Officer Decisions

Date of Decision:

12 August 2022

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Jo Brown

Assistant Chief Executive

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

To incur expenditure and to generate and collect income in line with Finance and Procurement Procedure Rules and within approved revenue and capital estimates.

Brief Description of Decision:

That use of funding the Council will receive as part of its role in the Homes for Ukraine scheme will be agreed by the Assistant Chief Executive, who holds delegated authority via the Councils Finance and Procurement Procedure Rules.

Reasons for the Decision:

The government is providing funding at a rate of £10,500 per person to councils to enable them to provide support to families to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into communities.

This funding will be un-ringfenced, with a number of conditions attached, and will match the tariff offered under the first year of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), although the role of councils will be different. For example, councils will not be asked to source initial accommodation under this scheme as this will be provided by the sponsor.

If all applications are approved (140 potential at this point), total grant will be £1,470,000.  Numbers are being monitored closely, and for prudence, grant is currently estimated at £1,249,500, being the value of the 119 approved guests.

A percentage of the grant is to be paid to Migration Yorkshire for regional co-ordination, project management and administration duties. The percentage is calculated at 1.8%, or £22,491, which is applicable to all authorities in the region supporting the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The service includes the organisation/servicing of a weekly regional meeting providing updates on the latest national policy developments and statistical information, acting as conduit between LAs and DLUHC, supporting local policy development, initiation and co-ordination of regional training opportunities, sharing of good practice across the region and one on one support.

Within the Council, funding for the Covid customer contact team which previously provided support during the pandemic has been extended for 12 months, so that they can be the initial point of coordination for services under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.  In addition, two workers are also being recruited by Housing Services, with an initial 12-month employment contract, to provide support for Ukrainian arrivals, including the associated physical property checks and safeguarding visits and contacts.  They will be part of a cross council team which provides wider support for Refugee Integration and housing.   

It has been highlighted that there is a possibility some guests will present as Homeless at some point and require Council support.  Homeless Costs are estimated at £7,200 per application. As a worst-case scenario, it is currently estimated that this would cost a further £391,600.

The local wraparound support from the Refugee Council will be available in August and will comprise:

·       Local orientation and support with using public transport

·       Ensuring people understand their rights and are informed about life in the UK

·       Information on Government Covid guidelines, restrictions and support with getting vaccinated

·       Registration and access to GP, dentist and other health services (physical and mental health services) and accompanying people to health appointments.

·       Support with access to schooling and other further education

·       Support with accessing ESOL and other English language provision

·       Opening a bank account and support with managing finances

·       Applications for Universal Credit and other welfare benefits and support with liaison with DWP, Jobcentre and managing UC online portal

·       Access to other mainstream services and other local agencies and community activities

·       Completion of an initial assessment and personal integration plan for all adults (outcomes star tool)

·       Day to day support with understanding letters, making phone calls and booking appointments

·       Support with travel documents and other applications such as driving licence

·       Reporting critical incidents and intensive support for affected families – DV, safeguarding, self-harm, hate crime, complex needs

·       Advice around housing options (working with RMBC Housing)

·       Volunteering and referrals into employment support services such as the Specialised Training and Employment Programme (STEP)

·       Interpreters and translated documents

·       Regular multiagency drop-ins (including DWP, CAB, Voluntary Action Rotherham, RMBC Libraries and other related services)

Known/planned expenditure to date is shown in Appendix A. 

It is therefore proposed that use of funding the Council will receive as part of its role in the Homes for Ukraine scheme will be agreed by the Assistant Chief Executive, who holds delegated authority via the Councils Finance and Procurement Procedure Rules.

This decision has been taken in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

The war in Ukraine is an emergency event that the Council is responding to. The Council has been awarded additional grant funding from government as a consequence, with specific requirements from government in terms of how this should be deployed. To avoid the Council holding up any resettlements and enabling guests that have arrived in the Borough to settle in, costs have had to be incurred to ensure progress could be made.

The use of this funding will be reported as part of the wider financial monitoring report being considered by Cabinet in September.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Executive Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

Briefing paper – Homes for Ukraine Costs