The Chair referred to the
Notice of Motion (NOM) as set out on the agenda, proposed by
Councillor Horner, seconded by Councillor Hall and supported by the
requisite number of Councillors within the procedural rules to
enable it to be considered at the meeting.
The Head of Housing responded to the NOM
advising that:
- The term migrant referred to those
moving to a local authority area from other parts of the country,
those moving to the UK from abroad, refugees and those seeking
asylum in the UK. The NOM specifically related to
asylum-seekers.
- Asylum seekers are not entitled to
welfare benefits or allowed to undertake paid work. The Home Office
is responsible for their accommodation and for their subsistence
while their asylum claim is considered.
- Local authorities are not consulted
on the individuals placed in such accommodation. Such placements
are made directly by the Home Office or its approved contractor.
The Council is notified of the name of the individuals placed in
the accommodation.
- Where asylum is granted, they will
at this point be entitled to welfare benefits, to seek paid
employment and be entitled to assistance under homelessness
legislation.
- The Council is responsible for
safeguarding all residents, regardless of background or immigration
status. Where safeguarding concerns are identified, they are
addressed through established statutory processes embedded within
public services, in line with our legal duties.
- 0.02% of Teignbridge population are
Asylum Seekers in dispersal accommodation (no hotels are being used
for dispersal).
- The NOM identifies three areas:
transparency, safeguarding and refusing placements and challenging
external placements:
- The Council is committed to
transparency in all matters relating to migrant placements, but
this must be within relevant legal bounds, and whilst continuing to
support the welfare of all residents. Publicly providing the
address of an individual property that is being or to be used for
asylum dispersal would be in breach of UK GDPR.
- There are established safeguarding
arrangements in place within the Council and across relevant
agencies, applied to support the welfare of all residents in
Teignbridge including asylum-seekers.
- The Council does not have the
ability to refuse the placement of any individual person or
household in asylum-seeker accommodation in the
District.
Councillor Horner presented his NOM as set out
on the agenda, adding that there had been a net migration of 2.6
million in the last 2 years, an unsustainable demand on the NHS,
and all immigration should be positive.
During the debate issues raised included: the
focus is on safeguarding and integration, the safety of all
residents including immigrants, legal responsibilities including
compliance with GDPR and that the NOM is contrary to the
Council’s core responsibilities.
In response, Cllr Horner advised on 2024
statistics relating to offences by immigrants.
In accordance with section 4.13.5 of the
Constitution a recorded vote was taken on the NOM and the Members
voting for, against or abstaining from voting is as follows:
FOR the NOM: Councillor Horner - 1
AGAINST the NOM: Councillors Atkins,
Bullivant, Buscombe, Cox, Foden,
Gearon, Hall, Hayes, Hook, Jackman, James,
Keeling, Macgregor, Major, Morgan, Mullone, Nutley, Palethorpe, P
Parker, Parrott, Peart, Rollason, Rogers, Ryan, Sanders, K Smith, M
Smith, Steemson, Swain, G Taylor, J Taylor, Thorne, Williams and
Wrigley – 34
ABSTENTIONS: Councillors Clarance, Radford
– 2
The NOM was declared as LOST.