Council and Democracy

Agenda item

Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Programme

Decision:

*RESOLVED –

 

1.   That Chesterfield Borough Council agrees to take part in the Syrian vulnerable persons resettlement scheme.

 

2.   That Chesterfield Borough Council formally joins the Derbyshire SVPRS partnership, and agrees to Derbyshire County Council acting as lead partner for this scheme.

 

3.   That up to six Chesterfield Borough Council housing properties be utilised for the scheme.

 

4.   That a contribution of £2,000 be made to the Derbyshire SVPRS partnership to assist with it’s set up costs.

 

REASON FOR DECISIONS

 

To contribute to the UK response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria.

Minutes:

The Policy and Communications Manager submitted a report requesting cabinet members consider Chesterfield Borough Council’s participation in the national Syrian vulnerable persons resettlement programme (SVPRS).

 

The United Nations had estimated that as of February 2015, 12.2 million people were in need of humanitarian aid within Syria and that more than 7.7 million people had been forced to flee their homes. In light of this situation the SVPRS was the government’s resettlement programme to relocate to the UK 20,000 of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees. The report noted that the SVPRS prioritised help for survivors of torture and violence, as well as women and children at risk, or in need of medical care.

 

At the East Midlands Migration Board meeting in November 2015, all authorities in the East Midlands had been asked to formally consider taking part in the SVPRS, with Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and the Nottinghamshire districts being the first areas within the East Midlands to take part in the scheme. These authorities had subsequently developed a partnership to facilitate the resettlement of 17 family units during December 2015. It was noted that East Midlands Councils and the Nottinghamshire partnership had been keen to share their knowledge and experience of the SVPRS, and that Derbyshire had benefitted greatly from this information sharing when considering its own involvement.

 

Since November, 2015 work had been carried out by the Derbyshire districts to establish potential locations, numbers and size of suitable housing available for the scheme, with Derbyshire County Council looking at other requirements of the scheme, such as access to health, education and other local services.  Six council properties in the borough had been identified as potentially suitable to house refugees, although it was noted that it would be likely that only three or four would be needed. The homes chosen would not impact on council house waiting lists as the properties were those that had proved difficult to let to tenants in the past.

 

It was proposed that Derbyshire County Council should act as the single point of contact and lead partner for the scheme with all partners being asked to contribute £2000 towards the costs associated with administering the scheme. It was noted that all other costs in relation to housing the refugees would be met by the government scheme.

 

*RESOLVED –

 

1.   That Chesterfield Borough Council agrees to take part in the Syrian vulnerable persons resettlement scheme.

 

2.   That Chesterfield Borough Council formally joins the Derbyshire SVPRS partnership, and agrees to Derbyshire County Council acting as lead partner for this scheme.

 

3.   That up to six Chesterfield Borough Council housing properties be utilised for the scheme.

 

4.   That a contribution of £2,000 be made to the Derbyshire SVPRS partnership to assist with it’s set up costs.

 

REASON FOR DECISIONS

 

To contribute to the UK response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria.

Supporting documents: