Agenda item

To consider any questions submitted by Members of the Council, in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11 (b).

In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11 two questions had been submitted by the required deadline set out in the Constitution.

(A)  Council Responsibility to House Asylum Seekers Granted Leave to Stay.

Councillor David Levett to Councillor Sean Prendergast (Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health).

(B)  Council Financial Relationship with Birmingham City Council.

Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Ian Albert (Executive Member for Finance and IT).

Audio recording – 28 minute 52 seconds

In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11, two questions had been submitted by the required deadline set out in the Constitution.

(A)  Council Responsibility to House Asylum Seeker Granted Leave to Stay.

Councillor David Levett to Councillor Sean Prendergast (Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health).

"Given the significant number of asylum seekers being accommodated in North Hertfordshire by the Home Office what plans does the Council have to house any of the families should they be granted leave to stay and it becomes the responsibility of North Hertfordshire District Council to find homes for them?”

Councillor Sean Prendergast gave a response as follows:

“I do think that it’s perhaps a question that Councillor Levett should be asking the government. Almost every Local Authority will be in this situation which begs the question, what is the government long term strategy to house people, furthermore do we know how long the government is going to take to process asylum claims, the answer is we don’t. There is a huge backlog of applications that will inevitably be putting increasing pressure on Local Authorities, quite frankly the whole situation is completely unacceptable. What this also highlights is that need to build more affordable social housing which has been another significant failure of this Government. However, we are where we are and this Council does have a plan to try and manage the situation, a report was provided to Cabinet last week that provides an answer to Councillor Levett’s question, however I am more than happy to summarise this for Members tonight. This administration has a strong track record of supporting refugees, we have successfully housed 70 refugees in direct response to Government resettlement schemes over recent years. This includes refugees from places such as Syria and Afghanistan. Although asylum seekers are ineligible for Local Authority Housing services if they’re successful with their applications they will be granted refugee status by the Home Office. The Home Office is currently using two hotels in this District with a total of around 250 occupants. Our local registered providers have been very supportive of refugee resettlements to date and the Local Authority Housing fund will provide more affordable housing to help with these demands. However, it is anticipated that there will be much more focus on the option on using the privately rental sector for resettlement of refugees going forward. In view of this a new fixed term member of staff has been recruited based on the Council’s housing team in order to manage resettlement activities as part of the Council’s wider housing role, in an attempt to try and minimalize the numbers that may come homeless. It is worth noting that around 12 months ago the Home Office asked Hertfordshire to assist with the placement of 801 asylum seekers by December 2023 with North Herts allocation being 97, we are seeking further clarity from the Home Office on this extra demand bearing in mind the relatively recent procurement of 12 hotels in Hertfordshire accommodating approximately 1800 asylum seekers. While this Council is trying to be proactive in managing this situation, already high housing demands are almost certainly going to increase, therefore all Local Authorities will be reliant on Government funding to manage the situation effectively, a situation that I must add was creative by this government. Councils deserve better, but more importantly so do asylum seekers, we must not forget these are people that have come from war torn countries who need support and assistance and although the Government continues to fail these people we will be here, to offer support.”

Councillor David Levett asked a supplementary question, as follows:

“A report in the Daily Express on Monday September 25, there was an article that said the Home Office must now consult Councils legally to ask the number of people they can accommodate, have we been asked that question yet and what would the answer be?”

Councillor Prendergast responded:

“I have not seen that article but bearing in mind it’s in the Daily Express I will probably take that with a pinch of salt, but I don’t know the answer to that question Councillor, but I can find out for you and come back to you.”

(B)  Council Financial Relationship with Birmingham City Council.

Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Ian Albert (Executive Member for Finance and IT):

“To ask the Executive Member for Finance and IT whether North Hertfordshire District Council has a financial relationship with Birmingham City Council, and if so, to provide detail as to the nature of this relationship?”

Councillor Ian Albert gave a response as follows:

“I can confirm that North Hertfordshire District Council does not have a financial relationship with Birmingham City Council.”

In response to a supplementary question proposed by Councillor Muncer, having sought advice from the Monitoring Officer the Chair advised Councillor Muncer that as his supplementary question did not relate to the original question , that it would not be accepted.