Issue - meetings

The Board received a report from the Strategic Director, People, which informed them of the annual review of Halton Gypsy Travellers Allocations Policy 2017-18.  The Gypsy and Traveller Sites – Pitch Allocation Policy (July 2017) was appended to the report.

It was noted that the Policy was reviewed annually to ensure it was current and fully compliant with legislation and outlined the pitch allocation and illegal encampment procedure.

Information was provided in the report regarding the accommodation sites within Halton that were owned and managed by the Council and the private sites available.  Unauthorised encampments since January 2017 had totalled 16, which were mainly in Runcorn, and the report discussed the protocol devised jointly between the Council and the Police, to deal with these.

The report further discussed issues at a local level with regards to managing the sites and the work of the Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer (GTLO).

Members discussed the procedure for applying for a vacant pitch, once it was advertised by the Council.  One Member requested to know the total numbers of children on the sites; this information would be provided to the Board following the meeting as it was not readily available.  The Vice-Chair requested on behalf of the Board, that a visit of the traveller sites be made in the near future. 

RESOLVED:  That the Board noted the report and associated appendix and comments made with regards to this.