'Negotiated stopping' sites for travellers could be made available in Birmingham this spring

A pilot programme could see “negotiated stopping” sites made available from this spring and would involve an unused piece of land in Birmingham being utilised as a temporary stopping place.

The proposals come amid the city council’s issues with its transit sites, which are authorised areas where members of the travelling community can be directed to when in the city.

They typically provide hard standing for holding caravans, a secure boundary and basic sanitary provision while some also provide electricity.

But a report, published ahead of a cabinet meeting next week, said the council accepts that the provision for the Gypsy, Roma Traveller (GRT) community had “not been adequate”.

It went on to say that the authority has two operational transit sites for travellers within the city.

However due to various factors, such as repeat vandalism and unauthorised encampments, these have not been “consistently operational” in recent years.

One site has been closed to new traveller groups for several years, it added.

“The existing provision does not meet the minimum pitch provision needs of the travelling community and there is no allocated budget for the management of the existing transit sites,” it said.

The report continued that during the period 2018/19 to 2022/23, there were a total of 502 unauthorised encampments recorded within Birmingham – of which 78 per cent took place on publicly owned land.

On the impact this has, it said: “The use of unauthorised encampments presents significant costs to the council, both in terms of managing and moving on sites and remediation to damage and refuse left following an encampment.”

On what affects the ‘longevity’ of any encampment, the report said the council, and other public bodies, all have to consider the welfare of anyone who resides within their area.

“Secondly, the available powers are hampered by the lack of an available transit site to direct encampments to,” it continued.

The report therefore stated that there needs to be a “clear strategic plan” to improve the situation and that the “negotiated stopping” scheme could be part of that.

“A pilot programme is scheduled to commence in spring 2025 to gauge the effectiveness of this option in reducing the number of unauthorised encampments and in reducing demand for established transit sites,” it said.

“Based on historical data, it is anticipated that the council would need to provide a pool of between 12 and 15 sites between April and October.

“Colleagues are actively determining how this recommendation can be delivered and what sites could be brought forward.”

“The council will need to assess the success of adopting the negotiated stopping approach before it can be embedded more broadly as a way forward,” it added.

Why does the council not have adequate provision for the travelling community?

The council has two existing transit sites within the city – Proctor Street in Nechells and Tameside Drive in Castle Vale.

But the report explained: “Anti-social behaviour and damage on existing sites have been a regular occurrence, partially because the poor quality and lack of facilities, meaning sites do not lend themselves to a sustainable and harmonious community.

“Additionally, the council have historically been unable to resource the management of GRT sites effectively, meaning the ability of members of the community to maintain the site as a temporary home was often unsustainable.”

The city council came under fire last year for its lack of provision, with Green Party councillor Julien Pritchard describing it as “not acceptable”.

Meanwhile Councillor Barbara Dring said the issue needed to be sorted out “once and for all”.

“Nobody wants this in their backyard,” she said. “We’re all going to be watching on our patches where they’re going to go.

“This community has got to be accommodated. The inequalities they suffer as a result of being travellers is just not acceptable in this day and age.”

The report added that the “negotiated stopping” approach is “favoured by Gypsy Traveller communities as it provides a balanced and sensitive approach” and “offers more flexibility”.

The plans will be discussed by Birmingham City Council’s cabinet members next Tuesday, March 18.