No record of agreement for second Gypsy site in Llansamlet - Glamorgan

From the South Wales Evening Post

AN "AGREEMENT" not to create a second Gypsy Traveller site in Llansamlet cannot be found, residents have been told.

At a packed-out Swansea Council cabinet meeting, Thomas Jenkins said the Labour party on the old West Glamorgan Council had promised to look elsewhere if another site in Swansea was needed.

However, cabinet member for place, June Burtonshaw, said she could find no record of such an agreement.

Mr Jenkins said: "Back in the 1980s West Glamorgan Labour had an agreement with the Llansamlet ward Labour party that if it accepted a site they would not place another site in the ward. Why isn't the Labour party today honouring that?"

Council leader David Phillips said the cabinet meeting was not the place to discuss Labour party matters.

But Mrs Burtonshaw added: "In 1986 West Glamorgan considered the location of a Gypsy Traveller site and based on documents I've seen there was not an agreement at that time preventing another Gypsy Traveller site in Llansamlet.

"I haven't been able to see anything in any of the documents."

Another member of the public gallery, who was given a round of applause after he spoke, asked: "If any area of Swansea had one site already, why would you put a second one there?

"It shouldn't be on the list at all."

On the agenda at the cabinet meeting were plans to launch an inquiry and consultation period into how a short list for a second permanent Gypsy Traveller site was drawn up.

Swansea Council has a duty to provide another site under guidelines set down by the Welsh Government.

A task and finish group was set up to look at all the potential sites. They started with an list of 1,006 and whittled it down to a short list of five.

At the cabinet meeting this week, members were asked to approve the inquiry and consultation.

It will first be examined internally by a head of service not involved in the process. If he or she deems it sound, it will then be examined externally, possibly by a neighbouring council.

Should no issues be raised at that point, everything from the original list to the short list, minutes from meeting, criteria etc will be published online. The public will then be asked to give its views.

Following the consultation, council officers will draw up a report to go be council. It is expected the short list will be ranked at this point and councillors will be invited to decide which site or sites will be put forward for planning permission to create a Gypsy Traveller site.

However, if any problems are noted either externally in internally, the points will be reviewed.

Mr Phillips said the council was going through the process because it had pledged "openness and transparency".