Issue - items at meetings - Traveller Commissioning Strategy 2012

Report of the Strategic Director; Place (copy attached).

(1)         That Full Council be recommended to approve the Traveller Commissioning Strategy 2012 (Appendix 1) and accompanying Action Plan (Appendix 2);

(2)         That Full Council be recommended to delegate authority to the Strategic Directors and Heads of Delivery to take all steps necessary or incidental to the Traveller Commissioning Strategy 2012 and accompanying Action Plan; and

(3)         That Full Council be recommended to thank the local residents, Travellers, Community & Voluntary Sector Organisations, community representatives, officers from other public sector organisations and the Traveller Scrutiny Panel who have given their time to help develop the Strategy.

222.1    Councillor West introduced the report and stated that he was delighted to present to the Traveller Commissioning Strategy to the Cabinet.  He believed that it outlined a strategy which responded to balancing the needs of the travelling community as well as local people.  The strategy was based on four underlying principles, to improve site availability, to improve health, safety and wellbeing, to improve education outcomes and to improve community cohesion.  He believed that it was already making a difference and was proving to be a significant step forward.

222.2    Councillor Mitchell welcomed the report and stated that the Labour & Co-operative Group fully supported the strategy, which struck the right balance for both travellers and local people.  She hoped that there would be some greater clarification around tolerated sites and further consideration on how to manage unauthorised encampments.

222.3    Councillor G. Theobald noted that the Government was expected to issue guidance shortly in regard to dealing with unauthorised encampments and he hoped that discussions with colleagues from other authorities and the police would lead to an agreed protocol in relation to the process for dealing with such unauthorised encampments.  He also referred to pages 187 and 259 of the report and asked for clarification with regard to the figures and level of service charges that remained uncollected.

222.4    Councillor West stated that the numbers did vary and the figures used showed a snap shot in time.  He stated that he would raise the question with the Secretary of State in regard to having a National Framework for dealing with unauthorised encampments and noted that improvements had been made recently to prevent incursions to certain areas within the city.

222.5    The Chair noted that officers would provide Councillor Theobald with a briefing on the points raised and stated that he wished to thank everyone involved in the development of and bringing forward of the strategy.  He then put the recommendations to the Cabinet for agreement.

222.6    RESOLVED:

(1)         That Full Council be recommended to approve the Traveller Commissioning Strategy 2012 (Appendix 1) and accompanying Action Plan (Appendix 2);

(2)         That Full Council be recommended to delegate authority to the Strategic Directors and Heads of Delivery to take all steps necessary or incidental to the Traveller Commissioning Strategy 2012 and accompanying Action Plan; and

(3)         That Full Council be recommended to thank the local residents, Travellers, Community & Voluntary Sector Organisations, community representatives, officers from other public sector organisations and the Traveller Scrutiny Panel who have given their time to help develop the Strategy.