Agenda item

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Leytham)

Report of Chief Officer (Health & Housing)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Leytham)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Health & Housing) which advised on the latest funding update in relation to resettlement of Syrian refugees and sought a policy position on the Council’s participation in the resettlement programme.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

The options for Cabinet are to either:

1.            Agree to participate in the Syrian refugee resettlement programme from year 1 onwards.

2.            Agree to participate in the Syrian refugee resettlement programme, but not until year 2 at the earliest.

3.            Not to participate in the Syrian refugee resettlement programme at all.

The issues and risks for each option were covered in the body of the report.  Option 2 was the officer preferred option taking into account the comments in paragraphs 2.5 and 2.6 of the report.

Councillor Leytham proposed, seconded by Councillor Smith:-

“(1)    That the contents of the letter (Appendix 1 to the report) from the Minister, Richard Harrington MP, be noted.

(2)     That Cabinet confirms that it wishes to participate in the Syrian refugee settlement programme on the basis of the Government’s funding position.

(3)     That all accommodation options be explored and potentially used to house refugees including the Council’s own housing stock, other social rented stock and private sector properties.

(4)     That in light of the information received on 15^th February 2016 from Lancashire County Council that the suggested year 1 grouping comprises Blackpool, Pendle, Preston and South Ribble, Cabinet agrees that Lancaster City Council should take Syrian refugees from year 2 onwards.

(5)     That the implementation of the programme be delegated to the Chief Officer (Health & Housing) in accordance with financial regulations.

(6)     That at the appropriate time the Council actively seeks willing landlords with suitable properties.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)     That the contents of the letter (Appendix 1 to the report) from the Minister, Richard Harrington MP, be noted.

(2)     That Cabinet confirms that it wishes to participate in the Syrian refugee settlement programme on the basis of the Government’s funding position.

(3)     That all accommodation options be explored and potentially used to house refugees including the Council’s own housing stock, other social rented stock and private sector properties.

(4)     That in light of the information received on 15^th February 2016 from Lancashire County Council that the suggested year 1 grouping comprises Blackpool, Pendle, Preston and South Ribble, Cabinet agrees that Lancaster City Council should take Syrian refugees from year 2 onwards.

(5)     That the implementation of the programme be delegated to the Chief Officer (Health & Housing) in accordance with financial regulations.

(6)     That at the appropriate time the Council actively seeks willing landlords with suitable properties.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Officer (Health & Housing)

Reasons for making the decision:

The decision will enable officers to progress any further discussions with Regional Strategic Migration Partnership regarding resettlement of refugees in this district. Whilst the City Council would be willing to participate in the resettlement programme from year 1, the Lancashire authorities selected to participate in year 1 are better placed to do so and Lancashire will reach its quota with those authorities.  Joining in after year 1 would be advantageous enabling the City Council to learn lessons over best support, ways to accommodate and an opportunity to maintain the help it provides to asylum seekers through the asylum seeker dispersal programme which the City Council is already participating in.