Decision details

To authorise the use of approximately 6 Cheltenham Borough Council properties (to include 2 bedroom flats and 3 bedroom flats/maisonettes) to assist the council in rehousing in the region of 24 refugees, during 2020/21 (and potentially beyond, should there be any logistical challenges in achieving this target within said timeframe).

The 2020/21 scheme will replace the 2015 Syrian refugee resettlement scheme which was introduced by the government to rehouse 20,000 refugees across the UK. This scheme was supported by Cheltenham Borough Council as detailed in the Cabinet member decision dated 7^th December 2015.

In 2015 in response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis the UK government launched the Syrian refugee resettlement scheme with a pledge to rehouse 20,000 Syrian Refugees across the UK over a 5 year period.

Cheltenham Borough Council has supported the Syrian refugee resettlement scheme and since 2015, 33 Syrian families have been successfully housed within the borough of Cheltenham. This equates to 122 refugees.

The Syrian refugee resettlement scheme will continue to run until the 20,000^th person has been accepted into the UK by the Home Office which is estimated to be during the spring of 2020. This scheme will then be superseded by the 2020-21 refugee resettlement programme which will rehouse refugees throughout the UK from all over the world.

In order to support the new 2020-21 refugee resettlement programme Cheltenham Borough Council are proposing to house approximately 24 refugees within a mix of six 2 bed flats/3 bed maisonettes throughout Cheltenham.

This will also contribute to the countywide commitment to rehouse 45 refugees across Gloucestershire during 2020-21.

In considering how many refugees Cheltenham Borough Council can assist, consideration has been given to the local need and demand for social housing across the borough and in particular the impact on homelessness that may arise as a result of accommodating refugees within Cheltenham Borough Council’s social housing stock.

After consultation with Cheltenham Borough Homes, the Council is satisfied that the authority can commit to accommodate in the region of 24 refugees in a mixture of approximately six 2 bedroom 4 person flats and 3 bedroom flats/ maisonettes throughout 2020/21 (and potentially beyond if there is a delay with the Home Office in achieving agreed outcomes within the financial year), subject to reasonably incurred housing costs being met by Gloucestershire County Council.

Through this pledge, Cheltenham Borough Homes will also be required to manage any potential issues that arise from rehousing refugees from a range of different nationalities and religions within the Council’s social housing stock. Consideration will therefore be given to the location of each family to mitigate against any potential issues of conflict that may occur.

Support will also be provided to these refugees from a range of local organisations such as GARAS (Gloucestershire action for refugees and asylum seeker) and Cheltenham welcomes Refugees who provide support to Refugees and asylum seekers through Gloucestershire.

In addition to the commitment of approximately 6 Cheltenham Borough Council properties Cheltenham Borough Council are also committed to working with Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees and GARAS (Gloucestershire action for refugees and asylum seekers) to explore opportunities for larger properties for refugees in the private rented sector within the borough.

In 2018 Cheltenham Borough Council received a request from Gloucestershire County Councils Acting Chief Fire Officer to consider the use of 3 bedroomed accommodation in order that some larger Syrian refugee families can be assisted locally.

The cabinet member decision dated 9^th November 2018 details the careful balancing act that is required between the Councils desire to assist refugees into larger properties and the need to meet the high housing demand for this type of accommodation.

Due to the relatively low demand for 3 bedroom flats /maisonettes which are typically let to households in silver band on Homeseeker Plus (Cheltenham Borough Councils Choice Based Lettings Allocation scheme) the offer of accommodation through the Syrian Refugee Resettlement scheme was widened to include 3 bedroom maisonettes and it is proposed that this is continued for the 2020/21 refugee resettlement scheme.

Cheltenham Borough Council are also committed to working with Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees and GARAS (Gloucestershire action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers) to assist in exploring opportunities for larger properties for refugees in the private rented sector within the borough.

This proposal has been made in conjunction with Cheltenham Borough Homes, who are supportive of the number and types of dwellings proposed and have confirmed that the number of properties proposed is manageable and unlikely to have a detrimental impact on homelessness within the borough.