Decision details

Following a review of the Asylum Dispersal Scheme in Cheltenham, a decision has been made to increase the number of homes that will be sourced by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as part of the Asylum Dispersal Scheme to accommodate approx. 50 people, to be reviewed after 12 months.

In February 2019 a cabinet member decision was made to enter into a collaborative arrangement with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to source private rented accommodation in Cheltenham for households seeking asylum. This decision estimated that the number of homes that will be sourced by UKVI in the first 12 months across Cheltenham will be around 10 properties or around 25 people.

Cheltenham Borough Council has now been approached by UKVI with a request to increase the number of homes that they can source in Cheltenham for households seeking asylum. This is in line with a request to local authorities across the southwest to increase the supply of housing that can be made available for people claiming asylum. 

Following a recent review of the scheme in November 2020 there are currently 18 people residing across 4 properties in Cheltenham with a further property to accommodate an additional 4 people due to come on board shortly.  

As part of the review CBC have reviewed the outcomes and progress of the scheme and where the location of properties sourced has not been deemed appropriate properties have been refused.

Due to the pandemic decisions on cases were halted for an extended period of time so outcomes of cases are fairly limited with the majority of clients remaining in properties awaiting decisions on claims, however the processes have worked well and relationships have been brokered between Cheltenham Borough Council and the UKVI with regular partnership meetings and updates taking place.

A high level of support is provided for people seeking asylum who are residing in Cheltenham from the voluntary sector and the decision to increase the number of homes that will be sourced by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as part of the Asylum Dispersal Scheme to accommodate approx. 50 people is deemed appropriate to ensure the scheme is well managed and this commitment will be reviewed again in a further 12 months.

To not increase our commitment part of the Asylum Dispersal Scheme – however as detailed in the original cabinet member decision there are powers in the Immigration Act 1999 that can require a local authority to participate, and increase the provision in their area and 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.

The council has consulted with Councillor Peter Jeffries – cabinet member for housing, Cheltenham Borough Homes’ Housing Options Service and GARAS (Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers) who support the council’s decision to increase the number of homes that will be sourced by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as part of the Asylum Dispersal Scheme.