Issue - meetings

BCP council claims a tariff of £10,500 per person for those who have arrived in the area via the Homes for Ukraine refugee resettlement scheme.

Financial regulations require full council agreement for acceptance of these funds, as well as agreement to spend these funds in line with the published grant conditions from government.

As the number of Ukrainian guests already in BCP is estimated to be around 523 in the year 2022/23 this involves a projected grant income of £5,491,500

This report sets out the purpose of the grant, the requests for acceptance of the funds, the authorisation to spend the funds and the delegation of future decisions on spending against this income. 

The Portfolio Holder for People and Homes presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Council was advised that BCP council claims a tariff of £10,500 per person for those who have arrived in the area via the Homes for Ukraine refugee resettlement scheme.

In relation to this Council was advised that the financial regulations require full council agreement for acceptance of these funds, as well as agreement to spend these funds in line with the published grant conditions from government.

Council was further advised that as the number of Ukrainian guests already in BCP is estimated to be around 523 in the year 2022/23 this involves a projected grant income of £5,491,500, and that this report sets out the purpose of the grant, the requests for acceptance of the funds, the authorisation to spend the funds and the delegation of future decisions on spending against this income. 

RESOLVED that: -

(a)        The council accepts receipt of the grant monies claimed in line with the funding conditions set out by central government, and in compliance with financial regulations within the BCP constitution

(b)        The council agrees that the funding received can be spent in line with the funding conditions set out in Homes for Ukraine local authority tariff payment grant determination No. 31/6205 (England)

(c)        The council agrees the decision to allocate £1,098,000 of the projected income to incentivise move on for refugees into the private rented sector.

(d)        The council agrees to delegate the decisions on spending this tariff funding to the Director of Housing and/or the Section 151 officer for BCP Council.

Voting: Unanimous

Councillor M Brooke declared an interest in this item and refrained from voting on the recommendations thereon.

A proposition was made to adjourn the meeting to a further date to deal with the rest of the business, upon being put to the vote the proposition was carried with voting 51:9 (11 abstentions).

The meeting adjourned at 11.20 pm and reconvened at 6.00pm on 5 December 2022.