This a verbal update from the Director Covid-19 & Refugee Lead.
Minutes:
Councillor Souslous introduced the refugee verbal update on council activities supporting refugees from Afghanistan, and more recently from Ukraine. Roy Morgan (Teams) gave a PowerPoint presentation outlining a comprehensive range of activities and support services being provided to refugees hosted in the borough, as well as sponsors for Ukrainian refugees, working with local voluntary sector organisations. The council continued to work with the Home Office to co-ordinate the resettlement of Afghan refugees. The council was also lobbying actively against the government’s inhumane proposals to send asylum seekers to Rwanda and advocating for open, safe routes for asylum seekers. A final aim as a compassionate council was to work to prevent people trafficking and exploitation and to be designated as a borough of sanctuary for refugees and asylum seekers.
Support services were currently being provided for 780 refugees in the borough, with donations and wrap around support services co-ordinated through local faith groups (mosques, churches) community and voluntary health and social care providers. This also included support in obtaining housing and providing advice on tenancy agreements. The council had also worked with the Department for Work and Pensions to help navigate benefit pathways, obtain national insurance numbers and personal independent payments. Officers had worked closely with the North West London Health colleagues to ensure that families had been registered with local health providers. Due diligence had been undertaken around children’s safeguarding, with free school meals and uniforms also provided. Detailed figures were given on the number of individuals and family units being supported by nationality and the ways in which they had been supported. A slide deck of the presentation would be circulated following the meeting.
Councillor Omid Miri sought clarification about the direction of travel and an update about the city of sanctuary application process. The borough offered safety, assurance, and support for refugees, learning from examples of best practice from other boroughs, for example Lewisham. Roy Morgan explained that the designation highlighted the wrap-around provision offered, ensuring that all refugees were treated with equity and were able to have parity of access to services. Parity of provision was important as there had been notable differences in the response to Afghan refugees, compared to Ukrainian. The council was working with voluntary providers to ameliorate this.
Councillor Andrew Dinsmore sought assurance that refugee children were not being placed in private fee-paying schools. Councillor Rebecca Harvey confirmed that the council was not placing children in private schools however, some had offered places to sponsor families. All other children had been placed in state schools. Councillor Dinsmore reported that he had also received an email from a resident who described their poor experience of a “welcome” session hosted at the Quaker centre, with no school places and vouchers that had not initially worked and the absence of other welcoming provisions. Councillor Dinsmore sought an assurance that the council would primarily focus on school provision and the provision of vouchers. Councillor Rebecca Harvey assured the committee that all children had been placed in local schools. Approximately £72k in vouchers had been issued and although there had been some one-off issues due to the speed of the scheme being established these had now been resolved, with frequent checks and monitoring to ensure tight management. Councillor Harvey commented that she was very proud of the support provided, including the Paddington Bear gift given to all Ukrainian refugee children, and that refugee week had offered a series of well-run events, including a range of arts and healing activities. Foster carers had been brought together and the council was working with Lord Alf Dubs to advocate for the rights and protection of unaccompanied children and child refugees. Positive feedback from the Home Office had indicated that H&F was one of the best council’s supporting Afghan refugees placed in bridging hotels
Councillor Souslous noted that a member enquiry had been lodged by Councillor Dinsmore on 6 July and encouraged him to contact Councillor Harvey to follow up any further concerns about the issue to see if the council could provide any further assistance. It was also noted that there was support available from a council team for sponsor families, particularly where there was a breakdown in communication. Councillor Harvey outlined some of the provisions which included drop-in sessions and reported that council officers worked hard to support families and their sponsors.
Councillor Souslous commended the support provided by the council and the success of the refugee week activities and events. He asked what funds or support measures had been put in place to support any future refugee crises. Roy Morgan responded that there was a council team that was ready to be mobilised, with officers from across the council, including housing and children’s services. There was also a dedicated refugee management team ready to provide wrap around support services for the next cohort.
RESOLVED
That the verbal update was noted.