Lead Member – Mr Mal Price – Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment.

Report of the Interim Director of Adult Services is attached, marked 8.

Contact: Andy Begley 01743 252421

RESOLVED:

i)  That Cabinet consider the progress made to date by the Cross Party Working Group and confirm their ongoing commitment to providing support, as appropriate, to Syrian refugees and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children.

ii)  That Cabinet agree to Shropshire supporting up to 10 families under the Syrian repatriation programme managed by UNHCR.

iii) That Cabinet agree to assist Kent with their challenge of supporting up to 2000 children that have arrived there as Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children and that delegated responsibility be allocated to the Director of Children and Young People’s services in conjunction with the Cross Party Working Group to consider and agree any requests for support.

iv) That Cabinet note that there may be future requests to support UASC as further clarity is provided on the position regarding UASC in Europe.

v)    That Cabinet note the information regarding the Asylum Dispersal Scheme.

vi) That Cabinet agree to the funding being made available for the resettlement of Syrian refugees being ring fenced within a dedicated cost centre in adult social care to provide support to this group of people over the 5 year term of the funding.

vii)  That the Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People be added to the membership of the Cross Party Working Group.

142.1  The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment presented a report by the Interim Director of Adult Services setting out the position on the levels of support required for refugees and asylum seekers in Shropshire.

142.2  He paid tribute to the efforts of the Cross Party Working Group that had been established in Shropshire in response to the UK Government’s response to the repatriation scheme for Syrian refugees.  Cabinet noted the four different cohorts of people that may need support in Shropshire, as:

·                     Refugees under the UNHCR Syrian resettlement programme

·                     Asylum seekers

·                     Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children dispersed from Kent County      Council

·                     Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children currently in Europe

Members received an update on the background to each of the four groups, the work undertaken to date together with any future requirements.

142.3  It was acknowledged that this inter-agency working was of great benefit to the task in hand.  All agreed the merits of the Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People being included as a member of the Cross Party Working Group in future.

142.4  RESOLVED:

i)  That Cabinet consider the progress made to date by the Cross Party Working Group and confirm their ongoing commitment to providing support, as appropriate, to Syrian refugees and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children.

ii)  That Cabinet agree to Shropshire supporting up to 10 families under the Syrian repatriation programme managed by UNHCR.

iii) That Cabinet agree to assist Kent with their challenge of supporting up to 2000 children that have arrived there as Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children and that delegated responsibility be allocated to the Director of Children and Young People’s services in conjunction with the Cross Party Working Group to consider and agree any requests for support.

iv) That Cabinet note that there may be future requests to support UASC as further clarity is provided on the position regarding UASC in Europe.

v)    That Cabinet note the information regarding the Asylum Dispersal Scheme.

vi) That Cabinet agree to the funding being made available for the resettlement of Syrian refugees being ring fenced within a dedicated cost centre in adult social care to provide support to this group of people over the 5 year term of the funding.

vii)  That the Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People be added to the membership of the Cross Party Working Group.