Issue - meetings

Report of the Leader outlining activity of the Executive and updating on key activities as aligned to the priorities set out in the Corporate Plan.

The report of the Leader of the Council was submitted setting out the details of the business undertaken by the Executive.

The Leader and the Cabinet made statements and responded to questions.

The following questions were submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.1:-

1.  Refugees

Question from Councillor Bogle to Councillor Fitzhenry

Can the Leader clarify how Southampton City Council is preparing to support refugees from the Ukraine war?

Answer

Settled Community Support – Our stronger communities team are working with local groups and settled communities to support them, as well as working with the police to monitor and respond to fears about increasing hate crime, Our Future Communities group brings together many of our community, voluntary and faith sector organisations to support information sharing and as we move forward, this group will also support the city’s welcome for refugees who are housed under the sponsorship scheme announced by government last week.

Our education team is supporting the distribution of packs to schools to help them with the emotional welfare of children and reviewing school placement availability to be able to accommodate children swiftly when they arrive in the city.

An internal working group of officers from across the Council is meeting regularly and has extended this to key partners such as health and police. As far as we can, with limited information we are planning in partnership to support both host families and refugees to access the help they will need. We expect to have a role in ensuring the safeguarding of families who arrive, linking them to health and other agencies such as the DWP. We understand that we may also have a role in distributing the £350 per month payment that has been promised for host families, but the detail at the time of writing is very limited.

Donations for refugees – the Council opened up St Mary’s leisure centre to assist the Polish Social club manage their donations in the short term and have agreed with the owners of Toys R Us to undertake work to the site to allow the Polish Social Club to move their operation to this much larger more suitable site.

Refugee Support – the Government have announced two schemes and we await further detail on the sponsorship scheme to be able to plan effectively.

•  Ukraine Family Scheme - The Ukraine Family Scheme allows family members of British nationals, UK settled persons and certain others to come to or stay in the UK. Ukraine Scheme Guidance (publishing.service.gov.uk)

•  Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukraine  - This is for Ukrainian Nationals who do not have family in the UK. Homes for Ukraine – Homes for Ukraine – Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukraine (campaign.gov.uk) and Homes for Ukraine scheme: frequently asked questions - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

2.  Police Numbers

Question from Councillor Shields to Councillor Vassiliou

What action has the Cabinet Member with responsibility for crime and city safety taken to ensure the 150 additional police officers for the city promised by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72