The Corporate Director – Communities presented a report, the purpose of which, was to outline the findings of the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) and seek authorisation to submit the Assessment to Welsh Ministers for approval. This would allow the Local Housing Authority to fulfil its statutory duty and enable the statutory deposit Local Development Plan (LDP) consultation to proceed as per the Delivery Agreement.

She advised that the Local Housing Authority had a statutory duty to carry out an assessment of the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers residing in or resorting to its area under Part 3 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014. The Act requires Local Housing Authorities to undertake a GTAA at least every 5 years, although there is flexibility to undertake GTAAs more frequently if a material change in the level of need in the area has been identified. The GTAA must be subject to consultation and submitted to Welsh Ministers for approval. If an approved assessment identifies need for additional pitches within an Authority’s area, the Local Housing Authority has a legal duty to ensure that need is met by exercising its powers under section 56 of the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013.

The Council last published a GTAA in 2016 (covering the period up to 2031) and the Local Housing Authority would have therefore been required to review this Assessment in 2021. However, as the Replacement LDP covers the period 2018-2033 and consultation on the deposit LDP is scheduled for early 2021, a slightly early review of the GTAA is necessary to comply with the LDP Delivery Agreement.

The Corporate Director – Communities proceeded further, by informing Cabinet, that a revised GTAA estimated a County Borough need of 5 pitches for the first 5 years of the GTAA period and a further 2 pitches for the remainder of the LDP period. The total estimated pitch provision needed for Gypsies and Travellers in Bridgend County Borough was identified as being 7 pitches up until 2033. This total was the projected amount of provision necessary for the Local Housing Authority to meet its statutory obligations towards identifiable needs of the population arising in the area. The need comprised of combination of doubled-up households, movement from bricks and mortar homes and new household formation. This need could be accommodated across two new sites and through intensification of existing sites, as explained in paragraph 4.2 of the Officer’s report.

The Cabinet Member – Wellbeing and Future Generations welcomed the report and thanked Officers for engaging with the Gypsy and Traveller community which was not always an easy task, both on their current needs and any long term visions they may have. She noted that the identified need was now for 6 sites to be provided, even though provision was being made for 7 (sites). The Cabinet Member – Wellbeing and Future Generations confirmed that she supported this increase, due to the demographics and population of the County Borough of Bridgend, which was growing in size. 

The Leader concurred with this and looked forward to receiving an update report to Cabinet on any further engagement longer term as the needs of Gypsies and Travellers may change over time.

The Cabinet Member – Communities also welcomed the report and the review outlined therein, which had been brought forward in conjunction with the review of the Council’s LDP.

RESOLVED:                                 That Cabinet:

(a) Approved the Gypsy Traveller and Accommodation Assessment findings and Final Report (Appendix 1 to the report), and;

(b) Approved the Gypsy Traveller and Accommodation Assessment for submission to Welsh Ministers to enable the Council to fulfil its duty to meet assessed needs.