To receive and consider the report of the Portfolio Holders for Adult Social Care and Welsh Language and Economic Development, Housing and Planning and to make recommendations / observations to the Cabinet.
Minutes:
· Report of the Portfolio Holders for Adult Social Care and Welsh Language and Economic Development, Housing and Planning – Accommodation in Powys for Asylum Seekers.
The Chair welcomed Steve Lakey and Susan Lane (Clearsprings) together with Dr Ailsa Dunn (Hay, Brecon, Talgarth Sanctuary for Refugees) to the meeting.
Issues Discussed:
· It is important to use every lever available to the Council to do all that it can to provide a good offer to migrants and asylum seekers. The Council is working with others to develop good plans to meet its obligations to assist people who face extreme difficulty.
· The report is to seek Cabinet approval for the Council to work with the Home Office and its agent Clearsprings. The request is initially for six private family sized homes to be secured in Powys for asylum seekers. These properties would be sourced and managed on behalf of the Home Office by Clearsprings.
· Where there is a decision to deny asylum this could have an impact on the Council. Community engagement is an important part of the proposal to ensure community cohesion although this proposal is on a much smaller scale than seen elsewhere in the UK.
· Welsh Government has established a working group on which Powys is represented to draw up a common approach to the resettlement of asylum seekers.
· Due to working with Syrian Refugees previously the Council has experience of resettling people from troubled regions and there are well established multi-agency networks in place to help support and advise as necessary. The Council's Education and Social Services teams and Powys Teaching Health Board have been involved. No concerns have been raised to date. Clearsprings have indicated that they would review the success of the project after twelve months.
· This proposal will have no immediate demand on social housing and there will be minimal financial impact on the Council.
· Questions:
Its good to see that Powys will be undertaking a PR campaign. What is specifically going to be undertaken in localities and will there be work undertaken with Town and Community Councillors and also County Councillors.
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What we want to do is create relationships between those individuals using the service and communities so they integrate fully into those communities in time. Work would be undertaken with communities, businesses and schools to promote understanding and also encourage those individuals to stay in Powys.
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Clearsprings - how is this proposal being paid for, how will the Home Office support and deliver this alongside the Council and what happens if there is any shortfall in the budget, who will be responsible for it.
Hay, Talgarth, Brecon Sanctuary for Refugees - are you able to deliver on the support you anticipate you will need to give and if there is a shortfall in your budget do you know where to go and get additional funding and support so that you can continue your work.
In the Impact assessment there is no impact shown in relation to 5G – a more equal Wales. This is of concern as families coming to Powys could have members who are disabled or special needs.
We need to make sure we do not overstretch voluntary organisations and the Council could ask the Home Office to ensure that voluntary organisations are not left out of pocket.
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In terms of budgeting questions these probably need to be put to the Home Office. In terms of services delivered by Clearsprings this would be the housing service, and visiting service to support families as well as linking into the community.
ACTION – Council to write to the Home Office seeking assurance on the budget position.
The Hay, Talgarth, Brecon Sanctuary for Refugees is a geographic named group which has worked with localities elsewhere in the past. Most of the supporters are linked to the area after which the group is named and it would be easier for the group if some of the families were placed in that area where the group operates. In assisting other areas the group tried to stimulate local support groups. Funding is mainly by voluntary contributions and the group can apply for grants if required, but most supporters give their time for free.
The Service has reviewed the Impact Assessment and agreed to amend it so it now is unknown rather than no impact as at present it is not known who the service users will be.
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Clearsprings - when homes are being sourced for asylum seekers is the aim to accommodate them largely in one area rather than spread around so that they can support each other as well as the other support which can be offered to them.
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The placement of properties is essential, and that is why Clearsprings is working in partnership with local authorities, voluntary organisations, and others to make sure that people are not put into isolation where it would not be helpful for them. Some of the asylum seekers come from rural areas and they will be used to working and participating in rural life but that may not always be appropriate at the early stage of the placement. Where the placement may not be right Clearsprings will work with other partners to resolve the issue.
The Portfolio Holder indicated that what is necessary is to centre the service on the needs of the individuals. Therefore there is a need to look at an individual and consider what we can do to support them best.
