Agenda item

Developing a new Brent Gypsy, Roma & Traveller Strategy

This report outlines the council’s approach towards developing a new Brent Gypsy, Roma & Traveller Strategy along with progress made in developing specific components of the strategy, including the new Pitch Allocation Policy, search for new sites and plans to reduce pitch rent at Lynton Close as part of the council’s ambitions and commitments to the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

Decision:

Prior to considering the report, Cabinet noted the representations and comments made by Mr John O’Donnell (speaking on behalf of residents from the Lynton Close Travellers site). In recognising the progress made in terms of the relationship between residents on the site and Council Mr O’Donnell outlined a number of questions in relation to the investment in Lynton Close site improvements, rent arrangements, search for additional Traveller sites in Brent and new allocations policy referred to as part of the proposed Strategy presented for consideration.

In responding to the comments raised Councillor Donnelly-Jackson (as Cabinet Member for Housing) also welcomed the more positive and meaningful process of engagement with the Traveller community at Lynton Close and highlighted the Council’s commitment to celebrating diversity and ensuring Brent remained an inclusive place for all communities.

As part of this approach, reference was made to the work undertaken with residents of the Lynton Close Traveller Site to address overcrowding and fire safety risks, alongside the clearance of unwanted bulky waste and a dilapidated playground and portacabins that were no longer fit for purpose. It was pointed out these efforts had also been supported by a series of resident meetings (chaired by the Council’s Chief Executive) covering a range of wider issues, which had also resulted in the organisation of two community support days involving teams from the Council’s Housing, Brent Health Matters, Hubs and Council Tax services with residents (along with the wider community) being kept updated through regular, accessible communications.

Turning to development of the new Strategy, it was highlighted that this had reflected the engagement undertaken to date in partnership with Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities underpinned by an understanding of the needs being identified. In developing the proposals and working to improve engagement, it was highlighted that the Council had also involved interest groups like London Gypsy & Travellers Association as well as other local authorities to get advice and support in order to ensure the approach outlined was based on recognised best practice.

As part of the process of engagement and in seeking to develop a better understanding of need, it was recognised that the Irish Traveller community had highlighted access to suitable accommodation and the opportunity to meaningfully shape support services as important in supporting residents’ health and wellbeing, as well as their ability to thrive in education and employment with data from the latest Census and other sources also supporting the need to improve outcomes in these areas. This had also resulted in additional cross Council work being undertaken to ensure ownership and consistency in the approach being developed towards the delivery of improvements with the aim being to not just improve communication but also engage and listen, enabling residents (with the Council’s support) to shape their futures as well as increase wellbeing and reduce marginalisation and stigma.

In terms of the questions which had been raised, an assurance was provided that these would be responded to in detail following the meeting with initial confirmation provided that the liaison role for the Lynton Close site was already in the process of being recruited.

In recognising and supporting the efforts being made to continue and develop the process of engagement and in seeking to provide the foundation for a fairer future Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1) Endorse the proposed direction of travel to develop the Gypsy, Roma & Traveller Strategy. This included:

· The skeleton outlined in paragraph 3.2.5 of the report.

· The consultation and engagement approach as captured in paragraphs 3.2.24 – 3.2.27 and detailed within Appendix A of the report.

(2) To note progress made, and endorse next steps to develop key components of the strategy (as detailed in 3.2.10 – 3.2.23 of the report), including:

· Draft Pitch Allocation Policy as detailed in Appendix B of the report.

· Site search – with a report detailing to be provided for Cabinet in 2026.

· Site management approach.

(3) To endorse the use of up to c.£500,000 capital investment from 2026/27 through the usual capital governance processes (Capital Programme Board and Cabinet) for site improvements as part of our improved approach to site management. This would be invested in priorities identified through consultation and engagement with the residents.

(4) To endorse a reduction in the weekly pitch rate from £185.13 to £138.96.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 15 September 2025

Minutes:

Prior to considering the report, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) welcomed Mr John O’Donnell (speaking on behalf of residents from the Lynton Close Travellers site) who was accompanied by Nancy Hawker (London Gypsy & Travellers Association) to the meeting who he advised had requested to speak in relation to the investment in Lynton Close site improvements, rent arrangements, search for additional Traveller sites in Brent and new allocations policy referred to as part of the proposed Strategy being presented for consideration.

In addressing Cabinet, Mr John O’Donnell began by highlighting the progress made in terms of the relationship between residents on the Lyton Close Travellers site and Council and efforts made to ensure the site remained opened, including the installation of heat detector fire alarms and identification of funding and land to support further improvements to address overcrowding. In expressing support for the proposals within the strategy, Mr O’Donnell outlined a number of questions on which additional assurance was being sought as part of the ongoing plans relating to the Lyton Road site, which were as follows:

(1) Written confirmation was sought that the eviction process had now been paused, following the issuing of original notices to residents on the site.

(2) The potential for families to remain on the Lynton Close until new sites were available along with the availability of a deadline for the process to identify and deliver the new sites.

(3) The plans to provide enough sites/plots to accommodate all the residents that had been required to move off Lynton Close due to the fire hazards identified.

