Agenda item

Consider report by Director Social Work and Practice.  (Copy attached.)

9.1         There had been circulated copies of a report by the Director of Social Work and Practice providing information in relation to the facilities and amenities for Gypsy / Traveller families in Scottish Borders.  It had become apparent that the Council needed to review the arrangements in place for this group, specifically the provision of stopping places and sites that would ensure that there was compliance with Scottish Government guidance, a copy of which was appended to the report.  Experience during the COVID restrictions had confirmed existing provision was neither adequate nor flexible enough to meet the requirements.  For some time the designated site for Gypsy/Travellers in Scottish Borders had been an area at the Tweedside Caravan Park, Innerleithen.  Prior to the pandemic there were ten specific pitches for Gypsy/ Traveller families.  However, this was reduced to five pitches in line with COVID restrictions and updated fire regulations.  It was also noted that this provision was a seasonal site with restricted access during the winter months and was therefore designated as temporary provision.  In 2019, Scottish Borders Council formalised the approach to Gypsy/Traveller unauthorised encampments by appointing an officer in a support role as Gypsy/ Traveller liaison officer.  Based within the Safer Communities Team, this role was to ensure a consistent approach and compliance with Scottish Government guidance, contained in Appendix B to the report.  That member of staff had recently moved to a new post and officers were currently in the process of progressing recruitment into the now vacant post. 

9.2         During the COVID restrictions in 2020/21 Scottish Government issued the COVID-19 Framework for Local Decision Making on Gypsy/Traveller Support – June 2020. This set out the need for access to sanitation, services and healthcare while minimising unnecessary travel.  An update on the guidance had been expected for some time but to date this had not been published.  The LiveBorders site at Victoria Park, Selkirk had been used to temporarily accommodate the families arriving/located within Scottish Borders in line with the need for compliance with the current government guidance.  Officers had been investigating alternative longer-term options for a site/s for Gypsy/Traveller families in Scottish Borders, with a view to ensuring that the Council was compliant with national guidance and Members had already received a briefing in relation to this, which was followed by further information on potential sites.

9.3         The report detailed the scoping that had taken place, potential sites identified thus far and indicative costs for converting these sites into suitable provision.  Of note was that sites and indicative costings were difficult to quantify because of the variables in potential work that would be required due to variations on each site location.  For example, there was a significant difference between the indicative costs of converting an existing Scottish Borders Council car park site compared to the cost of decontaminating a larger site that had previous industrial use.  Members welcomed the report and discussed the issue in detail.  Members highlighted the particular issues which had occurred in recent months, particularly in the Selkirkshire Ward, and the need for a permanent solution.  Councillor Thornton-Nicol, seconded by Councillor Moffat, moved as an amendment that recommendation 2.1 (d) had the words “including researching smaller sites which would be able to accommodate six berths” added.  Councillor Edgar, seconded by Councillor Aitchison, moved a further amendment that an additional recommendation be added - 2.1(g) “that subject to monies being available from the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund, the Council proceeds to implement the recommendation with a degree of urgency, and report back to Council on progress in 3 months-time”.  Both amendments were unanimously accepted.  Councillor Thornton-Nicol suggested that a Mr Donaldson who was a spokesperson for gypsy/travellers be invited to provide a briefing for Members and it was agreed that this should be facilitated before a final decision was taken.

DECISION

AGREED:-

(a)     to note the use of Victoria Park, Selkirk as the most viable option as a temporary Gypsy/Traveller site during the COVID response;

(b)     the continued scoping of Ettrick Mill, Selkirk as an alternative site that may be more suitable in the short to medium term and allow for Victoria Park to be returned to a commercial site as early as possible next year;

(c)     that the land at Galafoot, Galafoot Lane, Galashiels be subject to a full feasibility study regarding its suitability as a longer term option for the Gypsy/Traveller community;

(d)     that officers should continue to scope alternative sites in the event that the Galafoot site costs proved prohibitive as a viable long-term option, including researching smaller sites which would be able to accommodate six berths;

(e)     to progressing negotiations with the current tenant at Tweedside Caravan Park regarding the Scottish Housing regulators requirement for tenant rights for Gypsy/Traveller families on this site;

(f)      to a consultation process with existing Gypsy/Traveller families and national Gypsy/Traveller representatives as part of the design process; and

(g)     that subject to monies being available from the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund, the Council proceeded to implement the recommendation with a degree of urgency, and report back to Council on progress in 3 months-time.