Agenda item - Brighton & Hove's Response to Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Report of the Executive Director Housing, Neighbourhoods & Communities (Copy Attached).

RESOLVED:

That the Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture Committee:

1. Noted the council’s work related to refugees and asylum seekers.

2. Noted the Homes for Ukraine funding received by the council to date and its expenditure as detailed in paragraph 3.17 and the detailed breakdown at Appendix One.

3. Notes the priorities for the council’s support of refugees and asylum seekers (paragraph 3.60) for the coming year.

4. Recommends that the Policy & Resources Committee notes the Homes for Ukraine funding received and expenditure defrayed to date to fulfil the obligations placed on local authorities by the government’s Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

5. Recommends that the Policy & Resources Committee notes the priorities for the council’s support of refugees and asylum seekers for the coming year as set out in the report.

6. Recommends that the Policy & Resources Committee gives delegated authority to the Executive Director Housing, Neighbourhoods & Communities, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, to defray unallocated current and future resources in accordance with the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme requirements and conditions and to fulfil the council’s obligations under the scheme.

26.1 Lucy Bryson introduced the report starting on page 71 of the Agenda.

26.2 Councillor Grimshaw was informed that:

·       Colleagues in Housing and the Community Hub are working hard to check in with guests and hosts to ensure sustainability moving forward into the winter.

·       In the first instance, efforts will be made to sustain the hosting arrangements either via advice or financial assistance, and if not, new hosts are looked at.

·       If hosting arrangements aren’t working, refugees will be helped into the private renting sector, with temporary and emergency accommodation an absolute last resort.

·       Anyone who has entered the country on the Homes for Ukraine scheme or the Family Visa Scheme is entitled to public funds through Universal Credit as well as the right to work.

26.3 Harpreet Kaur raised that globally displaced communities including Ukrainian Refugees are an NHS plus group to tackle health inequality.

26.4 Councillor Robins was informed that wrap around support gives funding for:

·       The community hub

·       The helpline

·       The community and voluntary sector

·       Events for the Ukrainian community

·       Any other needs that might arise such as housing crises

26.5 Councillor Osborne was informed that:

·       Ukrainian guests and hosts are being surveyed to identify any patterns and to keep on top of the situation.

·       The Job Centre are helping Ukrainian Refugees into employment by running job fairs and helping with English Language teaching.

·       The BIPC centre is working to help refugees to run Businesses in the city.

Lucy Bryson then agreed to feed back some more information to Cllr Obsorne and the Committee about the outcomes of the jobs event.

Harpeet Kaur added that the NHS are looking to fill gaps in the workforce with Ukrainian Refugees.

26.6 Councillor Grimshaw was informed that:

·       There are numerous Ukrainian Refugees that have come into the Country not on one of the above schemes, and the Council wouldn’t have any information on them or their qualifications for employment.

·       A refugee employability scheme will be set up in the Autumn to be a subgroup of the Adult Learning and Skills Partnership.

26.7 Emma McDermott introduced the newly appointed Ukrainian Refugee Programme Coordinator, Aime Claude Ndongozi.

RESOLVED:

That the Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture Committee:

1. Noted the council’s work related to refugees and asylum seekers.

2. Noted the Homes for Ukraine funding received by the council to date and its expenditure as detailed in paragraph 3.17 and the detailed breakdown at Appendix One.

3. Noted the priorities for the council’s support of refugees and asylum seekers (paragraph 3.60) for the coming year.

4. Recommended that the Policy & Resources Committee notes the Homes for Ukraine funding received and expenditure defrayed to date to fulfil the obligations placed on local authorities by the government’s Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

5. Recommended that the Policy & Resources Committee notes the priorities for the council’s support of refugees and asylum seekers for the coming year as set out in the report.

6. Recommended that the Policy & Resources Committee gives delegated authority to the Executive Director Housing, Neighbourhoods & Communities, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, to defray unallocated current and future resources in accordance with the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme requirements and conditions and to fulfil the council’s obligations under the scheme.