Council launches 'inclusive' traveller plan

The council will employ an officer to look at where new pitches should be in the city

A year-long action plan designed to reduce inequality within York's Gypsy and Traveller communities has been backed by senior city councillors.

It will see the Labour-run authority employ an officer to look at where new pitches should be in the city and oversee investment into existing sites and pitches.

Last March, City of York Council agreed to provide an extra 23 pitches and there are plans for another 21 to be supplied by private companies.

A report to the council’s decision-making executive board, written by one of the council’s assistant directors, Laura Williams, said Gypsies and Travellers were one of the most marginalised and disadvantaged of all minority groups nationally.

'Fair and understanding'

Inequalities affecting Gypsies and Travellers include lack of access to suitable accommodation, healthcare, education, employment, financial services, policing, justice and probation, the report said.

“The vision is to work towards ensuring that Gypsies and Travellers experience an inclusive, fair and understanding community in York,” Ms Williams wrote in the report.

Recommendations include improving the way the council gathers information on crimes linked to Gypsy and Traveller communities, whether they have been the victims or offenders and paying special attention to hate crime.

“This information will highlight the types of crime where these communities are over-represented and under-represented, and where hate crime is happening,” the report said.

The dedicated officer responsible for the pitches is due to start work this summer.

A report – detailing plans for £5m of investment in Gypsy and Traveller accommodation – is expected to go before councillors in the autumn.