Agenda item

RESOLVED:

KEY DECISION

That the Executive:

a.    Approved the approach to funding as set out at paragraph 5.8 (Table One) of the report

b.    Noted that the use of the funding will ensure that the Council meets the obligations set out by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to ensure adequate safeguarding and support is provided to sponsoring households and Ukrainian guests to enable the successful integration of Ukrainian refugees in North Northamptonshire.

c.    Delegated authority to the Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, in liaison with the Executive Director for Adults, Communities and Wellbeing, to take any further decisions and/or actions required to appropriately support both refugees and sponsors in North Northamptonshire. 

Reasons for Recommendations: By approving these recommendations, Council Officers will be able to set a clear approach  for how the Local Authority funding will be effectively used to support and help the integration of Ukrainian Refugees into their local communities.

Alternative Options considered: The alternative is not to set out a clear approach for how the Tariff will be applied in North Northamptonshire.

The Chair welcomed Cllr Lyn Buckingham to the meeting to address the Executive. Cllr Buckingham welcomed the report but stated that the Council had been slow offer support to community endeavours currently assisting Ukrainian refugees and their host families. One of the biggest barriers faced was language, with additional support for English lessons required as relationship breakdown between some refugees and host families was becoming apparent.

The Chair thanked Cllr Buckingham for her contribution, noting the overwhelming generosity of the residents in North Northamptonshire in offering support and assistance to refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Cllr Dorothy Maxwell was then invited to address the meeting. Cllr Maxwell queried funding for educational requirements for refugees as well as the cost to administer caseloads.

Cllr Helen Harrison, Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing then introduced a report that sought approval from the Executive for the proposed use of the Government’s Homes for Ukraine Local Authority Funding to support families to rebuild their lives and to integrate into communities in North Northamptonshire.

Cllr Harrison responded to Cllr Maxwell’s comments, noting that £10,500 was received from the Government per Ukrainian guest to allow the Council to support Ukrainian families to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into communities. Education funding was separate to that funding and was passported straight to schools. In addition, ringfenced funding for the ‘thank you’ payments of £350 per sponsoring household per month had been allocated.

Following on from Cllr Buckingham’s comments, Cllr Harrison noted that local community groups had stepped up to carry out amazing work in helping the Council deliver Ukrainian integration in North Northamptonshire. The report before members would provide the capacity to undertake additional work with such groups as the Council sought to fulfil the wide array of responsibilities it had with regard to the refugees.

The meeting heard that to meet these responsibilities, it was proposed that the Council create a dedicated Refugee Resettlement Team, to provide wraparound support and technical guidance associated with refugee status, but to also provide employment, tenancy and immigration support. It was anticipated that this team would initially be in place for a fixed-term three-year period. 

It was noted that without the Council having a clear approach as to how Government funding would be allocated there was a risk that funding could be allocated ad hoc and without appropriate management and monitoring. Additionally, there was the risk that without the appropriate support in place, refugees could lose their accommodation, be unable to access benefits and/or employment and experience health issues. Members noted that the introduction of the methodology outlined in the report would allow for a consistent, structured and supportive approach to Ukrainian citizens across North Northamptonshire.

Cllr Harrison outlined the proposed timetable for the implementation of the proposals and noted the overwhelming support of the Health & Wellbeing and Vulnerable People Executive Advisory Panel.

The Chair spoke to acknowledge the support of the local and national population in supporting those fleeing the war in Ukraine and paid tribute to the hard work of officers to date in this regard, a stance echoed by Cllrs Howell and Pentland.

RESOLVED:

KEY DECISION

That the Executive:

a.    Approved the approach to funding as set out at paragraph 5.8 (Table One) of the report

b.    Noted that the use of the funding will ensure that the Council meets the obligations set out by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to ensure adequate safeguarding and support is provided to sponsoring households and Ukrainian guests to enable the successful integration of Ukrainian refugees in North Northamptonshire.

c.    Delegated authority to the Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, in liaison with the Executive Director for Adults, Communities and Wellbeing, to take any further decisions and/or actions required to appropriately support both refugees and sponsors in North Northamptonshire. 

Reasons for Recommendations: By approving these recommendations, Council Officers will be able to set a clear approach  for how the Local Authority funding will be effectively used to support and help the integration of Ukrainian Refugees into their local communities.

Alternative Options considered: The alternative is not to set out a clear approach for how the Tariff will be applied in North Northamptonshire.