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FOI request (FOIR-866763766)
Temporary stopping arrangement for Gypsies and Travellers
Requested Wed 19 August 2026
Responded Thu 27 August 2026Please find below a Freedom of Information request concerning temporary stopping arrangements for Gypsies and Travellers on land owned or managed by the local authority.
The purpose of this request is to understand whether, and in what circumstances, local authorities permitted temporary stopping arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently over the last year, including any policies or approaches used.
For clarity, the request distinguishes between the following two periods, as approaches may have differed:
• Period A: 1 March 2020 – 31 July 2021 (covering the COVID-19 period of lockdowns)
• Period B: 1 August 2025 – 31 July 2026
For the purposes of this request, please treat a ‘temporary stopping arrangement’ as any arrangement whereby the local authority permitted Gypsies and/or Travellers to remain temporarily on unauthorised land owned or managed by the local authority. Such arrangements may be referred to in local authority records as, negotiated stopping, temporary stopping place, tolerated site, or meanwhile site. Please exclude permanent sites and transit sites from the response.
To assist in collating responses, we would be grateful if you could respond to each numbered sub-question and retain the question numbering in your response, where possible.
1. Did the local authority permit any temporary stopping arrangements during the following periods? 1(a) 1 March 2020 – 31 July 2021: Yes / No 1(b) 1 August 2025 – 31 July 2026: Yes / No 1(c) If the answer is "No" for either period, please state, so far as the recorded information held by the authority indicates, why no temporary stopping arrangements were permitted:
2. For each period in which the answer to Question 1 was "Yes", did the local authority have a written policy, protocol or other recorded approach relating to temporary stopping arrangements? 2(a) 1 March 2020 – 30 July 2021: Yes / No 2(b) 1 August 2025 – 31 July 2026: Yes / No 2(c) If yes, please provide a copy of the relevant policy, protocol or other recorded approach.
3. Please provide the number of separate temporary stopping arrangements recorded by the local authority during the following periods: 3(a) 1 March 2020 – 31 July 2021: 3(b) 1 August 2025 – 31 July 2026: 3(c) Where this information is held in a recorded form, please provide the relevant record or information.
4. Please provide information, where recorded, on the length of time occupants were permitted to stay under each temporary stopping arrangement during the following periods:
4(a) 1 March 2020 – 31 July 2021:
4(b) 1 August 2025- 31 July 2026
5. Which of the following facilities or services were provided or arranged in connection with temporary stopping arrangements during the following periods?
5(a) 1 March 2020 – 31 July 2021
5(a)(i) Drinking water: Yes / No 5(a)(ii) Toilets: Yes / No 5(a)(iii) Showers or washing facilities: Yes / No 5(a)(iv) Bins and/or refuse collection: Yes / No 5(a)(v) Any other facilities or services (please specify):
5(b) 1 August 2025 – 31 July 2026
5(b)(i) Drinking water: Yes / No 5(b)(ii) Toilets: Yes / No 5(b)(iii) Showers or washing facilities: Yes / No 5(b)(iv) Bins and/or refuse collection: Yes / No 5(b)(v) Any other facilities or services (please specify):
6. Were occupants charged a fee or other payment for occupying the land, for any facilities or services provided, or for any other aspect of the temporary stopping arrangement during the period:
6(a) 1 March 2020 – 30 April 2021: Yes / No If yes, please provide information on the fees or other payments charged during this period, including, where recorded: 6(a)(i) the amount charged; 6(a)(ii) what the charge related to; and 6(a)(iii) the basis on which the charge was calculated, for example per household, caravan, person, day, week or another basis:
6(b) 1 August 2025 – 31 July 2026: Yes / No
If yes, please provide information on the fees or other payments charged during this period, including, where recorded: 6(b)(i) the amount charged; 6(b)(ii) what the charge related to; and 6(c)(iii) the basis on which the charge was calculated, for example per household, caravan, person, day, week or another basis:
Response
Hastings Borough Council do not use Temporary Stopping Arrangements for gypsies and travellers.
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