203.Where a local housing authority is required to have a strategy under section 87 of the Local Government Act 2003 in respect of meeting the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers residing or resorting to its area, it must have regard to guidance issued by the Welsh Ministers when preparing the strategy. It must take the strategy into account in exercising its functions. “Functions” for this purpose includes any functions conferred upon it other than in its capacity as a local housing authority (local housing authorities in Wales are county or county borough councils which exercise a range of functions dealing with a variety of matters).
204.This section restates requirements currently imposed upon Welsh local housing authorities by section 225 of the Housing Act 2004. The relevant requirements in the 2004 Act will be repealed in so far as they relate to Welsh local housing authorities on the coming into force of this section (see the amendments contained in Part 2 of Schedule 3 to this Act).