Notes of Decisions Taken and Actions Required

LGA Asylum and Refugee Task Group

5June 2008, LGA London

Present:
Chair: / Cllr Roger Lawrence
Members: / Cllr John Holdich (East of England), Cllr Roger Hutchinson (South West),Cllr Jean Jones (COSLA) Cllr Andy Matchet (West Midlands), Cllr Aled Roberts (Wales),Cllr Olivia Rowley (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), Anne Hubbard (Wales), Emma Jenkins (LGA),Derek Mitchell (COSLA), John Ransford (LGA), John Price (South West),Sarah Short (East Midlands)
Attendees: / Liam Byrne MP, Jeremy Oppenheim, David Pike, Andrew Woodward (Home Office)
Apologies: / Cllr Merrick Cockell (London), Cllr Basil Curley (North West East),Cllr Michael McNestry (North East), Cllr Tony Robinson (South East)
Colin Elliot (North West East), Heleen Jalvingh (LGA), Helen Johnston (London), Helen Murray (LGA)
  1. Actions from the last meeting
  • Cllr Lawrence, Chair of the Task Group; Cllr Cockell, Chair of London Councils; Cllr Paul Carter, representing Joint Councils; John Ransford, LGA Deputy Chief Executive;and Helen Johnson, London Council’s Head of Children's Services, attended a joint meeting between Liam Byrne at the Home Office and Kevin Brennan from the DCSF on 22 April to discuss concerns around shortfalls in asylum funding. It was agreed that officials from central and local government would meet again to further explore the issues and report back to politicians. It was also agreed that authorities could not engage with the proposed UASC reform programme until the matter was resolved and unless the matter was resolved quickly, wider relations between local and central government may be damaged. Action: The Task Group to be kept informed of the negotiations (confirmation of final settlement forwarded).
  1. Presentation by Liam Byrne MP, Minister of State for Borders and Immigration

The key points made by the Minister included:

Case resolution:

The Minister had recognised the political sensitivity of this work, both locally and nationally. It was stressed that the programme was not intended to be an amnesty but that the outcome of every case would be decided on its own merits. He also noted that lessons had been learnt on working with local government from the initial roll-out of the programme. It was hoped that discussions on the next steps on the programme, including sharing information, would commence shortly.

Task Group response: Attempts to maximise the information flow and maintain a local and regional dialogue for the next stages of the programme were welcomed.

Migration

The Minister noted that local government has been at the ‘sharp end’ of recent increases in migration. Initiatives such as the Migration Impacts Forum and the Migration Impacts Plan were designed to ensure that local government is represented in policy development. The points based system had also been designed to alleviate the pressure on public services and could address problems caused by illegal working.

Enforcement and compliance would be an increased priority for UKBA, with an increased spend. Local immigration teams would liaise with the local statutory sector to agree local objectives and actions. Five pilots were being established to look specifically at joint working between UKBA and local government.

The UKBA was involved in a two year programme of policy reform. A forthcoming immigration reform bill would overhaul and simplify 30 years of legislation. A draft bill will be issued in July, alongside the along with a response to the ‘Path to Citizenship’ consultation, and then the final Bill is likely to be introduced in the following January. It will be subject to scrutiny from the Home Affairs Committee.

The Minister confirmed that Section 9 would not be repealed as part of this but he recognised that better joint working between local and central government to look at common solutions would be a useful way forward. UKBA officers were to work with local government to consider how those families who have no right to remain could be removed or encouraged to leave in a more humane and effective way.

Task Group response: concerns were expressed over the cost implications and legislative conflicts that continuing S9 could lead to, especially given that both Home Office and local government evaluations stated it was unsuccessful, but the offer to work jointly on possible solutions wasbroadly welcomed.

UASC reform

The Minister was seeking to ensure that further meetings between officers took place after the first meeting had not led to proposals that could be fed back to Ministers and local government representatives.

3: Presentation from the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Migration Partnership on their Refugee Integration Programme

The attached presentation was made by Liz Westmorland.

4. AOB

  • There were no AOB.

The next meeting will be held at the LGA on 20 November (please note the change of date from 2 October)

1