Decision details

Arising from a * report of the Head of Housing and Property Services, the Homes Policy Development Group had made the following recommendations:

a) Up to 5 refugee families be housed / supported, as and when properties came forward, for the duration of the scheme providing the costs were met by the Devon County Council led resettlement programme and that this be reviewed four months after the arrival of the first family (Note: the programme was currently of 4 years duration).

b) These refugee families be accommodated in Private Sector accommodation. However, further consideration must be given to the need for support (help) which would involve a minimum of weekly visits by one or more officers and also an exit strategy involving the landlord, the Council and DCC.

The Member Services Manager outlined the decision making process for this item, referring to the original Motion put before Council on 31 August 2016, the initial discussions by the Homes Policy Development Group (PDG) and decision by Council on 26 October 2016  to support the Motion.  Following this, the Homes Policy Development Group had considered a report of the Head of Housing and Property Services and made recommendations; she informed the meeting that in her view it was now a business decision that should be made by the Cabinet.

The Cabinet Member for Housing stated that all were aware of the situation in Syria and he welcomed the offer of voluntary help from those present, it was however necessary to look at the issue from a Local Authority point of view and the scheme that was being run by Devon County Council with Government funding.  He outlined the number of Syrian families already in place in Devon and the process that was required.  He reiterated that refugees would only be housed in the private sector and properties had to be found, preferably in the urban areas so that facilities were at hand.  There would be on costs for the Local Authority which would have to be funded through the Housing Revenue Account.

Addressing the questions posed in public question time, he welcomed the help offered by volunteers present but explained that the Local Authority had to follow the guidelines outlined in the scheme, the recommendation from the PDG had been that up to 5 families were housed in Mid Devon, he felt that this was a starting point and that the scheme should be trialled at this level initially.  The accommodation at Washfield was welcomed and if it met the standard required (with any necessary planning permission) then it would form part of a recommendation to Devon County Council.

Consideration was given to:

·         Financial implications

·         The work of the volunteers within the scheme

·         Possibly increasing the number of families to be housed

·         The need to support the recommendation of the PDG and trial 5 families in Mid Devon

RESOLVED that the recommendation of the Policy Development Group be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr R L Stanley and seconded by Cllr P H D Hare-Scott)

Note: - *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.