Memorandum by the Novas-Ouvertures Group
(Novas) (GTS 18)
INTRODUCTION
1. The Novas-Ouvertures Group (Novas) is
a dynamic group of voluntary and community organisations, registered
social landlords and social businesses.
2. Novas, welcomes the opportunity to respond
to the ODPM inquiry on Gypsy and Traveller sites. Novas, currently
manages eight Gypsy and Traveller sites in Kent, Sussex and South-East
London and is providing support to families living on two Traveller
Group Housing schemes in Northern Ireland with a total of 13 houses.
We have a great deal of expertise around the culture and work
practices of Gypsy and Traveller communities and the everyday
prejudice and discrimination they face within mainstream society.
3. The Novas Group is committed to working
with Gypsy and Traveller communities as part of its strategies
around diversity and equality. We also believe that individuals
and groups can best achieve potential if they have quality and
appropriate accommodation.
CURRENT PROVISION
AND LOCATION
OF SITES
4. The sites that we own or manage are generally
found in remote locations, no convenient bus routes, no local
shops, no schools within walking distance. Half the sites are
located adjacent to water/sewage treatment plants or waste transfer
sites. One site is partially built on a re-claimed landfill site.
One site is located approximately 10 metres from a motorway and
another is sandwiched between a busy commuter rail line and a
major road. Our experience of visiting other sites around the
country leads us to believe that the location of our sites, are
not untypical of the norm.
5. We would suggest that most of these sites
have been located in areas totally unsuitable for housing and
for raising families. It is difficult to engage residents in training
and employment schemes when local facilities are not easily accessible.
6. The current pitch capacity on sites varies
greatly across authorities and has not changed since the mid 1970's
when sites were established.
7. We would like to see accommodation for
Gypsies and Travellers classed as housing and included in Regional
Housing Strategies with appropriate funding available for provision.
DEMAND FOR
AND USE
OF SITES
8. We do have waiting lists for most sites
but with little movement and lack of further provision, families
often have to wait a long time for a pitch.
9. None of the sites we manage has the capacity
for enlargement. This restricts the availability of suitable accommodation
for extended families and children.
10. The number of pitches available in any
geographical area has no bearing on the number of Gypsies and
Travellers either already living in that area, or who pass through.
11. As most local authority sites are now
long-term residential sites, we would like to see site, and other
accommodation provision extended to RSLs and other bodies.
12. We have experience of working with Travellers
in Northern Ireland, living in pilot Group Housing schemes. These
schemes, funded by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and
built by an RSL, have provided homes for thirteen families from
two distinct family groups on two sites. These families took part
in consultation around their accommodation needs and helped plan
their new homes and environs.
13. These schemes offer an alternative type
of accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers and could be included
in any mainstream new housing provision.We would welcome the opportunity
to work with a local or county authority in developing a similar
scheme in England or Wales.
EXISTING FUNDING
ARRANGEMENTS
14. There is currently no funding available
for the provision of new sites. We would like to see funding for
sites coming under the responsibility of Regional Housing Boards
and made available to RSLs or private sector providers.
15. Funding provision for support to Gypsy
and Traveller families is available through the Supporting People
programme. However, the framework of the Supporting People programme
does not fully take into account the complexities of Gypsy and
Traveller family and culture.
16. Whilst welcoming the introduction of
the Gypsy Site Refurbishment Grant that was introduced in 2001-02
we regret that it is only available to local authorities. Owners
of private sites, or RSLs, such as ourselves who have taken on
the ownership of ex local authority sites, cannot access the grant.
17. Refurbishment on many sites is unattainable
due to change of use over the many years since some sites were
built. Where families have been settled for a long period their
needs have changed with regard to pitch sizes. Refurbishment to
meet their needs will usually mean a reduction in the number of
pitches on a site.
18. We would welcome a published evaluation
of the grant to date.
19. There is no national standard for provision
of amenities on Gypsy and Traveller sites. We have experience
of a range of amenity buildings on our sites from basic washroom
and toilet, to large family day room with separate bathroom and
toilet.
20. We would welcome the introduction of
a standard, but would also welcome the introduction of a national
standards authority.
21. Local authority sites, are exempt from
licensing and therefore do not come under any public scrutiny.
Private sites require a licence from the local authority.
22. A national standards agency could also
look at all aspects of site provision.
23. Most sites are regarded by the local
authority as private property, whether owned and managed internally,
by RSLs, or by other agents. This means that managing groups have
to budget for such things as street lighting, road sweeping and
gulley cleaning.
24. However, each pitch is also liable to
local Council Tax, which is paid to help local authorities provide
each of the previous services across its region. Managers of Gypsy
and Traveller sites are therefore penalised and unnecessarily
burdened with additional costs to maintain these services. We
would call for all sites to be de-privatised and regarded as general
housing stock and therefore available to receive the same services
as the majority of the community.
25. Budget savings for managers would thus
be available for other investment in site facilities.
MANAGEMENT OF
UNAUTHORISED CAMPING:
26. The provision of adequate facilities
and stopping places for nomadic groups of Gypsies and Travellers
would help reduce the levels of unauthorised encampments.
27. There is a need to reduce the levels
of policing Gypsy and Traveller communities and including them
in legislation that labels them as lawbreakers.
28. Local authorities should be encouraged
to work with Gypsy and Traveller groups in identifying land that
would be suitable for short term camping.
ODPM STATISTICAL
INFORMATION ON
CARAVANS, SITES
AND FAMILIES:
29. The current system of counting the numbers
of caravans, families and sites is flawed.
30. Although we work across four or five
local authorities only two of them currently make arrangements
to check figures with us on a bi-annual basis.
31. There is little information as to the
purpose of the count. To our knowledge, no new sites have been
attributed to the publishing of the count in recent years.
32. The count does not take into account
the need of suitable accommodation for those Gypsies and Travellers
currently living in housing or on private sites.
GENERAL:
33. Whist calling for new funding for Gypsy
and Traveller accommodation Novas does not believe that the Housing
Corporation is the most suitable body to administer it. The Housing
Corporation exists primarily for mainstream accommodation providers
and does not currently collate statistics on Gypsy and Traveller
issues. We believe that if voluntary groups, and Gypsies and Travellers
themselves, are to develop/own sites it is essential that funding
is not routed through the Housing Corporation.
34. Novas believes that in order to maintain
the integrity of Gypsy and Traveller culture in providing appropriate
accommodation, funding should remain within the control of the
ODPM. This will enable a diverse range of people to work with/own/develop
sites, including Local Authorities and Gypsies and Travellers
themselves. If future funding is passed to the Housing Corporation
this would suggest mass privatisation of Local Authority sites
thus allowing them to withdraw their responsibilities in this
area.
35. We would encourage the ODPM to appoint
a Traveller Task Force to advise and take forward Gypsy and Traveller
issues, especially around accommodation needs. We would wish to
see a fair proportion of Gypsies and Travellers represented on
such a Task Force.
36. We endorse the recent strategy produced
by the Commission for Racial Equality to combat the inequalities
faced daily by Gypsies and Travellers.
John Wilson
Services Development Manager—Travellers
20 May 2004
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