Agenda item

Report attached.

Councillor Loraine Cox, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regeneration, reported on a proposal to seek a waiver of the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules in respect of the purchase of casework support and voluntary sector support for the Global Resettlement Scheme implementation in Hyndburn.

Approval of the report was not a key decision.

Reason for Decision

The Global Resettlement Scheme (GRS) is being introduced by the Home Office from 2020/21 and will consolidate all current resettlement programmes for refugees.  Lancashire has been asked to be involved by the Home Office and Lancashire County Council (LCC) is the lead authority for its co-ordination on behalf of all Local Authorities in Lancashire.

The GRS will broaden the geographical focus beyond the Middle East and North Africa region.  Therefore, refugees could come from many countries including Syria, Iraq, Iran, Somalia and Sudan.

The funding structure and delivery of the programme for the first cohort arriving in 2020/21 will be very similar to the current Syrian Resettlement Programme in Lancashire.  Both the funding structure and numbers beyond 2020/21 are subject to agreement from the Treasury.

All Lancashire local authorities have been requested to pledge and commit to resettle 10 refugee households over a 5 year period.  Hyndburn has committed to receive the first 5 households in July 2020.  Preparations are now underway to enable this to happen.

Whilst a lot of the arrangements and logistics are co-ordinated by LCC there are numerous responsibilities on Hyndburn Borough Council to undertake prior to the refugees arrival.  These will be detailed in the Agreement between LCC and the Council (to be agreed) and include the following:-

• Sourcing suitable self-contained accommodation; and
• Casework Support Service.

It was reported that Onward Homes, who provided the accommodation for the 10 Syrian Refugee households who arrived in July 2018, have agreed to source and provide houses for the 5 families arriving in July 2020 under the GRS.

Alternative Options considered and Reasons for Rejection

The Council could undertake a procurement exercise to choose a service provider for the above services but this is not recommended for the reasons stated in paragraphs 3.8, 3.10 and 3.11 of the report.

Resolved                        (1)   That Cabinet waives the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules in respect of the appointment of Calico Enterprise Ltd to provide casework support for a period of 2 years for the refugee households arriving in Hyndburn in July 2020 as part of the Global Resettlement Scheme.

(2)   That Cabinet waives the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules in respect of the appointment of Maundy Relief (on behalf of THRIVE) to provide voluntary sector support for a period of 2 years for the refugee households arriving in Hyndburn in July 2020 as part of the Global Resettlement Scheme.

(3)   That Cabinet delegates authority to the Head of Regeneration and Housing in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Housing to agree the terms of the Council’s agreement with Calico Enterprise Ltd and Maundy Relief and the terms of the Local Authority Agreement between the Council and Lancashire County Council.