Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director of People

The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director of People that detailed three schemes proposed by Central Government to support and care for unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children.

The report had also been considered by the Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board (2) at its meeting on 10^th November 2016 and a briefing note detailing additional recommendations from the Board was attached to the report for Members consideration.

The City Council had always welcomed and cared for unaccompanied asylum seeking children who had arrived in Coventry and the City Council had been clear in its commitment to welcome refugees to the City. The need to now welcome and support many more unaccompanied asylum seeking children who had been displaced as a result of events abroad was critical.

The Government had made a number of commitments in relation to supporting and caring for children. A number of local authorities were already engaging in the commitments made across a range of central government initiated schemes. The response of local authorities had been welcomed by Government and close working between central government and local government would continue to find constructive solutions.

Three schemes relating to children had been issued by Central Government for local authorities to consider and adopt.

The first scheme was to request those local authorities that had not already done so to register for the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) which launched at the beginning of July. The Government was proposing an equal distribution of unaccompanied children between local authorities, with the NTS the mechanism to achieve this.

The second scheme was to request that Local Authorities confirm the total number of unaccompanied children that could be placed in the authority for the remainder of this financial year, noting the 0.07 threshold operating under the NTS.

The third scheme was to consider taking children and their families under the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme. These were children who had been identified as the most vulnerable and at risk of child labour, forced marriage, child carers and other forms of abuse and exploitation. It was expected that the majority of these children would be accompanied by family or carers.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

1)  Approves and endorses the three schemes proposed by Central Government to support and care for unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children.

2)  Notes that the City Council has registered for the National Transfer Scheme (this decision having been made by the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader as a decision having been required in an emergency).

3)  Delegates responsibility to the Executive Director of People to confirm the total number of unaccompanied children that could be placed in the City for the remainder of this financial year.

4)  Confirms the City Council’s commitment to welcoming children and families identified under the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme.

5)  Notes the financial implications of resolving to support and care for unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children as detailed in this report.

6)  Notes that meeting the needs of this vulnerable group places a potential financial burden on the Local Authority and partners (NHS and Schools).

7)  Agrees to promote locally and nationally that all councils take an equal financial responsibility for these children.

8)  Agrees to petition Central Government for a fair funding formula.