FOI request (FOI227643)

Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment

Requested Wed 06 December 2017
Responded  Wed 06 December 2017

Friends, Families and Travellers are a national charity, recognised by the Government, that works on behalf of all Gypsies, Travellers and Roma regardless of ethnicity, culture or background. We seek to end racism and discrimination against Gypsies, Travellers and Roma and to protect the right to pursue a nomadic way of life.

We would like to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Have you revised your Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment (GTANAs) since August 2015 when the Government changed the definition of Traveller in Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS) and has this changed your assessed figure of need?  If so please provide us with the following information:

• your pre August 2015 assessed need for additional pitch provision for Gypsies and Travellers;

• your pre August 2015 assessed need for additional pitch provision for Travelling Showpeople;

• your post August 2015 reassessed need for additional site provision for Gypsies and Travellers;

• your post August 2015 reassessed need for additional site provision for Travelling Showpeople,

and please provide us with links to relevant GTANAs where they are accessible on the internet.

Response

Borough Council is yet to revise the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessments since August 2015 when the Government changed the definition of Traveller in Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS). The pre August 2015 assessed need for additional pitch provision for Gypsies and Travellers is as follows: "2 permanent pitches for Gypsies and Travellers up to 2016". The pre August 2015 assessed need for additional pitch provision for Travelling Showpeople: "There was no identified need for additional pitch in Hastings for the period up to 2016". The post August 2015 reassessed need for additional site provision for Travelling Showpeople is currently not available. The post August 2015 reassessed need for additional site provision for Gypsies and Travellers is currently not available. Hastings Council is jointly working with East Sussex County Council and other Local Authorities to establish this. Link to the 2012 study Provision of Permanent sites for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople is as follows: https://www.hastings.gov.uk/content/planning/planning_policy/local_plan/evidence_base/pdfs/information/Provision_of_Permanent_sites_for_Gypsies_Travellers_and_Travelling_Showpeople_Oct_2012.pdf