Agenda item

Ms Natalie Liddiard, Head of Gypsy and Traveller Service, and Mr Tom Marchant, Interim Head of Countryside and Community Development, were in attendance for this item.

1.          Ms Liddiard introduced the report and said the draft policy had been through several pre-consultation stages with a view to formal consultation being launched on 30 November 2022 for ten weeks. Ms Liddiard said external legal opinion had been sought on the policy. 

2.          Ms Liddiard and Mr Marchant responded to the following questions and comments from Members:

(a)  Asked for clarification on specific points of the qualifying criteria, including defined habitual areas and residency of European Economic Area (EEA) nationals, Ms Liddiard said she would clarify the details outside of the meeting.

(b)  A Member expressed concern, considering the financial situation of the Council, whether this service should be provided by the Council as a tier 1 authority and whether responsibility for gypsy and traveller sites should lie with housing authorities within districts and boroughs. Mr Hill explained there were historical reasons for the Council’s responsibility of the sites.

(c)  A Member commented on the two weeks’ deposit required by applicants and the potential benefit of increasing this, Ms Liddiard confirmed there was not any legislation regarding the amount of deposit requested but there was a need to understand the financial situation of residents.

(d)  Members expressed concern that the pre-consultation period had not included the views of traveller groups, and around the amount of information and documentation being requested of applicants. Ms Liddiard said it was planned to engage with residents and other Gypsy and Roma travellers in Kent as part of the ten-week formal consultation process.  Mr Marchant said, in terms of the information being sought as part of an application, that this would provide an improved and robust process, ensuring residents were eligible and pitches were allocated fairly. Mr Marchant said there was an extensive network of contacts that would be included in the consultation period.

(e)  Asked whether the Council had Traveller Liaison Officers, Mr Marchant said there were Site Managers who carried out weekly checks and engaged with site residents.  Ms Holt-Castle clarified that the wider community liaison role was a function of district and borough councils, and KCC’s role was as landlord for the sites.

(f)    Asked how many pitches, of the 128 in total, became vacant each year, whether there was a waiting list, and the profit gained from running the sites, Ms Liddiard said there were currently nine vacant pitches and five or six of those required funding to bring them up to standard. There was a waiting list and applications were scored on a points system and held on file until a pitch became available, at which time the site was advertised on the Council’s website and those on the waiting list were contacted. Ms Liddiard confirmed there was a cost to KCC for the running of the sites. Mr Marchant said the portfolio was under review in terms of the medium- and long-term options.

(g)  Asked whether a single application for all sites managed by the Council and district and borough councils was considered, Ms Liddiard said applications were managed separately, with the Council managing applications for KCC sites and district and boroughs managing their own site applications. It was suggested there was a duplication of effort and single applications for all sites could benefit the traveller communities.

(h)  Asked about the points system for applications, Ms Liddiard said there was a points criteria based on, for example, medical conditions and children, to ensure those most in need were prioritised.

(i)    Asked whether any guidance could be provided for the completion of applications and provision of accompanying documentation and evidence, Ms Liddiard said the Council offered assistance and advice for completing applications.

RESOLVED that the committee noted the updated draft Gypsy and Traveller Site Pitch Allocation Policy for formal consultation.