At last night’s Isle of Wight Executive committee members voted unanimously in favour of recommendations to make plans to accommodate up to five Syrian refugee families.
The executive member responsible, Cllr Steve Stubbings, commented today,
“I’m delighted to report that this paper went, unanimously, through Executive last evening, as it did through Scrutiny on Tuesday.
“Clearly, many Isle of Wight Councillors, of all political persuasions, are completely out of touch with the views of those residents who so vociferously and callously oppose this initiative. What a relief!”
Members approved the following recommendation:
To improve the council’s readiness to respond to national migration and refugee re-settlement programmes. Actions will include the following:
(a) Noting new statutory responsibilities toward unaccompanied migrant and refugee children.
(b) Noting government intentions to consider accommodating temporary migrant residents on the Isle of Wight, and for the development of arrangements for responding to Home Office proposals, and reflect the aspirations of other councils in the region by accommodating up to five families.
(c) An assessment of council and community capacity to participate in the Vulnerable Persons’ Resettlement Scheme and if appropriate, develop an action plan in response.
Full details of the recommendation can be found in the report below.
