Issue - meetings

To submit the report of the Head of Housing Services.

It was resolved to support Croeso Menai’s bid to the Home Office to become Community Sponsors to resettle a family of refugees from Syria should they be placed on Anglesey.

The report of the Head of Housing Services seeking the Executive’s approval to support Croeso Menai’s bid to the Home Office to become community sponsors for a family of refugees in need of resettlement was presented.

The Head of Housing Services reported that the Croeso Menai Group comprises 12 members with expertise in various areas who are working hard to put together an application to the Home Office to become a community sponsor so that another vulnerable family from Syria may be resettled in the Menai area (5 vulnerable families from Syria having already been welcomed by Anglesey). Since the Group has not yet identified a suitable home for the family which could be located on either side of the Menai Straits, the support of both the Isle of Anglesey County Council and Gwynedd Council is required for the application to be presented. 

Croeso Menai are sponsored by Citizens Cymru which is part of Citizens UK; Citizens Cymru will act as guarantor for Croeso Menai should the group fail to deliver in future and in such circumstances, they would take over the role of supporting any families in receipt of support from the community sponsors. The Home Office’s requirements with regard to Community Sponsors are outlined in the report as is the role of the Local Authorities.  The Local Authority may refuse to support a bid if it has concerns about the suitability of the proposed resettlement area or the ability of the community sponsor to provide support for the resettled family. It can also refuse to accept a family if it feels the needs of the family cannot be met within the local area. The Officer confirmed that he was confident that the arrangements to enable Croeso Menai to proceed are in place.

It was resolved to support Croeso Menai’s bid to the Home Office to become Community Sponsors to resettle a family of refugees from Syria should they be placed on Anglesey.