Issue - meetings

The Leader advised the meeting that a deputation had been received from Chris Mohr, in relation to agenda item 9, Borough Plan consultation.

The Leader invited Ms Mohr to address the Cabinet.

Ms Mohr referred to the Borough Plan regarding the priorities for children and was seeking agreement from the Council to taking in at least three additional unaccompanied refugee children a year over the next ten years, in turn providing a legal route to safety for just a few of the most vulnerable young people that were stranded in Europe and the Middle East.

Ms Mohr outlined that the deputation was part of a national campaign, launched by Alf Dubs with the charity ‘Safe Passage’, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Kindertransport in 1938-9, when Britain took in 10,000 children and young people, including Alf Dubs and as well as the mother of a member of the deputation party attending this Cabinet meeting, to save them from the Nazis.  It was noted that the national campaign was called ‘It’s our turn’, and similar deputations were taking place across the UK asking local authorities to each make the same commitment. It was noted that Hammersmith and Fulham had already promised to take 100 places and Islington Council had also recently made this same commitment.

The deputation were clear that such a commitment was dependent on the Council getting increased government funding to meet  the costs of supporting the refugee children in full. The deputation recognised that the Council welcomed refugees and took care of a high number of unaccompanied minors whilst existing government funding was inadequate to meet these costs. However, the charity ‘Safe Passage’ felt that if enough Councils make this pledge, the numbers making the offer will help persuade the government increase funding levels. Therefore the deputation needed the Council to offer as many places as it could.

The deputation outlined that locally, in Haringey, there was a strong community support for this initiative from the three main faith communities, service providers, and from individuals represented in the deputation. The deputation represented a group of about twenty Haringey residents, some of whom were already involved in supporting refugees locally in various ways. The deputation and group were all committed to assisting this process and helping the young arrivals in whatever way they could.

The 80th anniversary of the Kindertransport was due to be celebrated on November 15th, when Alf Dubs and ‘Safe Passage’ charity hope to announce the pledges from Councils and lobby the government for adequate funding.

In conclusion, the deputation asked the Cabinet to commit the Council to a pledge to resettle at least three additional child refugees a year over the next ten years, provided the costs were met in full by central government. The deputation further requested the Cabinet respond to the deputation party representatives by the end of October with some idea of numbers of refugee children it would take.

The Leader thanked the deputation for their presentation and invited Cabinet Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95