Agenda item

Statements by the Leader and Members of the Executive had been circulated with the agenda.

Councillors were advised that an additional statement by Councillor P A Robinson had been circulated in relation to the refugee situation, which read as follows:

"Chairman, colleagues

I have been asked by Cllr Martin Hill to provide a statement on the Syrian refugee situation as it may affect Lincoln.

As the Chairman of the east midlands Councils Strategic Migration Board, I attended a meeting last Thursday at the Local Government Association with the Home Office to learn the Government's position on the Syrian situation as it seems likely to affect local authorities.

Cllr Marianne Overton was also present as Vice-Chairman of the LGA.

From a Lincolnshire standpoint the main points made were;

·         The UK is prepared to provide refuge for Syrians who are currently in camps in the Middle East, where the UK is the major provider of support.  UK did not anticipate large numbers of refugees arriving on our borders as is currently the case in Europe.

·         As far as Lincolnshire is concerned, the Home Office representative said that out county could be expected to accept around 200 refugees.  To be frank, I do not recall him giving a timescale for the arrival of these refugees – but I have since been told that that this may be over a period of 5 years.

·         The funding of the 200 refugees would be met by central government for the first 12 months of each individual's arrival, thereafter, costs would have to be met by local authorities.  Unaccompanied children would be maintained by local authorities until 18, and under questioning it emerged that this could cost up to £50k for each child.

·         Finally, I believe that the situation remains fluid – but there is no doubt that Lincolnshire will have a part to play."