Mobile Homes Act 1983 - pitch fee uprating: consultation analysis

3) Consultation Process

The consultation ran from 19 January 2023 to 7 April 2023. Respondents were invited to respond online on Citizen Space and were also given the option to respond by email or post. The consultation was distributed widely to stakeholders who represent residents of mobile homes, mobile home site operators, Gypsy/Travellers, third sector organisations and local authorities. The consultation was drawn to the attention of MPs and MSPs in a letter from the Minister as they may have received constituent enquiries. Stakeholders were offered meetings to explain the background to the consultation and encourage responses. One organisation, which represents mobile home park residents’ associations, took up this offer, after this meeting there was a short-term increase in the rate of responses to the consultation. Organisations which represent site operators and local authorities did not take up the option of a meeting.

A shortened consultation was sent to a third sector organisation which supports Gypsy/Travellers, aiming to make it more relevant to their situation and easier to understand. However, the topic is inherently complex and advice from this third sector organisation was that it would be unlikely to generate responses. The policy team therefore followed up to seek views of Gypsy/Travellers outside the written consultation process instead, via a meeting with this third sector organisation as well as a small online meeting with some of the residents on a Local Authority Gypsy/Traveller site.