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Agenda item

Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme

Minutes:

The Senior Strategy Officer – Housing and Community Regeneration provided an overview on the progress of the UK Government Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme in the County Borough of Bridgend.  He stated that the UK Government is committed to resettling 20,000 Syrian refugees during the lifetime of this Parliament, with the number of refugees likely to be received in Wales increasing from 1,500 up to 1,800 over the Scheme. 

 

The Senior Strategy Officer – Housing and Community Regeneration informed the Committee that Cabinet at its meeting on 5 July 2016 had approved the Council’s participation in phase 2 of the Scheme.  The Council had procured the Welsh Refugee Council to provide support to refugee families and he outlined the support which would be given to support the families.  He stated that the families which had settled in Bridgend had been housed by Cartrefi Hafod who had been awarded the contract for the provision of housing management and who had experience in managing Syrian refugees in other local authorities and had the resources to assist with a variety of tenancy issues.               

 

The Senior Strategy Officer – Housing and Community Regeneration informed the Committee that to date, 2 Syrian families had been resettled in the County Borough, with the first family arriving in November 2016, with the second family arriving in February 2017.  A third family would be arriving in the County Borough during this month and a further 3 families arriving in the months that follow.  Six families would be resettled in the County Borough by June 2017.  A report would be submitted to a future meeting of Cabinet on proposals to resettle further families.  He informed the Committee the families already resettled were settling in well in the County Borough having good housing support and the children attending local schools with support from an Arabic speaking Learning Support Officer.  The families’ religion is Sunni and they attend the mosque in Aberkenfig.  To date, 294 people had resettled in Wales and 4,400 resettled in the UK which would be increasing to 20,000 during the lifetime of this Parliament.     

 

The Committee questioned whether the authority had been a quota for resettling families.  The Senior Strategy Officer – Housing and Community Regeneration informed the Committee that the Home Office had not given authorities for the resettling of families and that the numbers were determined based on the availability of housing, school spaces and health care.  He stated that Bridgend’s population accounts for 4.5% of the population of the whole of Wales and the authority could resettle up to 84 people.  The Committee requested that the future Cabinet report also outline the methodology for resettling families in the County Borough. 

 

The Committee referred to the rent allowance of £425 per month for 3 bedroom properties when the rental for such properties is approximately £575 per month and questioned how the shortfall would be met.  The Senior Strategy Officer – Housing and Community Regeneration informed the Committee that the housing allowance is just below £500 per month and also below the market rent.  He stated that the support service procured for refugee families would ensure that 100% housing allowance would be allowed.  He also informed the Committee that Hafod would arrange for gas certification and the Council would use Home Office funding to support the families in their homes, with the Council being able to pay up to 12 weeks rent allowance to landlords.  An approach had been received from a local church with an offer of a property in their ownership to resettle families.  He stated that the Council would also use empty properties to house resettled families.  Properties used as part of the programme would be leased for a minimum of 3 years and once the lease had been signed the owners of the properties could not withdraw from the lease, giving security of tenure to the families.  The Senior Strategy Officer – Housing and Community Regeneration informed the Committee that the operational group established for mobilisation and delivery had been very effective in terms of its partnership working. 

 

The Committee asked what assistance was being given to assist the people being resettled in accessing employment.  The Senior Strategy Officer – Housing and Community Regeneration informed the Committee that people would be assisted in registering with the Job Centre for employment opportunities.  The biggest barrier to obtaining employment is the language, however, English lessons are provided by Bridgend College for the families to attend.  However as the families had only arrived recently, it was likely too early for job opportunities to be accessed. 

 

The Committee asked how families are selected to be resettled in the County Borough.  The Senior Strategy Officer – Housing and Community Regeneration informed the Committee that the Home Office are informed by the Council of the availability of housing and school places.  Medical needs and whether the properties require adaptation for disabilities would need to be assessed by the Operational Group as to whether a family could be accepted in the County Borough. 

 

The Committee questioned the geographical areas where the families would be resettled.  The Senior Strategy Officer – Housing and Community Regeneration informed the Committee that as the families religion was likely to be Sunni, the area around Aberkenfig would be considered for resettling, however there was a lack of capacity at local schools in that area.  He stated that some communities in the County Borough were isolated and communities in proximity to town centres, public transport, the mosque and also the availability of halal food were considered. 

 

RESOLVED:           That the Committee received the report and considered there had been a great deal of multi-agency work and volunteering in helping families resettle in the County Borough.                      

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