The Gypsy/Traveller Sub-Committee of Aberdeenshire Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 16 September 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the Local Housing Strategy concerning Gypsy/Travellers and consideration of the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Local Housing Strategy - Gypsy/Traveller

A significant portion of the meeting is scheduled to focus on the Local Housing Strategy in relation to Gypsy/Travellers. The report pack indicates that this item will provide an update on the progress of projects outlined in the Gypsy/Traveller Action Plan, which was developed under the current Local Housing Strategy. The strategy itself aims to increase the supply of appropriate housing and support to ensure the health and well-being of all Aberdeenshire's communities, with specific attention to the provision of accommodation for minority ethnic groups, including Gypsy/Travellers.

The discussion is expected to cover various themes within the action plan, including accommodation and planning, social security, work, combatting poverty, empowering communities, improving representation, and tackling racism and discrimination. The report pack details ongoing work to review the Gypsy/Traveller Site Provision Strategy, with plans for a workshop involving sub-committee members, partner organisations, staff, and community representatives to discuss future provision.

Furthermore, the implications of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 for Gypsy/Traveller sites are scheduled to be addressed. This legislation reclassifies local authority Gypsy/Traveller sites as protected sites from April 2026, introducing enhanced rights and legal protections for residents, including security of tenure and new eviction grounds. The report pack notes that Aberdeenshire Council's sites, Aikey Brae and Greenbanks, are expected to fall under this classification. Changes to pitch fee reviews, moving from the Retail Prices Index (RPI) to the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), are also anticipated to affect income generation and financial planning. The council is undertaking work to ensure compliance with the new legislation, including reviewing occupancy agreements and updating site management policies. Key risks identified include legal compliance, financial pressures, and increased operational complexity.

The report pack also includes updates on education, health, social security, work, combatting poverty, and empowering communities, representation, and tackling racism and discrimination. Specific actions are detailed, such as efforts to address barriers to secondary school transition for Gypsy/Traveller pupils, incorporating the reduction of stigma and discrimination into the Local Housing Strategy review, and providing updates on the site in Ellon and plans for Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month. The report also outlines actions to review barriers to waste disposal for the Gypsy/Traveller community.

An Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) has been conducted as part of the development of the Action Plan, covering areas such as Children's Rights and Wellbeing, Equalities and Fairer Scotland Duty, Health Inequalities, Sustainability and Climate Change, and Town Centres First. The IIA identifies numerous positive impacts and no negative impacts that cannot be mitigated.

Public Sector Equality Duty

The sub-committee is also scheduled to consider its Public Sector Equality Duty, as outlined in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. This duty requires members to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, and victimisation; advance equality of opportunity; and foster good relations between those who share protected characteristics and those who do not. Members will be asked to consider the contents of any Integrated Impact Assessment provided and take them into account when reaching decisions.

Minute of the Meeting of 7 January 2026

The sub-committee is also scheduled to review and potentially approve the minute of its previous meeting held on 7 January 2026.