Housing and Strategic Planning Cabinet Member – minutes – 20 June 2008

16 (1) NORTH AND NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE GYPSY AND TRAVELLER ACCOMMODATION ASSESSMENT – The Head of Strategic Regeneration, Housing and Development submitted a report informing the Cabinet Member of the findings of the recently completed Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment.

The Housing Act 2004 introduced a specific requirement for councils to assess the accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers within their area, in the same way they assessed the accommodation needs of the settled community.

In 2007 Salford Housing and Urban Studies Unit were commissioned by the council to undertake a cross boundary Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) with the neighbouring North East Lincolnshire Council.

The GTAA research report recommended that the need for increased residential pitches for gypsies and travellers be addressed. In recent years the lack of site provision and the continuation of household formation and increased migration had meant that gypsies and travellers requiring authorised places to stop and live far outweighed the number of authorised pitches available.

The report outlined the key findings of the research and highlighted future challenges in providing suitable accommodation for gypsies and travellers in North Lincolnshire.

Resolved – (a) That the findings of the assessment be accepted, (b) that further reports be submitted as a result of the research and be used to inform the development of North Lincolnshire Local Development Framework and Joint Housing Strategy, and (c) that the Steering Group set up to manage the GTAA continues with additional members to be led by a service director, in order to better co-ordinate the response and approach on gypsy and traveller issues.