Proposed new planning powers targeting Gypsy and Traveller communities - Letter to Pickles

From JUST West Yorkshire

11th October 2012

Dear Mr. Eric Pickles,

Proposed new planning powers targeting Gypsy and Traveller
communities

JUST West Yorkshire is extremely concerned with the new proposed
planning powers to allow local councils to issue instant stop notices and
impose unlimited fines to Travellers setting up homes on disused land
which you announced in your address to the Conservative Party Council
on 10 October, 2012.

JUST believes that the policy does not address the root causes of the
problem, which stems from the shortage of local authority designated
sites for Gypsies and Travellers. The community is an integral part of
UK’s wider community and we believe that the proposed measures are
discriminatory and disproportionate because it will lead to the
criminalization of Gypsy and Traveller communities and put them at
increased risk by creating a climate of xenophobia.

In view of the adverse ramifications of the proposed policy, JUST is
seeking clarification from your department on the following points:

1. Was a comprehensive review of available local authority
pitches’ undertaken to establish whether current provision is
able to meet the existing demand for places by Travellers
and Gypsies?
2. If so, please let us have the information / data which formed
the basis on which the new plans were announced.
3. Has your department given consideration to equalities
legislation prior to proposing the new powers?
4. If so, please explain how this was considered prior to your
announcement at the Tory Party Conference on 10 October,
2012.
5. Were local authorities and the police consulted prior to the
Secretary of State’s announcement of the new proposed
powers?
6. If so, please explain who was consulted and what was the
outcome of the consultation?
7. Does the proposed increase in planning powers have the
agreement of your Lib-Dem coalition partners?
8. If so, please evidence where it has Lib-Dem support?
9. Will a public consultation be undertaken before the proposed
powers become legally binding?
10. If so, when is DCLG proposing to initiate the consultation
period?
11. At what point is the department proposing to undertake an
equality impact assessment in relation to the proposed
powers?
12. We would expect that the consultation will be wide-ranging
and will include Gypsy and Traveller organizations and
communities in the EqIA process. Can you confirm if that is
the intention of your department?
13. Has the department given any consideration to possible
breaches of Articles 8 and 14 of the Human Rights Act in
announcing the proposed powers?
14. If so, please explain the grounds on which your propose to
proceed with the implementation of these new powers.
Ministerial Responsibilities for Gypsy and Traveller issues

We note that Mr. Brandon Lewis, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
in the DCLG is in charge of Travellers and carries the full portfolio title as
'Local Government; Fire and Resilience; Thames Gateway; Travellers;
Community Pubs.'

1. The term Gypsies appears to be absent from his portfolio
responsibilities, does this mean that there is now a separate
portfolio holder for Gypsies?
2. If so please let us know who the portfolio holder is? If not,
please explain why the term Gypsies has been removed from
his title?
3. Is the term Gypsies, one that the government is no longer
proposing to use?
4. If so, please explain the rationale for the decision.
We note that alongside responsibility for Travellers, Mr Lewis will also
have responsibility for 'Local Government; Fire and Resilience; Thames
Gateway; and Community Pubs.
1. Please explain the rationale for locating responsibility for
Travellers alongside areas of responsibility, which have little
to do with Gypsy and Traveller issues.
2. Please clarify if Gypsy and Traveller issues will continue to
be under the remit of the Race/Equalities Minister?

We note that Mr. Lewis’s background is in commercial law and he is a
company director with special interest in the challenges facing small
businesses and coastal towns.

1. Could you assure us that he has the requisite skills,
experience and competencies for working with Travellers and
Gypsies?

In view of the widespread concerns that your statement has generated,
we would be grateful if you could give our queries your urgent attention.
We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. I
would be grateful if you could acknowledge receipt of our email and let
us know when we might be expect a response to our queries.

Ratna Lachman
Director
JUST West Yorkshire
(Promoting racial justice civil liberties and human rights)
01274 542222
Twitter: @JUSTWYorkshire
Website: www.justwestyorkshire.co.uk