Gypsy/Travellers Action Plan: Ministerial Oversight Group minutes - September 2024

Attendees and apologies

• Kaukab Stewart (Chair), Minister for Equalities
• Maureen Chalmers (Chair), Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing, Council of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
• Jenni Minto, Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health
• Fiona Simpson, Chief Planner, to represent Minister for Public Finance’s  interests
• Dorothy Ogle, Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation and Residential Mobile Home Policy Team Leader, to represent Minister for Housing’s interests.

Apologies

• Paul McLennan, Minister for Housing 
• Ivan McKee, Minister for Public Finance
• Natalie Don-Innes, Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise
• Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport

Items and actions

Welcome and apologies 

The Chair (Minister for Equalities) welcomed all and noted previous Gypsy/Traveler Action Plan (G/TAP) progress. All parties involved in development of the new plan, particularly community members, stakeholders, policy officials and COSLA were thanked for their input.

Objectives of the meeting

The Chair (Minister for Equalities) noted main objectives of meeting as:

• discussion of actions in G/TAP
• agreement to publication of G/TAP on 26 September

The Chair (Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing) noted COSLA’s Community Wellbeing Board endorsement of G/TAP without amendments. The Community Wellbeing Board meeting highlighted funding beyond March 2025 as essential to achieving the objectives in the G/TAP.

The Chair (Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing) highlighted that she will be chairing the next meeting of Local Leaders Network in November. The meeting be an opportunity to begin to take forward actions in G/TAP.

Updated terms of reference  

The Chair (Minister for Equalities) noted need to update MOG terms of reference (ToR) due to change of Ministers and portfolio responsibilities. All present were content to approve the updated ToR.

Discussion on actions

The Chair (Minister for Equalities) indicated opportunity to present actions being taken in Ministers’ respective portfolios. Updated that Ministers and COSLA have previously cleared the actions they are responsible for. 

In discussion that followed the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health noted:

• Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care’s publication of statement on anti-racism on 6 September. The statement asks all health boards to look at their anti-racism plans and integrate them with their Gypsy/Traveller plans
• her visit to a Gypsy/Traveller site where the importance of the relationship built between community health support workers and communities was reaffirmed
• the importance of feedback from communities and the intimate link between health and accommodation
• from portfolio interest, now looking at vaccination, screening and long-term conditions such as cancer and diabetes. Mental health, particularly suicide among young men also a key area of focus. Public Health Scotland are continuing to build on evidence gathered in these areas with a view to improving services
• intention to take forward specific actions (alongside Ms Todd) and look to facilitate wider understanding of Gypsy/Traveller culture. Will also work with communities to ensure access to suicide and self-harm prevention training
• five co-design sessions are to be held with Gypsy/Traveller communities to inform design of the National Care Service

The Chair (Minister for Equalities) noted:

• her input to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care’s anti-racism statement as part of role as Equalities Minister to mainstream equalities across portfolios
• Strategic Team for Anti-Racism (STAR) provision of leadership and direction on anti-racist front and also ensure promotion of Gypsy/Traveller culture. STAR will also lead on supporting other areas to consider Gypsy/Travellers in developing policy. MPs, MSPs and councillors will be encouraged to be more knowledgeable about Gypsy/Traveller life to counteract racism. Community conversations with Equalities Minister, Cllr Chalmers and communities will be arranged
• work ongoing to promote ethnicity data collection to increase understanding by disseminating guidance and showcasing best practice – e.g. through seminars and workshops

Chief Planner, to represent Minister for Public Finance’s  interests, highlighted:

• significant changes and improvements to the system in recent years, with the focus now on planning how best to share best practice and guidance as shown in, and in collaboration with, the Lanarkshire authorities
• a training event was held with Heads of Planning on 27 August. Mr McKee can update further at next meeting
• community conversations will be arranged across the country – with dates shared in due course – as part of G/TAP soft launch

Action plan approval and next steps

Chair (Minister for Equalities) invited all present to agree to approve publication of G/TAP on 26 September. All agreed. MOG will continue to meet quarterly and there will be a chance for stakeholders and community members to attend and ask questions on the G/TAP. 

Any other business

Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health welcomed confirmation that funding for accommodation will be available via the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) from 2026 to 2027 as that is very important to communities. However, in the meantime, there is concern about accommodation visited during recess in her constituency, which may be falling through a gap. She is in ongoing discussion with relevant parties.

Chair, Minister for Equalities acknowledged concerns and highlighted need for Councils to be responsive to immediate shortfalls.

Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation and Residential Mobile Home Policy Team Leader, to represent Minister for Housing’s interests, noted that:

• the G/TAP commits to preparing for funding for Gypsy/Traveller Sites via the AHSP from 2026-27. This represents a strengthening of the commitments in the plan since the last meeting of the MOG so that local authorities can plan ahead and to give Gypsy/Travellers greater confidence about future funding
• the Scottish Housing Charter applies to Gypsy/Traveller sites and that all social landlords make an annual return confirming that their sites meet the Minimum Standards for Gypsy/Traveller accommodation. This is highlighted in the plan so that residents know that they can make a complaint if they do not think that their site meets the minimum standards
• funding is included in the local government settlement annually for maintenance of sites. This is passed from Argyll and Bute Council to  Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA)

Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health committed to continue discussing (in constituency capacity) issue of substandard accommodation with Mr McLennan and ACHA as they have duty to maintain and improve the accommodation. 

Close 

Chair, Minister for Equalities, thanked all in attendance and brought meeting to a close. 

Officials to circulate minute prior to publication on SG website.  

Next meeting to be held in January 2025.