Draft guidance for managing unauthorised encampments - Chapter 7: local strategies

All local authorities are encouraged to develop their own written strategies detailing how they will respond to unauthorised encampments. The key objectives in a strategy include:

• eliminating or minimising problems by effective advance planning
• avoiding a reactive respond
• ensuring that the needs and rights of all parties; Gypsies and Travellers, landowners and the settled community are considered
• setting a framework within which clear, consistent and appropriate decisions can be made in a transparent manner
• clearly linking the approach to unauthorised camping to other strategies and policies affecting Gypsies and Travellers (site provision, planning, health, education, housing etc)
• involving all those with an interest in the process of developing the strategy
• clarifying local authority roles and responsibilities, setting out who has responsibility for each stage of the process and the identity of the persons who will make the key decisions
• limiting any public nuisance, taking effective enforcement where necessary and appropriate

Taking the lead

It is recommended that local authorities formulate a clear governance strategy to deal with unauthorised encampments which provides for adequate oversight and monitoring of delivery.

Local authorities may wish to consider the following key stages when producing their strategy:

• Appointing a lead officer or Single Point of Contact (SPOC).
• Setting up a strategy working group, with adequate support/resources and ensuring key players are involved and liaison with other relevant services.
• Providing cultural-awareness training for key workers
• Setting up consultation procedures/mechanisms.
• Ensuring alignment and consistency with other strategies.
• Reviewing information obtained from the local authority’s assessment of needs.
• Planning new services/improving existing services, through joint working where appropriate.
• Monitoring/evaluating/reviewing the local authority actions taken and ensuring lessons are learnt where applicable.

Who should be Involved?

While local authorities should take the lead in the development of their strategy, it is essential that other relevant departments are involved in the process and are willing to comply with the strategy when it is implemented. securing commitment among stakeholders is an important part of the strategy building process.

Securing participation from the local health board, police force, Gypsies and Travellers themselves as well as advocacy groups who support them, community cohesion co-ordinators, community safety officers, and local councillors responsible for Gypsy and Traveller encampments, will strengthen the local authorities ability to respond effectively to any given situation. This will also help ensure that the services of other stakeholders are accessible to occupiers and the settled community. Other organisations, such as Natural Resources Wales, may be involved in this multi-agency way of working when the circumstances are appropriate.

Local authorities should also consider working on a regional basis to help ensure that their approach to unauthorised encampments and site provision is consistent to that taken across the rest of Wales.

There are a number of elements that may be included in the local authorities strategy, for example:

1. Local information on which the strategy is based, for example, the GTAA, the bi-annual caravan count data, local figures for unauthorised encampments (including police figures if helpful) and any information on recurring encampments.
2. Information on the current level and locations of local authority sites.
3. The typical approach to be taken when informed of an unauthorised encampment, including the appointment of a lead officer or SPOC.
4. Engagement with the Gypsy and Traveller community on their experiences of an unauthorised encampment.
5. The protocol for the sharing of information with other agencies and for contacting / involving / informing other relevant agencies.
6. The approach to be taken when entering an unauthorised encampment, setting out the roles and statutory responsibilities of all involved, the assessment to be undertaken.
7. An outline of the range of responses open to a local authority to an unauthorised encampment and an explanation of likely action to be taken in certain scenarios
8. A protocol for informing neighbouring authorities of unauthorised encampments and any action which may be taken on a partnership basis.
9. The Welsh Government will work closely with local authorities to support in the implementation of this guidance. It is important to note that once the guidance is in place, the issue of unauthorised encampments will be effectively managed.