In September the Home Office wrote to all Local Authorities seeking their assistance to support the Government’s pledge of resettling 20,000 Syrian refugees within the UK over the next 5 years.  This report seeks agreement to support this request through the Council’s participation in a North Yorkshire Resettlement Scheme.

In accepting the recommendation, Cabinet will approve and recommend to Council that the North Yorkshire wide resettlement scheme to enable the resettlement of 200 Syrian refugees Countywide over the next 5 years be supported; agree that this Council’s commitment to this scheme shall be to accommodate about 28 people; a Memorandum of Understanding be entered into with North Yorkshire County Council and the other District Councils concerning this scheme; the Executive Director be authorised to work in partnership with NYCC and the other Districts to use Home Office Grant to procure a specialist support provider along with other ancillary services that are necessary for the smooth resettlement of refugees; give authority to enter into an agreement with Migration Yorkshire to enable overall regional co-ordination and support and authorise the Executive Director to agree a variation to the Council’s nomination deed with Broadacres Housing Association regarding the allocation of social housing to enable the allocation of homes to Syrian refugees.

The subject of the decision:

In September the Home Office wrote to all Local Authorities seeking their assistance to support the Government’s pledge of resettling 20,000 Syrian refugees within the UK over the next 5 years.  This report sought agreement to support this request through the Council’s participation in a North Yorkshire Resettlement Scheme.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

Cabinet was satisfied with the proposal to participate in the North Yorkshire Resettlement Scheme.

THE DECISION:

That Cabinet:-

(1)     supports the North Yorkshire wide resettlement scheme to enable the resettlement of 200 Syrian refugees Countywide over the next 5 years;

(2)     agrees that this Council’s commitment to this scheme shall be to accommodate about 28 people;

(3)     enters into a Memorandum of Understanding with North Yorkshire County Council and the other District Councils concerning this scheme;

(4)     authorises the Executive Director to work in partnership with NYCC and the other Districts to use Home Office Grant to procure a specialist support provider along with other ancillary services that are necessary for the smooth resettlement of refugees;

(5)     gives authority to enter into an agreement with Migration Yorkshire to enable overall regional co-ordination and support; and

(6)     authorises the Executive Director to agree a variation to the Council’s nomination deed with Broadacres Housing Association regarding the allocation of social housing to enable the allocation of homes to Syrian refugees.