Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Chief Officer Commercial and Customer which was presented to provide an update on participation supporting the UK Resettlement scheme (which recently has included supporting the resettlement of Afghan nationals), and seek support for the participation in the Home Office Widening Asylum Seeker Dispersal Scheme prior to being presented to Executive.

The Community Cohesion Coordinator spoke to the report and highlighted the main points contained therein.  The report outlined the ongoing pressure on the asylum system had been increasing steadily for years.  With the increase in the number of asylum seekers needing to be accommodated nationally, there had been an added pressure on existing dispersal areas and in response the Home Office had prioritised widening dispersal areas and were keen to work in partnership with local authorities.

A Member said he supported this report and commented that the Syrian families who had resettled in his ward were a fantastic addition to the community.

Another Member said he had been involved in the resettlement programme for the Syrian refugees and felt that had been a success, he congratulated the officers on the work that had been undertaken and supported the report.

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted and endorse Option 1; namely that the Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee:-

     i.        Notes the progress made in participation with the UK resettlement, including most recently the Afghan resettlement programme; and

    ii.        Supports the proposal to participate in the Widening Asylum Seeker Dispersal Scheme as a pilot, prior to being presented to Executive.