Council

It came from Councillor Mark Pritchard and concerned asylum dispersal, the system for placing asylum seekers in accommodation across the UK. The Council resolved to call on the UK Government to end the use of private agents in that system, to replace it with a publicly accountable model, and to devolve asylum accommodation to Wales. It also resolved to review its own Housing Strategy.

1. Notice of motion on asylum dispersal

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The motion says private agents acting for the Home Office procure accommodation for profit, and that reports suggest they make substantial gains from public funds with limited transparency. It says councils are often given as little as five days' notice of asylum placements, which restricts planning and consultation and puts pressure on services including health. It contrasts this with the Ukraine and Syrian resettlement schemes, which the motion describes as well managed and collaborative. The minute does not record any further debate or the vote count.

   Based on the minutes, Item 3

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. 1

   Apologies for Absence

   Minute

   Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Paul Blackwell, Annette Davies, Malcolm King OBE, Becca Martin, Paul Rogers and Jerry Wellens.

2. 3

   Notice of Motion

   Decision as recorded

   RESOLVED: That this Council (i) Calls on the UK Government to end the use of private sector agents in the asylum dispersal system and scrap profit-making arrangements that allows millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to be extracted from the system; (ii) Urges the UK Government to replace this model with a publicly accountable, partnership-based approach and meaningful consultation with Elected Members, communities and local authorities; (iii) Calls on the U.K. Government to devolve responsibility for asylum accommodation to Wales, including all associated funding, enabling decisions to be made through the Senedd; (iv) Requests that the Leader of the Council writes to the Home Secretary, the Secretary of State for Wales, the First Minister of Wales, and local Members of Parliament and the Senedd, setting out the Council’s concerns and this resolution. (v) Reviews its Housing Strategy with immediate effect, and define the local HMO housing model to enable delivery of good quality homes across the County.

   Minute

   Members considered a Notice of Motion in the following terms proposed by Councillor Mark Pritchard and seconded accordingly: “This Council: i) Calls on the UK Government to end the use of private sector agents in the asylum dispersal system and scrap profit-making arrangements that allows millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to be extracted from the system; ii) Urges the UK Government to replace this model with a publicly accountable, partnership-based approach and meaningful consultation with Elected Members, communities and local authorities; iii) Calls on the UK Government to devolve responsibility for asylum accommodation to Wales, enabling decisions to be made through the Senedd; and iv) Requests that the Leader of the Council writes to the Home Secretary, the Secretary of State for Wales, the First Minister of Wales, and local Members of Parliament and the Senedd, setting out the Council’s concerns and this resolution. An amendment to the motion which included an additional recommendation (v) was submitted and subsequently approved by the mover and seconder of the motion making it the substantive motion. RESOLVED: That this Council (i) Calls on the UK Government to end the use of private sector agents in the asylum dispersal system and scrap profit-making arrangements that allows millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to be extracted from the system; (ii) Urges the UK Government to replace this model with a publicly accountable, partnership-based approach and meaningful consultation with Elected Members, communities and local authorities; (iii) Calls on the U.K. Government to devolve responsibility for asylum accommodation to Wales, including all associated funding, enabling decisions to be made through the Senedd; (iv) Requests that the Leader of the Council writes to the Home Secretary, the Secretary of State for Wales, the First Minister of Wales, and local Members of Parliament and the Senedd, setting out the Council’s concerns and this resolution. (v) Reviews its Housing Strategy with immediate effect, and define the local HMO housing model to enable delivery of good quality homes across the County.

   Part of an issue followed across 7 meetings

   Papers: Item 3

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