Report on Establishment of Mid – Travellers Working Group

Date of Meeting 11th September 2018

Reporting Officer Mark Kelso - Director Public Health & Infrastructure

Is this report restricted for confidential business? Yes If ‘Yes’, confirm below the exempt information category relied upon No X

1.0 Purpose of Report

1.1 To consider the establishment of a District Council - Travellers Working Group

2.0 Background

2.1 Following the Special Council meeting held on Monday 9th July 2018 to discuss the situation concerning an unauthorised Traveller encampment at , a proposal was made to consider the establishment of a Mid Ulster District Council – Travellers Working Group to review relevant issues.

3.0 Main Report

3.1 The Housing Executive have statutory responsibility for assessing and determining the needs of travelling families and the provision of temporary and permanent “halting” sites for travellers under the Housing (NI) Order 1981 – Article 28. Under this legislation, the NI Housing Executive have a “duty” to provide site facilities where necessary. This duty takes effect when a Needs Assessment confirms that traveller accommodation is required.

3.2 Following liaison with NIHE in relation to Traveller accommodation, Council agreed to undertake a scoping study to identify potential sites in the Northern region of the Council District. As a result a design team was appointed and following assessment five opportunity sites were identified as previously reported to the Committee. These included :

 Land adjacent to Creagh Industrial Site  Runway portion of land adjacent to Creagh Industrial Site  Picnic area adjacent to Moyola River  O’Neill Park, Point, Ballyronan

3.3 Following an appraisal of the site options, NIHE personnel subsequently indicated that they would like to undertake a further feasibility assessment of the site at Traad Point , Ballyronan.

3.4 Following discussion at the Special Council meeting held on Monday 9th July and full Council meeting held on Thursday 26th July members proposed the establishment of a Mid Ulster District Council - Traveller Working Group to enable the matters to be further considered. The site feasibility assessment being conducted by NIHE personnel on the lands at Traad Point, Ballyronan was also suspended to enable NIHE to provide a report on Traveller Need Assessment in the Mid Ulster area for further consideration.

3.5 A set of Draft Terms of Reference for the proposed Travellers Working Group are as set out below. The NIHE will be a key contributor to the group along with other relevant statutory agencies including DFI Roads who will also be invited to participate. Members may wish to consider and review the Draft Terms as necessary.

The Working Group will be time bound and will be concluded when a Needs Assessment has been concluded and NIHE have identified an appropriate site to progress to development if necessary and secured any temporary accommodation as required so as to prevent further unauthorised encampments. The Working Group will report on a regular basis through the Environment Committee . Any matter concerning the identification and release or otherwise of Council lands will be subject to land availability and agreement through Policy and Resources Committee as per Council procedures.

Members are also requested to confirm the number of members they wish to have nominated to the Working Group by D’hondt ( 5 member / 10 member panel ) .

Draft Terms of Reference

1. Assist and support local NIHE representatives and the NIHE Place Shaping Team in addressing recent Traveller issues in Mid Ulster area.

2. Confirm the identified Traveller need as per the NIHE Needs Assessment mechanism for the Mid Ulster area.

3. Assist and support NIHE and other statutory agencies in the identification of suitable and appropriate permanent and temporary site provision for Traveller families in the Mid Ulster area as deemed required.

4.0 Other Considerations

4.1 Financial, Human Resources & Risk Implications

Financial: Not determined at present Human: Officer time Risk Management: N/a

Screening & Impact Assessments 4.2 Equality & Good Relations Implications: N/a Rural Needs Implications: N/a 5.0 Recommendation(s)

5.1 If Members are in agreement it is proposed to establish a Traveller Working Group with Terms of Reference as outlined in section 3.5, following the nomination of Elected Member representation on the Group.

6.0 Documents Attached & References

None