Report of the Strategic Director (Growth and Development) attached

The Executive considered a report of the Strategic Director (Growth and Development), which sought approval to formally close Gypsy and Traveller Dantzic Street (Cheetham Ward) caravan site as it was no longer occupied and had previously been identified as no longer suitable for meeting the needs of existing residents.  The report also provided an update to the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment and a review of the Council’s approach to unauthorised encampments.

The Executive Member for Housing and Development reported that in January 2015 the Executive approved the closure of the Dantzic Street Traveller Site, owing to its poor condition.  There had been a number of issues with the site over the years and more recently some significant incidents at the site had affected residents. 

A full Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) had been developed to assess the impact of the closure of the Dantzic Street site on both the former residents and the wider Gypsy and Traveller community. As part of the process of evaluating the impact, consultation with the former residents of the site, with Irish Community Care, a charity who had been providing support and advocacy of behalf of some of the former resident families, and with national and regional organisations representing Gypsy and Traveller interests and rights had been undertaken. 

Councillor Leech, noting the sensitive and difficult issue in finding an appropriate site, sought clarity on what the Council’s legal duty was in relation to whether it was required to provide just a permanent site or a permanent site and alongside this a site for temporary stays as the Council often spent a considerable amount of money in cleaning up sites where short term occupancy occurred.

The Executive Member for Housing and Development commented that most of the former residents had expressed a wish to live on a Traveller site again in the future and the outcome of the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment update would inform the future provision of Traveller sites in Manchester.

The Interim Director of Housing and Residential Growth commented that the council had a legal duty to meet the needs of the gypsy and traveller community, but in doing so the Council had to take account of encampments and unauthorised encampments and the Policing Bill as well as the views of the residents.  He added that there was no legal duty to provide a site for temporary stay

Decisions

The Executive

(1)       Note the current condition of the Dantzic Street site.

(2)       Note that the former residents have left the site and are pursuing ‘bricks and mortar’ accommodation following unrest within the wider Traveller community.

(3)       Approve the proposal to close the Dantzic Street site as it is no longer suitable as a Traveller site.

(4)       Note the proposal to update the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment to inform the future provision of Traveller sites in Manchester.

(5)       Approve a commitment that those residents who left the site last summer will be offered a plot or pitch on any new permanent site provided in Manchester in the future.

(6)       Note the outcomes of an Equality Impact Assessment.

(7)       Agree that Discretionary Home Loss payments will be made to former plot holders moving into bricks and mortar accommodation.