Agenda item

To consider a report from the Director for Digital & Resources, a copy is attached as item 9.       

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Digital & Resources, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 9. 

Councillor Bickers, Vice-Chairman of the Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee, attended the meeting to present the report and findings of the working Group. 

The Joint Strategic Committee (JSC) was asked to receive and note the findings and

recommendations of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) review on Adur

and Worthing Gypsy and Traveller encampments. The recommendations followed on

from the discussions of a Working Group set up by JOSC. A copy of the report to JOSC and

the Working Group report were attached as Appendix 1. 

The evidence submitted to the Working Group and further investigations had provided a good analysis of the procedures which were followed by the responsible agencies when unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller encampments occurred on Council owned land. The evidence had also provided a good understanding of the background/reasons for the Councils entering into the joint agreement for the provision of the County transit site and also some views from local resident groups and a national Gypsy and Traveller         organisation. The evidence highlighted that a great deal of work had been undertaken to deal with unauthorised encampments. 

However, the Working Group had identified some issues that it wished to submit to JSC for consideration as it was recognised that there were some key issues which needed to be addressed as part of the overall procedures for managing Gypsy and Traveller encampments in Adur and Worthing and to ensure that overall processes were improved.  

During consideration of the item, the Committee made a number of observations including:-

• Members were critical of the report as it confused different definitions of gypsy and traveller communities and it did not reference the original JSC report on the transit site;
• acknowledged the lack of a break clause but were confident it could be resolved with partners in a collaborative way;
• acknowledged the difficulties associated with undertaking a Health Audit for seasonal travellers;  
• expressed concerns at the suggestion that Councillors mediate between settled and travelling communities;
• supported the provision of additional training for Members;
• Members were concerned in regards to paragraph 5.7 of the report regarding ‘Officer decision making processes’ as the decision to enter into the partnership was taken by JSC and the subsequent decisions to approve the associated financing were taken by both Adur and Worthing Councils. 

Cllr Bicker agreed to refer the comments, provided by the Committee, to the Working Group for their consideration. 

Decision:  

The Joint Strategic Committee: 

1.    noted the report, findings and recommendations from the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

2.    agreed to receive a report in March 2020 on the issues raised by the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee and consideration of the implications for each recommendation contained in the Scrutiny report at Appendix 1 in order for the Executive to provide a formal response to the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Call In: 

The call-in deadline for this decision will be 5.00pm on 19 November 2019.

* Councillors Angus Dunn, Brian Boggis, Emma Evans and David Simmons left the meeting at 7.54pm in accordance with the Joint Committee Agreement.