Agenda item

Report of Interim Director: Wellbeing

Purpose of report

To consider Cherwell District Council’s progress regarding the resettlement of six refugee families into the district as part of the Government’s Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (VPRS).  This report also intends to inform future decision making regarding the resettlement of refugee families in Cherwell District, wider engagement in the asylum seeker dispersal programme and preparation of a bid for Controlling Migration Fund monies. 

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To note the contents of the report.

1.2       To note the findings of the evaluation report of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (VPRS) in Cherwell.

1.3       To consider resettlement of additional Syrian Refugee families within Cherwell district.

1.4       To support the establishment of a dedicated post to deal with Syrian Refugee work in Cherwell (funded by VPRS funding).

1.5       To support officers to develop a bid to the Controlling Migration Fund in relation to Cherwell district.

1.6       To consider participation in the Asylum Seeker Dispersal Programme in Cherwell district, and advise officers accordingly.

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the report be noted.

(2)          That the findings of the evaluation report of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (VPRS) in Cherwell be noted.

(3)          That, having given due consideration, the resettlement of an additional six Syrian Refugee families within Cherwell district be agreed.

(4)          That the establishment of a dedicated post to deal with Syrian Refugee work in Cherwell (funded by VPRS funding) be supported.

(5)          That officers be supported to develop a bid to the Controlling Migration Fund in relation to Cherwell district.

(6)          That, having given due consideration, participation in the Asylum Seeker Dispersal Programme in Cherwell district be endorsed and officers requested to proceed accordingly.

The Interim Director: Wellbeing submitted a report to consider Cherwell District Council’s progress regarding the resettlement of six refugee families into the district as part of the Government’s Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (VPRS). This report also sought to inform future decision making regarding the resettlement of refugee families in Cherwell District, wider engagement in the asylum seeker dispersal programme and preparation of a bid for Controlling Migration Fund monies.

On behalf of Executive, the Chairman commended officers and other agencies for their hard work supporting the families who had previously relocated to the district.

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the report be noted.

(2)          That the findings of the evaluation report of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (VPRS) in Cherwell be noted.

(3)          That, having given due consideration, the resettlement of an additional six Syrian Refugee families within Cherwell district be agreed.

(4)          That the establishment of a dedicated post to deal with Syrian Refugee work in Cherwell (funded by VPRS funding) be supported.

(5)          That officers be supported to develop a bid to the Controlling Migration Fund in relation to Cherwell district.

(6)          That, having given due consideration, participation in the Asylum Seeker Dispersal Programme in Cherwell district be endorsed and officers requested to proceed accordingly.

Reasons

Based upon the success of the programme to date, there is an opportunity for Cherwell District Council to resettle additional Syrian Refugee families into the district. A further 6 families would approximately equate to 50 individuals in total. This would align with the request made to senior politicians from the Churches in Bicester group in January 2017.

If further families are resettled, Cherwell District Council should continue to source accommodation from the private rented sector for VPRS use. Also the Council should continue to focus on securing 3 and 4 bedroom properties. This would ensure smaller accommodation is not being taken away from others in the district in housing need and ensures that the Council has sufficient funding available to support the families being resettled.

If Cherwell District Council choose to resettle more families into the district consideration needs to be given to how these families will be supported. The preferred way forward at this stage is that a procurement exercise would be undertaken to secure a support provider for a subsequent phase of VPRS in Cherwell District.

The evaluation has highlighted that the resettlement of refugees into the district requires significant amounts of officer time to be committed to ensure families are resettled successfully and that a joined up approach is achieved with other statutory agencies and partners. If further families are resettled, it is proposed that a dedicated member of staff is employed using some of the funding available to support the programme moving forwards to help the Council deliver the project further.

The Controlling Migration Fund is designed to support local authorities in England who are experiencing pressures on services from either illegal or legitimate migration. The Fund is available for local authorities to apply for over four years 2016/17 – 2019/20 and focuses on responding to problems caused by high migration into localities and is designed to help deliver benefits to the local population.

Alternative options

Option 1: To approve the findings of the evaluation as recommended in this report and commit to the resettlement of a further 6 families into the district. However, not approve the dedicated staff resource that has been requested. This would mean that considerable amounts of existing staff time would be spent on this project diverting this resource from other housing activities.

Option 2: Not to resettle any more refugees into Cherwell district. By not accepting any more families into the district, the Council may receive criticism that it is not continuing to help families beyond the 6 families already pledged.

Option 3: To resettle less than 6 refugees into Cherwell district. Officers expect to have resettled approximately 30 individuals into the district once the 6 family arrive in the spring. Due to the uncertainty about the number of people within each family arriving until accommodation has been secured there is potential for the Council to not be able to fulfil the petition’s request to resettle 50 refugees.

Option 4: To resettle more than 6 refugees into the district. Resettling more families into the district at this time would be difficult. Staff resources in excess of the dedicated post being requested would need to be made available to the project and it would be difficult to find enough private rented accommodation for families.