Lobbying on Traveller Issues

South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) has been lobbying the Government since early 2004 on Traveller issues. Our efforts include:

  • Writing numerous letters to the Deputy Prime Minister;
  • Making representations to the Parliamentary select committee enquiry in Spring 2005;
  • Lobbying via the Local Government Association (LGA) with other districts facing similar issues, including top level forums between Council leaders and the chairman of the LGA;
  • Nominating one Cabinet Member (Cllr Mrs Deborah Roberts) to participate in the National LGA Gypsy and Traveller Task Group;
  • Meeting with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and the National Gypsy and Traveller unit;
  • Contributing to major ODPM consultation papers on Traveller issues.

Parliamentary Select Committee Report

The Council provided its evidence in May 2004, which was considered as part of the Select Committee hearings in summer 2004. The Select Committee produced its report, having heard all the evidence, at the end of the process.

In November 2004 the ODPM Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committee published its 13th Report on Gypsy and Traveller Sites (This link will open in a new window).

It recommended:

  • The creation of a Gypsy and Traveller Task force to ensure development of sites;
  • That Government reject regional development plans which fail to make provision for Gypsy and Traveller sites;
  • That Local authorities who do provide sites should be rewarded with extra funding;
  • Sites should be no bigger than 18 pitches;
  • All Local authorities have a duty to provide sites and the Government should enforce the duty.

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's (ODPM) Planning for Gypsy and Traveller sites consultation paper

Overall comments:

  • A revision of Circular 1/94 is long overdue and is welcomed.
  • Although good in the parts, the consultation paper represents a missed opportunity. The draft guidance is unlikely to prevent what has happened in the past at Smithy Fen, Cottenham from happening again elsewhere.
  • It does not balance its laudable aims with realistic controls to meet the equally important rights of the settled community - to have their communities protected from large, unplanned incursions.

Main shortcomings with the proposed approach to planning controls:

  1. Traveller issues are a national problem to which there needs to be a national approach.
  2. A clear national policy on Traveller issues should be backed up with proper national funding.
  3. There needs to be effective co-ordination at national and regional levels (including Traveller databases) to support the work of local authorities.
  4. There should be a duty on all local authorities to make provision for Travellers, not just those districts - like South Cambridgeshire - which are already taking on more than their fair share.
  5. The definition of a "Traveller" needs to be revised, with a requirement for Travellers to demonstrate their identity and proof of genuine need.
  6. The definition should also be extended to encompass travelling show people.
  7. There is too much reliance on existing enforcement powers, which have proved inadequate.
  8. There are no guidelines on the size and density of Traveller sites.
  9. Important practical constraints and resource implications for councils are not recognised.
  10. The draft guidance still seems weighted against the equally legitimate interests of householders.

Our comments

On 2 February the Government published its revision to circular 1/94 along with 3 other documents on Gypsies and Travellers. The documents can be viewed on the Department for Communities and Local Government website (This link will open in a new window) (formerly ODPM).

LGA Gypsy and Traveller Task Group

The LGA established a special Task Group in December 2004 (to which Cllr Mrs Deborah Roberts was appointed) to consider issues raised in a new circular on Planning for Gypsy and Traveller sites and, subsequently to look at enforcement issues. The Task Group published their report (This link will open in a new window) in June 2006 which endeavoured to look at the existing situation and point to a way forward.