Issue - meetings

Report of Chief Executive.

Please note this report will be to follow.

Resolved

(1)          That the action taken by the Chief Executive under urgent powers to:

i)             Enter into 12-month full repairing leases for 10 homes from the Ministry of Defence: and

ii)            Delegate responsibility for agreeing the terms of those leases to the Corporate Director, Commercial Development, Assets and Investment.

Such action being taken in support of the programme for acquisition of accommodation to facilitate housing need in relation to the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) for Afghan Locally Employed Staff (ALES), be endorsed.

The Chief Executive submitted a report to update the Executive on an urgent decision made by Chief Executive in relation to the short-term leasing of homes from the Ministry of Defence to assist the Council’s response to the government’s request for support in relation to the Afghan resettlement programme.

Resolved

(1)          That the action taken by the Chief Executive under urgent powers to:

i)             Enter into 12-month full repairing leases for 10 homes from the Ministry of Defence: and

ii)            Delegate responsibility for agreeing the terms of those leases to the Corporate Director, Commercial Development, Assets and Investment.

Such action being taken in support of the programme for acquisition of accommodation to facilitate housing need in relation to the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) for Afghan Locally Employed Staff (ALES), be endorsed.

Reasons

To provide a positive response to the emerging Afghanistan crisis and central Government’s call for help by securing suitable family accommodation for affected families within the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) for Afghan Locally Employed Staff (ALES).

There is a need to act quickly and get leases in place so that families can begin to settle and receive the necessary wrap around support due to the rapidly changing situation in Afghanistan and to ensure suitable accommodation is provided and affected families are settled as quickly as possible.

Alternative options

Option 1:  To withdraw from the scheme - the Council could decide not to participate in the scheme and decide not to proceed with acquisition of properties.

Option 1 has been rejected due to the urgent need, by the end of September 2021 to provide emergency housing and support to Afghans who have worked for the UK in Afghanistan, and who have been relocated to the UK for safety following the withdrawal of NATO (including UK) forces from Afghanistan.