The Leader of Scarborough Borough Council has added his views on plans to help Syrian refugees.
Cllr Derek Bastiman, Leader of Scarborough Borough Council said :
“We have every sympathy with the plight of the Syrian Refugees and the Council is committed to do what we can to support the Government’s efforts to help to tackle this international humanitarian crisis”
“The Government are committed to support the resettlement of 20,000 refugees nationally over the next 5 years and there is a consensus among all North Yorkshire Councils that we should all play our part in helping them with this.”
“ However, given the housing, support, language, health and social care implications associated with the resettlement of refugees this not something that can be entered into lightly or something the Borough Council can do alone. If refugees are to be resettled within the Borough then it is essential that they are given the support they need. In addition, given our own local financial pressures and the existing local demand on services we need to fully understand the resource implications associated with this before we are able to make any commitments to Government in terms of numbers.”
“A joint approach is needed between agencies to look at this in more detail and plan out the most effective response. I am therefore pleased to announce the establishment of a new North Yorkshire partnership to take this work forward. Recommendations from that partnership shall be considered fully by the Council over the coming weeks.”
North Yorkshire’s county and district councils are now working partnership to support Syrian refugees following positive talks with the Home Office last week.
The county council along with Selby, Richmondshire, Hambleton, Craven, Scarborough, Ryedale and Harrogate district councils met Government officials at county hall this morning to discuss initial plans to accommodate refugees from the war in Syria.
The meeting was programmed to take place some time ago to discuss the dispersal of asylum seekers. However, the developing humanitarian crisis involving Syrian refugees led to the scope of the meeting being extended to address the matter.
The councils expressed their intention to work in partnership to take in their fair share of refugees and to play their part in any humanitarian response. The Prime Minister has announced that the UK will take in 20,000 Syrian refugees and the councils have agreed with the Home Office that they would need more detail about the longer term implications for resources before they can decide on the number of refugees they can help.
“Few could fail to be moved by the pictures and stories of terrible suffering of the displaced peoples of Syria and North Yorkshire’s councils agree that we must do everything we can to play our part in giving support,” said County Councillor Carl Les, North Yorkshire’s leader. “But to give proper support we need the resources to do it and so once we have a full understanding of available resources, both for now and in the longer term North Yorkshire’s councils will work together with the Home Office to agree on numbers.”
“A joint approach is needed between agencies to look at this in more detail and plan out the most effective response. I am therefore pleased to announce the establishment of a new North Yorkshire partnership to take this work forward. Recommendations from that partnership shall be considered fully by the Council over the coming weeks.”