size of sites.
7. The group includes representatives from the Environment
Agency, Home Office, Association of Chief Police Officers, Royal
Town Planning Institute, the Commission for Racial Equality, Local
Government Association and the Planning Officers' Society. It
was also the first group of its kind to invite Gypsies and
Travellers to sit as full members in their own right.
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 4400;
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk