Issue - meetings

Urgent matter of the response from Exeter City Council to agree the number of properties it believes it can facilitate provide in response to the Government’s consultation on refuges and asylum seekers entering the UK via safe routes in 2025.  

Due to the timings of the consultation and Exeter City Council’s meeting dates it was not possible for the Council to consider a draft response in advance of its submission. The response to the consultation has been treated as an urgent matter.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, it has been discussed with the Leader, the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Homelessness Prevention and Council Housing, Development and Support Services in addition to the Chair of the Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee, and the Executive is now invited to note the response which has been submitted and dealt with under emergency provisions. The key issue identified relates to:

1.    The government consulted with local authorities to introduce an annual cap on the number of refugee entrants using safe and legal routes coming to the UK. This is to meet a duty under the Illegal Migration Act 2023.

2.    It provided an opportunity for local authorities to put forward their capacity to house and support people coming to their districts in light of current pressures. The aim is to establish a migration system which is sustainable and well managed. There is an expectation for every Local Authority (or equivalent) to respond to this consultation.

3.    The consultation paper suggested that there should be a politically agreed commitment to any figure proposed and that any proposition represents a consensus view in the area. Response in two tier areas needed to the agreed by District and County Councils. This was facilitated by Devon County Council who provided a Devon wide response.  

4.    By using historic data and an understanding of the current housing market Exeter City Council has proposed to agree to facilitate 5 properties from private rented sector being provided in response to the consultation.

Agreed:

RESOLVED that the urgent matter be noted.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive noted the urgent matter of the response from Exeter City Council to the Home Office's consultation on the cap of properties that the Council would agree to accept under the safe and legal routes for asylum seekers. The response was facilitated by Devon County Council with all second tier authorities inputting their number of properties, which Exeter would facilitate five properties from the private sector.

Members were advised that due to the timings of the consultation and Exeter City Council’s meeting dates it was not possible for the Council to consider a draft response in advance of its submission and that the response to the consultation was treated as an urgent matter. In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, it had been discussed with the Council Leader, the Portfolio Holders for Communities and Homelessness Prevention and Council Housing, Development and Support Services and with the Chair of the Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED that the urgent matter be noted.