I'd like to thank the Local Government and Housing Committee staff and the Senedd's community liaison team for their work producing the report, organising evidence sessions and visits to engage directly with the community—that was really valuable—and also Travelling Ahead, who came with us as well.

We discovered there aren't enough sites and there are long waiting lists for local authority ones of up to 20 years. Sites are often on the outskirts of areas, away from amenities, with no pavements to safely link them. There was a lot of concrete and metal barrier fencing and they were poorly maintained, with a lack of green spaces and provision for children. Their location next to busy roads and industrial sites means noise and air pollution is a real issue. One place we visited had one electricity meter at the entrance to the site and extension cables linking caravans to the electricity provision at various points, and broadband was also poor in the areas. Representatives of the community should be consulted when planning where sites should be as part of the LDP process. It should be done right at the beginning, and also when any additional funding for site provision is made available, which wasn't happening.

The Welsh Government's capital funding for site provision improvements is really welcome, but at one site the funding had been used by the local authority to improve the access road. The community said it wasn't the one that they actually wanted repairing, and they would have actually liked to have used the funding for other purposes, such as play provision on the site, and improving the green area that was to the side and they didn't have access to. Layout of sites is also important for well-being, and not always properly considered. One site said they were asked for their views but they were not reflected in what was delivered by the council-owned site. 

One home had a broken window, which had been waiting for a repair for a long time. Another had ineffective gutters for surface water. I was thinking that perhaps Gypsy, Roma and Traveller sites should move into the housing revenue account to sit along other social housing, so that rent is ring-fenced, reinvested, and they could be brought up to standard, such as social housing is. As residents pay rent for the sites just like any other tenant, they are subject to council tax, rent, gas, electricity and other associated charges, in the same way as other tenants are. 

It was so informative listening and talking to the members of the community. As a councillor I had diversity training, but never had the opportunity to directly engage with the GRT community; I sat in a room with other councillors, having a slide presentation delivered by a council officer. So, it would be good if there was more cultural awareness with the extended community where there are sites, to help knock down barriers and to build community cohesiveness.

One site we visited, owned by a family, wanted permission for their immediate family to have temporary homes on the site so they could be nearby. One daughter had a disabled son with complex needs and needed the family support. They were struggling with the planning system, bureaucracy and discrimination, and really needed help.

There is the concern that the UK Government Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, which makes unauthorised encampments a criminal offence, could impact, as there is a lack of authorised sites. And with there also being a lack of transition sites, it was considered that corporate joint committees, under their role of strategic planning, could enable local authorities to work in collaboration to provide suitable sites. Having someone independent who could be a trusted liaison officer for planning or other help to represent their views is essential, and there needs to be measured goals and timelines in place for all the recommendations to help strengthen the legislation.

Once again, my thanks go to everyone who took part. It's certainly opened my eyes, and I found it really useful. Now the stakeholders need to know it was all worthwhile, worth their time, and that their voices will be heard. Thank you.