Issue - meetings

Oxfordshire County Council is proud of our history of welcoming people seeking safety in our county. We believe that:

·       everyone has the right to seek safety, and everyone’s claim for asylum should be treated equally and fairly;

·       the Government’s ‘anti-refugee’ laws undermine internationally recognised rights for people fleeing war and persecution to seek safety;

·       people seeking safety should be housed as our neighbours and as a part of our communities;

·       the UK needs an asylum system that empowers people seeking safety to rebuild their lives and enables communities to welcome them;

Council resolves to:

       i.          defend the right to seek safety from war and persecution in the UK by signing the national ‘Fight the Anti-Refugee Laws’ pledge;

      ii.          call on the UK Government to repeal the Illegal Migration Act and the Nationality and Borders Act, withdraw the UK–Rwanda partnership,

    iii.          request Cabinet to

·                 work with Local Authorities and communities to build a refugee protection system that treats all people with dignity and compassion;

·                 continue to lobby against any UK Government plans to build or repurpose facilities in Oxfordshire to detain or warehouse people seekingsafety;

·                 work with local organisations and people with lived experience of the asylum system to identify ways to mitigate the effects of these measures in Oxfordshire;

·                 consider joining the network of cities and towns which promote the inclusion and welfare of people who are fleeing violence and persecution and become a recognised Council of Sanctuary

The motion was carried with 42 in favour; 15 against and 1 abstention.

Councillor Andrew Gant moved and Councillor Michael O’Connor seconded the following motion:

Oxfordshire County Council is proud of our history of welcoming people seeking safety in our county. We believe that:

·         everyone has the right to seek safety, and everyone’s claim for asylum should be treated equally and fairly;

·         the Government’s ‘anti-refugee’ laws undermine internationally recognised rights for people fleeing war and persecution to seek safety;

·         people seeking safety should be housed as our neighbours and as a part of our communities;

·         the UK needs an asylum system that empowers people seeking safety to rebuild their lives and enables communities to welcome them;

Council resolves to:

      i.        defend the right to seek safety from war and persecution in the UK by signing the national ‘Fight the Anti-Refugee Laws’ pledge;

    ii.        call on the UK Government to repeal the Illegal Migration Act and the Nationality and Borders Act, withdraw the UK–Rwanda partnership,

   iii.        request Cabinet to

·                     work with Local Authorities and communities to build a refugee protection system that treats all people with dignity and compassion;

·                     continue to lobby against any UK Government plans to build or repurpose facilities in Oxfordshire to detain or warehouse people seekingsafety;

·                     work with local organisations and people with lived experience of the asylum system to identify ways to mitigate the effects of these measures in Oxfordshire;

·                     consider joining the network of cities and towns which promote the inclusion and welfare of people who are fleeing violence and persecution and become a recognised Council of Sanctuary

Following debate, the motion was carried with 42 in favour; 15 against and 1 abstention.

RESOLVED:

Oxfordshire County Council is proud of our history of welcoming people seeking safety in our county. We believe that:

·         everyone has the right to seek safety, and everyone’s claim for asylum should be treated equally and fairly;

·         the Government’s ‘anti-refugee’ laws undermine internationally recognised rights for people fleeing war and persecution to seek safety;

·         people seeking safety should be housed as our neighbours and as a part of our communities;

·         the UK needs an asylum system that empowers people seeking safety to rebuild their lives and enables communities to welcome them;

Council resolves to:

      i.        defend the right to seek safety from war and persecution in the UK by signing the national ‘Fight the Anti-Refugee Laws’ pledge;

    ii.        call on the UK Government to repeal the Illegal Migration Act and the Nationality and Borders Act, withdraw the UK–Rwanda partnership,

   iii.        request Cabinet to

·                     work with Local Authorities and communities to build a refugee protection system that treats all people with dignity and compassion;

·                     continue to lobby against any UK Government plans to build or repurpose facilities in Oxfordshire to detain or warehouse people seekingsafety;

·                     work with local organisations and people with lived experience of the asylum system to identify ways to mitigate the effects of these measures in Oxfordshire;

·                     consider joining the network of cities and towns which promote the inclusion and welfare of people who are fleeing violence and persecution  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93