Decision details

Arrangement with UKVI in their sourcing of private rented accommodation for households seeking asylum

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Housing

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Decision:

To agree to enter into a collaborative arrangement with UKVI in their sourcing of private rented accommodation for households seeking asylum and to authorise the Managing Director Place and Growth to take such decisions and actions as are necessary to implement that arrangement.

 

Reasons for the decision:

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is the Government Agency responsible for assessing claims from asylum seekers who wish to remain within the UK. They commission an accommodation provider to secure private rented accommodation so that Asylum Seekers can be housed appropriately while their claims for asylum are assessed.

The government is keen for every local authority in the UK to be open to UKVI sourcing private rented accommodation in their area, in order to increase the supply of housing that can be made available for people claiming asylum. As such, UKVI have recently approached this council to seek confirmation that we would be willing to participate in their scheme. As part of this request, the council was advised that there are powers in the Immigration Act 1999 that can require a local authority to participate, and that if these powers were invoked, UKVI would not be able to guarantee the local authority any influence over the number of people that UKVI would seek to house in their area.

This council is very much open to working with UKVI to assist them in their aims in widening their dispersal area. By working collaboratively with UKVI, the council will also have influence over the numbers of people to be housed, the size of families that will be housed, and the locations in which the accommodation is sourced. This influence will therefore help the council to manage any potential risks arising from participation in this scheme (as identified within Appendix 1 of the attached report).

It is estimated that the number of homes that will be sourced by UKVI in the first 12 months across Cheltenham will be around 10 – or around 25 people. During this time we will review outcomes to ensure that any subsequent increase in provision is both appropriate and well managed

Alternative options considered:

To not enter into a collaborative arrangement with UKVI. As detailed above, there are powers in the Immigration Act 1999 that can require a local authority to participate, and that if these powers are invoked, UKVI would not be able to guarantee that the local authority would have any influence over the number of people that UKVI would seek to house in the area.

 

 

Wards Affected: (All Wards);

Consultees

The council has consulted with Cheltenham Borough Homes’ Housing Options Service, their Lettings and Housing Management teams, as well as GARAS (Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers). The Housing Options Service support the council’s thinking over our preference for UKVI to accommodate single people and smaller-size families in our borough. Cheltenham Borough Homes are happy to work with the council and UKVI in helping to ensure that UKVI source suitable private rented accommodation in the area. GARAS welcomes the council’s proposal to assist UKVI in the manner described.

 

Contact: Martin Stacy, Housing Strategy and Partnerships Manager Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected].

Publication date: 22/02/2019

Date of decision: 22/02/2019

Effective from: 05/03/2019

Accompanying Documents: