Agenda item

The Executive RESOLVED that the Council participates in the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Scheme – Wraparound Support by agreeing to support families who are placed in temporary accommodation in the six units of accommodation in Camberley Town Centre through the Family Support Team.

The Executive was reminded that the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Schemes had been launched in July 2021 and focused on those who served alongside British Armed Forces in Afghanistan and provided important support to HM’s Government defence and security mission there. The Council had made an early commitment to directly support five families and had been successful in supporting them into settled accommodation in the private sector and meaningful employment.

Members were informed that the Office and South East Strategic Partnership for Migration was looking to relocate those families currently in bridging hotels into smaller units of temporary accommodation in the South East. The Home Office had identified apartments to be used as temporary accommodation and six units of accommodation had been identified in Camberley Town Centre; these consisted of one bedroom apartments, which would hold a maximum capacity of two people. Those placed in the apartments would have been residing in the UK previously, for up to a year. The apartments would be fully funded by the Home Office and would have an allocated Home Office Liaison Officer.

It was reported that there was funding available for local authorities of £28 per day per person, which would be paid to the Council for the services provided by its Family Support Team.  Separate additional funding would be allocated directly to health and social care and education to support with costs such as GPs and schooling. The role of this Council would be to support guests to focus on accessing employment, normal day to day life and help with securing longer term settled accommodation in the private rented sector.

RESOLVED that the Council participates in the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Scheme – Wraparound Support by agreeing to support families who are placed in temporary accommodation in the six units of accommodation in Camberley Town Centre through the Family Support Team.