To approve an updated strategic approach to re-settlement of refugees and asylum seekers and the provision of support to them.

The cabinet member health and wellbeing introduced the item. He commented that the refugees the council had already accepted since 2015 had settled in well and integrated into their new communities. Fourteen families were now safe and happy in the county. Seven individuals were volunteering within the county and 4 had found employment. The home office was now asking the council to consider taking further refugees as part of its various resettlement schemes. The proposal was to accept a further 40 asylum seekers and 35 refugees in family groups. The cabinet member noted that in 2015 the council had little experience in this area. Officers had worked hard to develop professional skills and expertise.

The cabinet member finance, housing and corporate services noted that there were no immediate cost implications of the recommendations but asked what the longer term effect of the arrival of these groups might be on the economic welfare of Herefordshire.

The community capacity and wellbeing manager responded that with regard to refugees the numbers involved were fairly small but they were expected to have a positive economic impact in the long term. Herefordshire had the highest proportion of new arrivals in employment in the west midlands. Others were volunteering in the hope of securing employment in the future. There was the expectation that all those refugees who would normally be economically active would find employment in the long term.

The situation for asylum seekers was more complicated as they were not allowed to be employed while their application for asylum was processed. The council had no direct statutory duties to them in normal circumstances. It was possible that a small number would opt to remain in Herefordshire once their application for asylum had been approved. Where families chose to remain they would place some demand on public services such as schools and primary care. In a very small number of cases there could be short term problems in migrating refugees onto the benefit system.

The cabinet member finance, housing and corporate services asked whether unspent funds from the European social fund to support access to employment for disadvantaged groups could be used to assist refugees.

The refugee and asylum seeker coordinator responded that the building better opportunities fund would start from January 2018. All settled refugees were referred to that fund to support them in moving into employment.

The cabinet member young people and children’s wellbeing stated that this was an example of Herefordshire doing the right thing and commended officers for the success to date. He asked what the risks were of volunteering to take additional refugees and asylum seekers where other authorities might not be willing or able to do so.

The community capacity and wellbeing manager explained that the council would expect to be asked to take additional numbers by the home office. Officers were aware of at least two other west midlands authorities who were considering voluntarily expanding the number of refugees they would take. The council could at any time decline to accept further refugees and there were currently no powers for the home office to compel the council to accept them. Powers did exist in relation to general asylum dispersal and if the council did not volunteer to accept this group then there was a real risk of being compelled to do so. By volunteering the council could exercise some control and it was expected that it would take time for numbers to grow up to the 40 proposed. There was an expectation that there would be future incremental increases.

Group leaders were asked to give the views of their group.

The leader of Its Our County stated that his group were happy to support the recommendations. He commended those involved in the success to date including the volunteers and families who had supported the scheme. It was asked whether there was any specific matching between the backgrounds of refugees and where they were settled.

The refugee and asylum seeker coordinator responded that the home office allocated refugees to the regional partnership which would look to match them to authorities. Lots of factors were taken into account in the matching process. When matched with a family the council could review their circumstances and make a decision as to whether it could offer the requisite support or not.

The leader of the green group stated that it was good to see clarification in the report on employment and volunteering. It was important for the council to learn from its past experience so that the process continued to be successful.

Resolved that:

(a)    Herefordshire Council’s voluntary participation in the general asylum dispersal scheme is approved; and

(b)    the extension of Herefordshire’s commitment to resettlement of refugee families is approved, to include Syrian refugee families and those under the VCRS; and

(c)    the director for adults and wellbeing be authorised, following consultation with the director for children’s wellbeing and the relevant cabinet members, to take all operational decisions necessary to agree the specific terms of Herefordshire’s participation in the general asylum dispersal scheme, to a maximum of 40 individuals at any time, and extend the resettlement of refugees families, from the existing pledge of 60 to a maximum of 95 individuals.