The Gypsy/Traveller Sub-Committee of Aberdeenshire Council met on Wednesday 16 September 2026 to discuss progress on the Gypsy/Traveller Action Plan, which forms part of the council's local housing strategy. Key discussions included the implications of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 on site management, challenges with secondary school transitions for Gypsy Traveller pupils, and barriers to accessing recycling centres.

Local Housing Strategy - Gypsy/Traveller Action Plan

The committee received an update on the delivery of the Gypsy/Traveller Action Plan, which aims to improve accommodation, health and wellbeing, education, community empowerment, and tackle poverty and discrimination for Gypsy Traveller communities. Hannah Russell, Housing Manager for Strategy and Building Standards, highlighted several key areas.

A forthcoming review of the Gypsy/Traveller Site Provision Strategy was discussed, with plans for a workshop involving subcommittee members, partner organisations, and community representatives to inform future provision. The Housing Need and Demand Assessment for the next five-year period has also commenced, which will include an assessment of future needs for Gypsy Traveller communities.

A significant point of discussion was the impact of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025, which reclassifies local authority Gypsy/Traveller sites as protected sites under mobile homes legislation. This brings strengthened statutory protections for tenancies and enhanced rights for residents. For Aberdeenshire Council's sites at Aikey Brae and Greenbanks, this means that unless occupants breach their occupancy agreements, they cannot be required to leave seasonal pitches at the end of October. This change presents potential risks, particularly at Greenbanks, due to concerns about coastal overtopping and storms during winter months, although a resilience plan is in place. Occupancy agreements have been updated to reflect these legislative changes.

Councillor John Cox raised concerns about the number of dogs at Greenbanks and the potential for breeding, as well as issues related to keeping the site clear. Di Faithfull, Gypsy Traveller Liaison Officer, stated that while dog-related issues had not been formally raised, site manager Mark was working to keep the site clear.

Councillor Gillian Owen raised several questions regarding the proposed site at Ellon, which had been withdrawn. Hannah Russell explained that further work was needed to assess the demand for additional sites and to coordinate with neighbouring authorities, such as Aberdeen City Council, to ensure a cohesive approach to provision. Regarding barriers to accessing recycling centres, it was noted that this remained a national discussion, with ongoing conversations with waste colleagues to find equitable solutions. On the issue of secondary school transition and bullying, Lisa Lees, Quality Improvement Officer for Education, reported that while numbers of Gypsy Traveller pupils transitioning to secondary school were low, efforts were being made to support P6 and P7 pupils. The school's anti-bullying policy had been updated, and efforts were underway to improve the sharing of information regarding bullying incidents.

Councillor Neil Bailey inquired about the coordination of site development with Aberdeen City Council. Councillor Anne Stirling, Council Co-Leader, confirmed that officers were collaborating across boundaries and that a workshop would be held to plan for future Gypsy Traveller site provision. Councillor Bailey also raised concerns about discrimination against vehicles at recycling centres, which Hannah Russell acknowledged as a challenge that needed to be addressed with Waste Services.

Councillor Alison Everson sought clarification on the invitation of Gypsy Traveller community members to the proposed workshop, which Hannah Russell confirmed. She also raised concerns about the unexpected consequence of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 at Greenbanks, particularly regarding seasonal pitches and safety issues. Hannah Russell acknowledged that this was an unintended consequence and that discussions were ongoing with other local authorities. Councillor Everson also enquired about conversations with residents at North Esk, St. Cyrus, regarding planning permission lapsing. Di Faithfull confirmed ongoing contact and work on flood prevention measures. The issue of progressing accommodation for Grampian Women's Aid modules for Gypsy Traveller women fleeing domestic abuse was also discussed, with Hannah Russell noting that this would be part of the broader conversation on need and demand for culturally appropriate accommodation.

Councillor Colin Simpson suggested that the challenges at recycling centres might be related to vehicles being deemed commercial, incurring charges, and the requirement to book, which could be a detriment to travelling people. Hannah Russell acknowledged these points, particularly the postcode requirement for those not residing in Aberdeenshire.

The committee discussed the positive impacts identified in the Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) for the Gypsy/Traveller Action Plan, which included benefits for children's wellbeing, equalities, health, sustainability, and town centres. The IIA highlighted that while efforts were being made to mitigate negative impacts, it was not always possible to reach all members of the community due to potential discrimination.

The committee discussed the recommendation to monitor the progress on actions in the Gypsy/Traveller Action Plan. Actions were noted for officers to take forward, including further discussions with Waste Services and the development of a note outlining the implications of the Housing Act for Gypsy Travellers ahead of the November workshop.