Issue - meetings

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Communities. 

1.         To receive the funding allocation of £109,750 and create a budget to allocate the funding.

2.         To receive subsequent grant funding allocations and create an equivalent level of budget to allocate the funding.

The Executive Member (Early Intervention), Councillor Bev Murray, presented the report of the Director of Communities. 

In March 2022, the government announced its decision to move to a full asylum dispersal model supported by grant funding. As part of this move, funding was allocated to local authorities for each new dispersal accommodation bed space occupied until 31 March 2023.

Asylum seekers were some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in society. Securing asylum status was difficult and complex and should this status be granted, asylum seekers were not permitted to work, leaving them dependent on government payments of approximately £5 per day.

The proposals were to undertake further scoping activity and develop a spending proposal for the grant funding which:

a. Attempts to mitigate the impact of asylum dispersal on internal teams

b. Aligns to the priorities of asylum seekers as identified during initial community consultation activity.

The Executive Member (Early Intervention), Councillor Bev Murray proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously):

1.     To receive the funding allocation of £109,750 and create a budget to allocate the funding.

2.     To receive subsequent grant funding allocations and create an equivalent level of budget to allocate the funding.