Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Leader

Forward Plan Ref: 2024/145

Contact: Robin Rogers, Programme Director (Partnerships and Delivery)

Report by Executive Director: People (CA10)

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)    Agree that the Council should work towards submitting an application to become a recognised Council of Sanctuary, as proposed in the motion passed by full council on 7 November 2023 – see Annex 1 (iii);

b)    Note the requirement for the development of a strategy or framework for migration for future decision making and integration into the Council’s business and budget planning process;

c)    Delegate the submission of an application for Sanctuary Status to the Executive Director of People in consultation with the Leader of the Council; 

d)    Note the progress made against the other resolutions in the motion passed by Council on 7 November 2023 – see Annex 1 (i and ii).

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet considered a report recommending that the Council works towards submitting an application to become a recognised Council of Sanctuary, as proposed in a motion passed by full council in November 2023. The report outlined what it meant to be a Council of Sanctuary, the policy implications, and the progress made against the other resolutions in the motion to Council.

Cabinet were addressed by three representatives of the Asylum Welcome charity who spoke in support of the proposals in the report.

The Chair presented the report and referred to the collaborative work taking place with other councils in the county on providing the services needed by asylum seekers and refugees.  The Council of Sanctuary status would provide a framework against which the services could be measured.

Councillor Leffman moved, and Councillor Sudbury seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.

RESOLVED to

a)    agree that the Council should work towards submitting an application to become a recognised Council of Sanctuary, as proposed in a motion passed by full council on 7 November 2023;

b)    note the requirement for the development of a strategy or framework for migration for future decision making and integration into the Council’s business and budget planning process;

c)    delegate the submission of an application for Sanctuary Status to the Executive Director (People) in consultation with the Leader of the Council; 

d)    note the progress made against the other resolutions in the motion.