Issue - meetings

Questions on Notice

Meeting: 29/09/2021 - Council (Item 41)

To deal with any questions on notice from Members of the Council, in the order in which they have been received.

A period of up to 15 minutes is allocated for the asking and answering of questions. This may be extended at the discretion of the Chairman with the agreement of the majority of those present.

Minutes:

The Vice Chairman explained that 3 Questions on Notice had been received for consideration at the meeting. These questions would be considered in the order in which they had been received. A total of 15 minutes had been allocated to consideration of the Questions on Notice and answers to these questions and no supplementary questions would be permitted.

Question submitted by Councillor J. King

“Refugees in Bromsgrove

We all welcome the very generous support which Bromsgrove residents are giving to the newly arrived refugees from Afghanistan and other countries. The response to a recent Collections Day was magnificent with sufficient donations of new items of clothing, toiletries and toys received to make up hundreds of welcome packs.

The biggest challenge now is to find good quality affordable private rented accommodation for our resettled Afghani refugees. How is the council

supporting the call for suitable housing and work with local private landlords and the refugee unit led by Natasha White at Worcestershire County Council to find the accommodation which is needed?”

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health and Wellbeing responded by explaining that the Council was working proactively with Worcestershire County Council and all the other Worcestershire Districts with regard to refugees.

Worcestershire Leaders had signed up to:

· The UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) – and were committed to resettling a further 50 people into the community over the following 12 months.

· The Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) – this included local allies’, such as interpreters’, priority relocation to the UK. Worcestershire Leaders had committed to resettling 30 people, with the first family arriving the week commencing 13th September 2021.

· A new scheme: the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). The Government had committed to relocating up to 20,000 people nationally over the following 5 years, subject to continued funding under this scheme.

In addition, the Leaders had pledged a commitment to the ACRS scheme to resettle some 200 people over the following 5 years, which mirrored the previous percentage commitment for the other programmes. Initially this would amount to 2 properties per district, depending on the number of family members.

Officers in Strategic Housing were working closely with colleagues at Worcestershire County Council and BDHT to identify suitable and appropriate properties to accommodate refugees.

Question submitted by Councillor R. Hunter

““Please could you explain how the new Bromsgrove on Demand bus service is funded and how you plan to ensure its long term sustainability?”

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services explained that in respect of the sustainability of the service the timing of the question was apt. At a recent meeting of Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Members had considered a report on the subject of improving bus services in the county. This report, on the subject of the Bus Improvement Plan, would help to ensure that services in Worcestershire met the needs of local residents.

Public transport had historically been a challenge in terms of providing a service to rural communities. However, there was a need to reduce ... view the full minutes text for item 41