Notes of Decisions Taken and Actions Required

LGA Asylum and Refugee Task Group

10 April 2008, LGA London

Present:
Chair: / Cllr Roger Lawrence
Members: / Cllr Merrick Cockell (London),Cllr John Holdich (East of England), Cllr Roger Hutchinson (South West),Cllr Jean Jones (COSLA) Cllr Andy Matchet (West Midlands), Cllr Tony Robinson (South East), Cllr David Sprason (East Midlands)
Officers: / Nadeem Ahmad (North East),Grace.Ashaye (London) David Barnes (West Midlands),Ian Beattie (East of England) Barbara Donovan (ADaSS and ADCS Task Force on Asylum Seekers),John Donaldson (COSLA), Colin Elliott (North West East), Moraig Green (COSLA), Heleen Jalvingh (LGA), Emma Jenkins (LGA), Helen Johnston (London), Derek Mitchell (COSLA), Helen Murray (LGA)John Ransford (LGA), John Price (South West),Sarah Short (East Midlands)
Attendees: / Cllr Paul Carter (Kent), Cllr David Simmons (Hillingdon)
Donna Covey (Refugee Council)
Caroline Cooper, Jeremy Oppenheim, David Pike, Mark Voce (Home Office)
Apologies: / Cllr Basil Curley (North West East),Cllr Michael McNestry (North East), Cllr Aled Roberts (Wales),Anne Hubbard (Wales)
  1. Actions from the last meeting
  2. A meeting with Liam Byrneto discuss the government’s reform of support for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC)had been cancelledonce again.
  3. The Minister has indicated that he wished to attend the next Task Group meeting in June to discuss issues around the next stages of Section 9.

2.Joint councils lobbying on costs of support for unaccompanied asylum seeking children

  • Cllr Paul Carter, Leader of Kent and Cllr David Simmons, Leader of Hillingdon attended to outline the work of the ‘Joint Councils’ group. This represents 10 Local Authorities:Birmingham, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kent, Hammersmith and Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester, Oxfordshire, Solihull and West Sussex. This group is lobbying to secure full funding to cover their costs incurred supporting former UASC leaving care. It had invited Ministers, MPs, Peers, Councillors, government officials and third sectorrepresentatives to an event at the House of Lords on 23 April to discuss the issue.
  • John Ransford, Deputy Chief Executive of the LGA, highlighted that local government had agreed to work closely with central government to support asylum seekers. However, ever since 1998, this was on the basis that all reasonably incurred costs must be met centrally to avoid the burden falling on the local taxpayer. It was noted that the good relationships with the Home Office on issues around their funding had resulted in fair settlements for special circumstances grants,up until this year’s settlement. However, it had proved consistently difficult to engage with the DCSF with regards to their funding stream. He confirmed that the LGA strongly believe that issues around the historic deficit must be discussed and addressed across government, regardless of departmental spending limits. Resolution of this issue for all affected local authorities had high level political support within the LGA and London Councils and lead members were keen to continue to try to engage with the relevant Ministers.
  • It was agreed that the Joint Councils and the local government associations should work closely on these issues, given the synergy between their lobbying work.
  • It was agreed that pressures around support for destitute former UASC leaving care awaiting removal also needed to be raised again with central government. It was also noted that the failure to resolve the range of funding issueswere impacting progress being made on the Government’s proposed reform of UASC support.
  • It was noted that the LGA and London Councils had been invited to attend a joint meeting between Liam Byrne at the Home Office and Kevin Brennan from the DCSF on 22 April to discuss concerns around asylum funding.
  • Action:It was agreed that a note would be circulated before the Ministerial meeting, making local government’s position clear in order to facilitate an urgent resolution of the issues.

3.Reform of support for unaccompanied asylum seeking children

  • The attached presentation was given to the Group from Donna Covey, Chief Executive, Refugee Council, outlining their views on the government’s proposed changes to support for UASC:

4. Update from the Home Office

  • It was agreed that there would be a representative from the local government associations on the proposed Home Office/ADCS working group on former UASC. It was stated that the key officers from the UKBA need to be fully engaged with this process.
  • Action:Jeremy Oppenheim agreed to write to the Chair and John Ransford outlining the issues behind the current shortfalls in relation to special circumstances grant funding before the next Task Group meeting. He also agreed to write to the whole group in relation to issues around former UASC awaiting removals, particularly reflecting on potential issues around cohesiondue to increasing numbers of destitute young adults and the lack of funding for local authority support.
  • It was confirmed that take up of the offer to come to the UK for Iraqi staff had been lower than originally anticipated.
  • A draft UKBA blueprint for compliance and enforcement had been circulated to the Task Group before the formal consultation process for comment. The wish to work more closely with local authorities and the need to work within existing regional mechanism were welcomed.
  1. Reforming the immigration system
  2. Mark Voce, UKBA leadon the Green PaperThe Path to citizenship, outlined itsmain points. The proposed reform was broadly welcomed in principle.
  • Action: Any comments to be sent to Emma Jenkins at the LGA to inform the LGA response to the Green Paper.

6. AOB

  • There were no AOB.
  • The next meeting will be held at the LGA on 5 June 2008. Liam Byrne MP is expected to attend.

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