Decision details

This report seeks Members’ endorsement for the City Council’s continued participation in national efforts to support vulnerable children and families escaping from areas of conflict.  This builds on the Council’s commitment in December 2016 of up to eight properties to accommodate Syrian families as part of a Devon-wide programme under the national Syrian Vulnerable Person’s Resettlement Scheme (SVPRS). The Scheme delivers on the Government’s pledge to resettle 20,000 Syrian families.

This report seeks Members’ endorsement for the City Council’s continued participation in national efforts to support vulnerable children and families escaping from areas of conflict.  This builds on the Council’s commitment in December 2016 of up to eight properties to accommodate Syrian families as part of a Devon-wide programme under the national Syrian Vulnerable Person’s Resettlement Scheme (SVPRS). The Scheme delivers on the Government’s pledge to resettle 20,000 Syrian families.

The Council agreed in 2016 to participate in the SVPRS with a commitment to sourcing eight properties. The Government subsequently introduced the VCRS and it was agreed that the eight properties would be offered for both Schemes and additional properties sourced once the agreed eight had been allocated. To date, seven have been allocated to the SVPRS.

There is an option of not sourcing additional properties beyond the agreed eight but members are keen to support vulnerable children and families fleeing from areas of conflict.

There is also the option of providing the properties from our Council Housing stock but Members are clear the council’s participation in this Scheme should not disadvantage local residents.