Issue - items at meetings - Review of Brighton & Hove Travellers Strategy

Report of the Director of Environment (copy attached).

RESOLVED – That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:

(1)  That the reviewed city-wide Traveller Strategy be agreed and adopted.

16.1       The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Environment concerning the proposed city-wide Traveller Strategy (for copy see minute book).

16.2       The Cabinet Member stated that much detailed work had been undertaken to produce the Strategy. This was to make sure it reflected current legislation and the recent significant changes to the local Travellers Service.

16.3       Councillor Mitchell stated that this was a good and thorough strategy that pulled in all the relevant legislation. Councillor Mitchell asked whether the links between travellers and health advisors were improving?

16.4       The Assistant Director for Public Safety responded that an additional person had been employed to work for this Council and East Sussex County Council and that the situation is improving.

16.5       Councillor Mitchell asked whether SEERA’s formal consultation period had begun, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, which stated that the consultation period would be from May-August 2008?

16.6       The Assistant Director for Public Safety responded that the formal consultation had been deferred until September-November 2008.

16.7       Councillor Mitchell asked with regard to looking for a permanent site, whether other Local Authorities in the area were also doing this?

16.8       The Assistant Director for Public Safety responded that all the relevant Local Authorities were looking for sites and this was regularly reported back.

16.9       Councillor Mitchell commented that it was unfortunate that the operational protocol agreed between Sussex Police and Local Authorities was not yet available and added that it was important to ensure that is was possible to for people to communicate with the Traveller Liaison Team.

16.10    The Assistant Director for Public Safety responded that progress was being made on the operational protocol. She added that it could be difficult to get through to the Travellers Liaison Team as there were only two officers, but that the Council was currently in the process of employing an administration officer which should help to improve the situation.

16.11    The Cabinet Member added that he regularly reminded other Local Authorities about their obligations to fulfil their role in this process.

16.12    RESOLVED – That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:

(1)       That the reviewed city-wide Traveller Strategy be agreed and adopted.