(4) The deadline for refurbishment of Lynton Close being completed along with timescale for recruitment and appointment of the Lynton Close site manager (including an outline of the job description).

In responding to the comments and questions raised, Councillor Donnelly-Jackson (as Cabinet Member for Housing) also welcomed the more positive and meaningful process of engagement with the Traveller community at Lynton Close and highlighted the Council’s commitment to celebrating diversity and ensuring Brent remained an inclusive place for all communities.

As part of this approach, reference was made to the work undertaken with residents on the Lynton Close Traveller Site to address overcrowding and fire safety risks, alongside the clearance of unwanted bulky waste, a dilapidated playground and portacabins that were no longer fit for purpose. It was pointed out these efforts had also been supported by a series of resident meetings (chaired by the Council’s Chief Executive) covering a range of wider issues, which had also resulted in the organisation of two community support days involving teams from the Council’s Housing, Brent Health Matters, Hubs and Council Tax services with residents (along with the wider community) being kept updated through regular, accessible communications.

Turning to development of the new Strategy, it was highlighted that this reflected the engagement undertaken to date in partnership with Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities underpinned by an understanding of the needs being identified. In developing the proposals and working to improve engagement, it was highlighted that the Council had also involved interest groups like London Gypsy & Travellers Association as well as other local authorities to ensure the approach outlined was based on recognised best practice.

As part of the process of engagement and in seeking to develop a better understanding of need, it was recognised that the Irish Traveller community had highlighted access to suitable accommodation and the opportunity to meaningfully shape support services as important in supporting residents’ health and wellbeing, as well as their ability to thrive in education and employment with data from the latest Census and other sources also supporting the need to improve outcomes in these areas. This had also resulted in additional cross Council work being undertaken to ensure ownership and consistency in the approach being developed with the aim being to not only improve communication but also engage and listen, enabling residents (with the Council’s support) to shape their futures as well as increase wellbeing and reduce marginalisation and stigma.

In terms of the questions which had been raised, an assurance was provided that these would be responded following the meeting with initial confirmation provided that the liaison role for the Lynton Close site was already in the process of being recruited. In support of the response provided, Tom Cattermole (Corporate Director of Residents & Housing Services) also took the opportunity to provide assurance regarding the identification of funding to support development of the strategy and proposals relating to the Lyton Close Travellers Site with work continuing at pace in relation to delivery.

Having thanked Mr O’Donnell and Nancy Hawker for their attendance and representations made at the meeting, the Leader then invited Councillor Donnelly-Jackson to formally introduce the report from the Corporate Director of Residents & Housing Services outlining the Council’s approach towards developing a new Brent Gypsy, Roma & Traveller Strategy along with the progress made in developing specific components of the strategy including a new Pitch Allocation Policy, search for new sites and plans to reduce pitch rent at Lynton Close as part of the Council’s ambitions and commitments to the Gypsy, Roma & Travellers communities.

In presenting the report Councillor Donnelly-Jackson once again welcomed the more positive and meaningful process of engagement with the Traveller community at Lynton Close along with the progress made in addressing fire safety issues on the site. In terms of the report presented for consideration at the meeting, it was highlighted that this reflected the commitment to continue seeking to improve on a longer term basis not only in terms of the Traveller community at Lynton Close, but also in terms of the wider Gypsy Roma and Traveller communities within the borough, with the objective to not only listen, and engage but also to work to understand Gypsy Traveller and Roma residents’ needs, and shape services in order to meet them. In addition to the work undertaken to address the fire safety risks on the Lynton Close site Councillor Donnelly-Jackson advised she was also pleased to report on the work undertaken following feedback from residents to clear unwanted waste along with structures that were no longer fit for purpose as well as hold two Community Support Days supported by a series of resident meetings (chaired by the Council’s Chief Executive).

Turning to development of the new Strategy, this was also felt to underline the Council’s commitment to ongoing collaboration, through the development of a new Pitch Allocation Policy, aimed at creating a transparent and fair system for allocating pitches on permanent and temporary sites; proposed reduction in weekly pitch rent at Lynton Close Traveller Site (to bring charges in line with the London average, in an effort to prevent residents getting into debt); proposed investment of up to £500,000 for site improvements at Lynton Close, with a commitment to allowing residents to shape how the funds were used; consultation on a new long-term strategy for Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities and ongoing work to identify new sites to tackle overcrowding on Lynton Close working closely with the community to understand their needs.

In highlighting the Council’s ongoing commitment to listen, Councillor Donnelly-Jackson ended by advising of the ongoing need to continue working to reduce marginalisation of the Gypsy, Roma & Traveller communities in order to improve their wellbeing and shape future services to better meet their needs.

In considering the report, Cabinet welcomed the approach outlined in terms of the development of the Strategy and key components included in seeking to provide a clear framework and build stronger and more sustainable relationships with the Gyspy, Roma and Traveller communities across Brent whilst also addressing the challenges identified by residents located on the traveller site at Lynton Close.

In recognising and supporting the efforts being made to continue and develop the process of engagement and in seeking to provide the foundation for a fairer future designed to enable Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities to flourish in Brent Cabinet RESOLVED, having noted that progress in the development and delivery of the Strategy would remain under ongoing review, to: