How is the Welsh Government ensuring local authorities fulfil their duty to meet accommodation needs for Romani and Traveller communities, as enshrined in law by the Housing (Wales) Act 2014?
Under section 101 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (2014 Act), a local housing authority must, in each review period, carry out an assessment of the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers residing in or resorting to its area, having consulted such persons as it considers appropriate.
Welsh Government ensures local authorities are providing adequate and culturally appropriate sites where there is need through Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments (GTAAs), completed by Local Authorities on a 5 year cycle.
Welsh Government scrutinise the GTAAs and a recommendation is made to Welsh Ministers to approve, reject or approve with modifications. Local authorities have been reminded that a local authority’s existing approved GTAA remains valid until it is superseded by the next GTAA. Therefore the authority remains under a statutory duty to meet any outstanding need which has been identified in the existing approved GTAA up to the date the next GTAA is approved.
In addition, officials scrutinise progress against GTAAs with local authorities and encourage local authorities to access Welsh Government’s Sites Capital Grant funding which is available to fund either residential sites or transit sites. The Sites Capital Grant seeks to provide funding to secure long term mobile home accommodation and to facilitate the traditional way of life for some Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people.
The Sites Capital Grant funding available for 2024/25 is £3.44m.
Welsh Government are also reviewing the current GTAA guidance. This review will take place with local authorities and Gypsy Roma Traveller communities to ensure that local authorities fully understand their duties under the Housing Act legislation.