Voting record

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.