MATTER OF URGENCY

Lord Provost Stephen intimated that he had directed in terms of Section 50(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that a report on the establishment of Gypsies/Travellers Halting Sites within the City be considered as a matter of urgency to allow the Council to make decisions to better manage the ongoing problem of temporary encampments in the City.

ESTABLISHMENT OF GYPSIES/TRAVELLERS HALTING SITES WITHIN THE CITY

•11.             With reference to Article 6 of the Minute of Meeting of the Policy and Strategy Committee of 29^th November, 2005, the Council had before it a report by the Corporate Director for Neighbourhood Services (North Area) which identified a number of potential halting sites for Gypsies/Travellers within the City and asked the Council to start consultation on these sites. 

The report explained that all Local Authorities have a duty to respond to the needs of Gypsies/Travellers who come into the Local Authority area as well as managing the rights and expectations of the existing settled community.  The report advised that Aberdeen City Council provides a site at Clinterty and also has a policy on the Management of Unauthorised Encampments.  The report explained that unauthorised encampments invariably generate high profile attention and considerable controversy as to the rights of the settled community and the rights of Gypsies/Travellers.  The report explained that given that Gypsies/Travellers do not always opt to use the official site at Clinterty and have certain rights to make temporary encampments, the Council has a choice to continue with the current arrangements whereby temporary encampments spring up at any location across the City or alternatively move to a position of establishing a number of formal "halting" sites in order to better manage the situation by avoiding unauthorised temporary encampments and where these do arise be in a position to start immediate steps to move people on from unauthorised encampments.

The report explained that the Policy and Strategy Committee agreed in principle, the development of short-term halting sites for Gypsies/Travellers at its meeting on 29^th November, 2005 and explained that the Council are now being asked to introduce  4 halting sites within the City in order to better manage and respond to the rights of Gypsies/Travellers who come into the City and to protect the rights of the settled community. 

The report provided detailed information in relation to legislative and national policy guidance in relation to Gypsies/Travellers and provided information on official Gypsy/Traveller sites in Scotland.  The report also provided details of unauthorised encampments by Gypsies/Travellers in Scotland and measures taken by other Local Authorities in relation to this issue.

The report outlined the pros and cons of short-term halting sites and provided information on the capacity and number of short-term halting sites required. 

The report suggested that based on the situation in Aberdeen, it was proposed to identify, for consultation, 9 possible locations for halting sites within the North and South areas of the City.  The report explained that following the Policy and Strategy Committee decision, officers had considered potential sites against a number of factors including:-

• access to public transport;
• access to shops;
• accessing medical facilities;
• the ease of access for bin/toilet collections;
• proximity to settled community;
• safe access;
• proximity to railways/overhead pylons/high speed roads;
• proximity to high profile employers;
• acceptable to Gypsies/Travellers;
• site of cultural importance;
• site of environmental impact;
• site of economic importance;
• cost effectiveness;

As a result, the report proposed that the following sites be put out for public consultation:-

The report provided information on the proposed consultation on these halting sites and provided a timetable for the decision making process which explained that following the Council's consideration of this report, if approved, consultation would be undertaken on the proposed halting sites, following which the relevant Area Committees would recommend sites at their meetings in October, 2007 for final decision by the Council at its meeting in November, 2007.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)       approve or amend the list of nine potential site locations and remit to officers to undertake a consultation process and report to the respective Area Committees on the outcome of the consultation so that four halting sites can be identified within the City;

(b)       remit to the North and South Area Committees to each recommend to the Council the location for two sites;

(c)        instruct officers to prepare details of costings (capital and revenue) for establishing the four sites and report to the Council meeting in November, 2007, together with the recommendations of the Area Committees;  and

(d)       approve the process for consultation as set out in the report acknowledging that strong views and opinions are likely to be part of the process.

Councillor Dean moved, seconded by Councillor Kevin Stewart:-

            That the Council (1) approve the recommendations contained in the report;  and (2) agree to include Community Councils and Community Fora in the consultation process.

Councillor Cooney moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Hunter:-

            That the Council (1) extend the remit of the consultation to re-appraise and revise the Council's policy on Travelling people, and extend the period of consultation by one cycle to allow for the broader remit;  and (2) otherwise approve the recommendations contained in the report.

On a division, there voted:-

for the motion (25) - Depute Provost John West;  and Councillors Cassie, Clark, Cormack, Cormie, Dean, Dunbar, Fletcher, Greig, Jaffrey, Kiddie, Leslie, McCaig, McDonald, Malone, May, Noble, Penny, Reynolds, Robertson, Jennifer Stewart, Kevin Stewart, Wendy Stuart, Kirsty West and Yuill.

for the amendment (15) - Lord Provost Stephen;  and Councillors Adam, Allan, Collie, Cooney, Crockett, Donnelly, Farquharson, Graham, Hunter, Ironside, Laing, Milne, Wisely and Young.

Absent from division (1) - Councillor John Stewart.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.