Agenda item

This report sets out issues around the Government’s invitation to participate in the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (SVPRS) and details three possible options with a recommendation to support option 3, where the council participates in the (SVPRS) for five years and assists up to 5 households over this period, only using properties specifically identified for housing those arriving under the scheme.

The Committee:

(1)          Agreed that the Council should participate in the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (SVPRS) to assist up to 10 Syrian refugee households over 5 years only using suitable properties provided for this specific purpose as set out in Option 3 in the report;

(2)          Noted, and in principle, supported the intention of Epsom and Ewell Refugee Network to apply and become a Community Sponsor and authorised the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee to endorse their application if she thinks it appropriate to do so.

The Committee received and considered a report which set out the issues around the Government’s invitation to participate in the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (SVPRS).

Three options were presented to the Committee with a recommendation to support Option 3.  The three options were:

·                     Option 1: Not to participate in the SVPRS

·                     Option 2: To participate in the SVPRS to assist up to 5 Syrian refugee households over five years

·                     Option 3: To participate in the SVPRS to assist up to 5 Syrian refugee households over five years, only using properties specifically identified for housing those under the scheme and to avoid the use of accommodation that would otherwise be available to local households looking to the Council to assist them with their housing needs.

It was noted that the Housing Needs Register was currently being reviewed as part of the new Housing Allocation Policy agreed by the former Social Committee.  There were currently 2200 applicants on the register but this was anticipated to drop in the light of the tighter criteria and the fact that many applications were “cold cases” and could now be removed for the Register.

Given the intention by the Government to reimburse local authorities for the majority, if not all, of the costs associated with the scheme, the financial risk to the Council appeared to be low. Officers were seeking to minimise the financial risk by recommending that assistance be limited to one family a year for five years, and in Option 3, by using accommodation that would not negatively impact on temporary accommodation or bed and breakfast expenditure.

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Chinn, seconded by Councillor Kokou-Tchri, that the Council participate in the SVPRS to assist up to 10 Syrian refugee households over five years.  This amendment was lost.

Having discussed the pros and cons of Options 2 and 3 and the implications of increasing the number of households it was proposed to help, a further amendment was proposed by Councillor Clive Woodbridge, seconded by Councillor Neil Dallen that the Council participate in the SVPRS to assist up to 10 Syrian refugee households over five years, avoiding the use of accommodation that would otherwise be available to local households looking to the Council to assist them with their housing needs. This amendment was carried.

Option 2 presented the risk of reputational damage by diverting accommodation away from those in local housing need members were conscious of the significant pressures on local housing stock.  Assisting more households would attract more funding but the experience of other authorities had demonstrated that such households required a lot of support and assisting more than one household per year could increase the risks associated with expenses incurred not being recoverable from Home Office funding which the Council was less likely to be able to manage within existing resources. 

Accordingly, the Committee:

(1)          Agreed that the Council should participate in the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (SVPRS) to assist up to 10 Syrian refugee households over 5 years only using suitable properties provided for this specific purpose as set out in Option 3 in the report;

(2)          Noted, and in principle, supported the intention of Epsom and Ewell Refugee Network to apply and become a Community Sponsor and authorised the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee to endorse their application if she thinks it appropriate to do so.