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There are pressures currently on the availability of properties which are being sold quickly.
Are you confident you can procure the properties in the right place for example close to facilities such as schools with capacity to take the children, public transport routes, close to centres of population where there are support networks, without creating further isolation for these individuals.
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Clearsprings is not looking to compete with existing local authority requirements for housing. Any properties identified go through a procurement authorisation process with stakeholders and the local authority. In addition, they will agree with local authorities and others search areas where properties might be available. Some scoping work of the property market has been undertaken and properties identified but there are not many available. We are just looking at six properties currently and are confident they can be found but it will not be easy.
This is why partnership is important as the Council can provide data but cannot undertake the procurement itself.
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Hay, Talgarth, Brecon Sanctuary for Refugees - what was the experience of engaging with the Council based on the previous experience of resettling Syrian refugees and is the Council in a better place to support these individuals who need our help.
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When the first Syrian families came to Ystradgynlais this was a new venture for Powys. The organisation worked closely with the Leader and other officers. It has been much easier since a project lead was appointed by the Council and the organisation has worked closely with her on the resettlement programme. Money or goods were provided to help people feel settled. It is always been difficult for the group to help at a distance, and easier in areas where the group has its contacts.
The group welcomed that Powys wants to do this work. The experience from others who had gone through a resettlement programme was to ensure that individuals had self contained accommodation with facilities to cook and preferably single rooms. This has come from the experience of those who have been housed in hotels which are suitable for a few days only. Access to language courses and local advice and advocacy services and immigration legal advice is also important and Clearsprings have a system to help individuals with this.
Individuals coming into Powys should have opportunities for leisure and integration to become part of the community, so access to third sector support is important. Opportunities for people to volunteer is also important. Religious support is essential as well as access to suitable food. Families would probably find it easier to settle than individuals living in a group living home.
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What more can we do to give people access to services such as culture and leisure at no cost to the individuals as they cannot work and have their own income when they are resettled and awaiting the outcome of their asylum request.
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There is a need for some caution as we need to try to support everyone in need. We need to make those coming to Powys feel welcomed and groups such as the Hay, Talgarth, Brecon Sanctuary for Refugees can help build those personal relationships. If the Council is seen to provide certain facilities to some groups and not to others it could damage community cohesion, and whilst it cannot be ruled out it should be done with care.
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Has this been considered and is there a package.
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We need to address the needs of the individuals. When we know what people would like we can see what can be provided to meet those individual needs. There is little point creating a blanket package and its better to look at individual needs and the council is committed to doing everything it can so that every way the Council can reach out to families will be considered.
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In relation to budgeting and providing support for individuals this is why its important to get clarification from the Home Office on funding as this is not about providing anything additional but about providing the essential support for these families.
Do we know if we have any families coming to Wales and Powys and what is the timescale
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The information from the Migration Strategic Partnership is that Afghan arrivals have been given options as to where they want to go and often look to go where there are existing family contacts. The Home Office is processing applications and they are mainly going to London and Manchester. There is a second tranche who have not expressed a geographical preference and there will be a matching process between what individuals need and what Powys can offer.
In terms of the Afghan resettlement Powys have made an offer to house six families to the Home Office but no response has been received as yet and no families have been identified or arrival dates provided at present.
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Scrutiny made the following observations:
· The Committee supported the report's recommendations in offering places to asylum seekers in Powys.
· The Council should seek to ensure that where voluntary organisations assist those that have been resettled, that the Home Office should reimburse those organisations as most voluntary organisations are dependent on grants or voluntary contributions.
· The Committee welcomed that the Housing Service had amended the Impact Assessment for a more equal Wales to now read impact Unknown rather than None as the individual needs of those being resettled are currently not known.
· The Committee suggested that the Council should develop a strategy for resettling individuals under different circumstances in Powys, rather than dealing with circumstances as they arose.
Scrutiny’sRecommendations:
1 That the Council develop a strategy for the resettlement of individuals in Powys
2 That the Council seek to ensure that any voluntary organisations involved in supporting resettled individuals should be reimbursed by the Home Office.
Supporting documents: