Issue - meetings

The report sets out the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) and proposes the Council’s offer of accommodating eligible Afghan households and the provision of Transitional Accommodation.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Nominate and Authorise the Head of Housing and Community, in consultation with the Committee Chair, to produce and submit a response to the Government on behalf of the Council, as outlined in section 5 of the report.

The Committee received a report setting out the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) and proposing the Council’s offer of accommodating eligible Afghan households and the provision of Transitional Accommodation.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Funding for Refugees. In response to a question from a Member, the Head of Housing and Community stated that the Council receives substantial funding to support refugees and asylum seekers, and that there were significant ringfenced reserves in place for those purposes. He stated that the £24k per person allowance for integration support was sufficient to cover costs, owing in large part to the work of the Epsom & Ewell Refugee Network (‘EERN’), who the Council commissions to assist in providing support for refugees in Epsom & Ewell. He explained that the Council’s housing team has access to a separate budget to cover costs in providing support to refugees in instances where refugees fall into homelessness.

b)            Considering Impact on the Homeless Population. A Member enquired as to what impact the housing of refugees might have on support provided to homeless people in the borough. The Head of Housing and Community stated that the Council seeks to provide accommodation for refugees that would not otherwise be available as accommodation for those on the housing needs register. He stated that many landlords work closely with the EERN, and that EERN had a successful track record in identifying landlords wishing to put their properties forward for use specifically as housing for refugees.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Nominate and Authorise the Head of Housing and Community, in consultation with the Committee Chair, to produce and submit a response to the Government on behalf of the Council, as outlined in section 5 of the report.