19. The Assessment of Accommodation Needs of Gypsies and Travellers (Extension of Review Period) (Wales) (Coronavirus) Order 2021

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:06 pm on 16 March 2021.

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Photo of Jenny Rathbone Jenny Rathbone Labour 5:06, 16 March 2021

I think it's sensible to give the extra 12 months to enable local authorities to confer with Gypsies and Travellers, because it is extremely difficult to have any meaningful consultation whilst we're under the current restrictions, particularly as many of them do not have any internet devices that would enable Zoom meetings et cetera. However, I do hope that this is not going to be seen by local authorities as an excuse to simply kick this issue into the long grass, because I think—. I was very grateful that the Minister wrote to me in response to the issue I raised in February in Plenary about the incident that occurred at the Queensferry site and the use of security firms to enforce the behaviour of communities in relation to the coronavirus regulations, when in fact what was needed was decent housing management, which was clearly absent in that case. 

So, I want to just ask the Deputy Minister if there are any local authorities that still have not delivered a Gypsy and Traveller site in their local authority, because this was one of the things that was incorporated into the Planning (Wales) Act 2015, never mind any subsequent legislation. So, could you tell us, Deputy Minister, if there are any such local authorities that have failed in their duty to provide Gypsy and Traveller sites, and, if so, what is going to be done about that?