Urgent Reference from Communities, Housing and Environment Committee 8 December 2015: Maidstone’s approach to the Syrian refugee crisis |
|
1. PURPOSE OF REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1 This reference relates to a report that was presented to the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee on 8 December 2015.
2.
REASONS
FOR URGENCY
2.1 Any
delay in the proposed participation of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Scheme
could have a bearing on this Council’s ability to take in Syrian refugees from
April 2016.
3.
INTRODUCTION
AND BACKGROUND
3.1 At its meeting on 8
December 2015 the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee were presented
with a report which sought approval for the Council to assist Syrian refugees.
3.2 Concern was
expressed by Members that one of the recommendations required that the Council investigate
options for the provision of housing for the Syrian refugees, including the
purchase of property from capital funds.
3.3 Although it was within the remit of the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee to purchase from capital funds, the increase in homelessness had already impacted on its capital funds and additional resources had already been requested from Policy and Resources Committee and this could create an additional burden should there be a need to purchase a property. Therefore, for the sake of consistency, the Committee voted to refer this matter to Policy and Resources Committee. A copy of the report is attached as Appendix ‘A’ for ease of reference.
4.
AVAILABLE
OPTIONS
4.1 The Committee could
decide not to agree to take the recommendations and refer them back to
Communities, Housing and Environment Committee with the caveat that should it
be decided that accommodation to house these individuals were necessary then
that particular issue should be referred to Policy and Resources Committee.
4.2 Alternatively the Committee could consider all the recommendations as detailed in the original report, which have been replicated on the front page of this report as well as in Appendix A. This would ensure that there is not any further delay for the Council accommodating these individuals from April 2015.
5. REPORT APPENDICES
The following document is to be published with this report and form part of the report:
· Appendix A: Copy of the Report of the Housing and Community Services, presented to Communities, Housing and Environment Committee