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• Definition of the term ‘gypsies and travellers’ for the purposes of the Housing Act 2004 - Final Regulatory Impact Assessment

Housing

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Summary

In the July 2006 caravan count 25% of caravans were on unauthorised sites.

Local housing authorities have an existing duty under section 8 of the Housing Act 1985 to assess the housing need of all of the population. This assessment of need then informs the local housing strategy, which each local housing authority completes and which includes priorities for the area and an action plan to address those priorities. Should they fail to do this, the Secretary of State has a power under section 87 of the Local Government Act 2003 to require them to do so.

Whilst it has been good practice to include Gypsies and Travellers in housing needs assessments and housing strategies, in reality this has happened in very few instances. The consequences of this have been widely varying levels of understanding and very different approaches to the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers in different areas.

The proposed definition of Gypsies and Travellers which was consulted upon only applied to English housing authorities. Secondary legislation applying to Wales is the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales (NAW) and NAW propose to make similar regulations shortly. The proposals should have additional impacts on the wider 'settled' community and businesses, since the wider policy framework, of which this definition is an essential part, should reduce the levels of unauthorised camping and development. The impacts of the proposals on the wider community and small businesses are discussed in this document.

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• Definition of the term 'gypsies and travellers' for the purposes of the Housing Act 2004 - Final Regulatory Impact Assessment
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