Purpose

The Government has a statutory obligation to
provide support and accommodation to asylum seekers. Due to the
high numbers of Asylum Seekers placed in hotel accommodation, the
Home Office are proposing to change the existing arrangements, so
that every Council will be seen as an Asylum Seeker dispersal area,
referred to as the “full dispersal model”.

The proposals under the Regional Asylum Seeker Dispersal Plan would
increase the number of Asylum Seekers in the North East from 5,792
(as at June 2022) to 7,309 by December 2023 (a 26% increase).

The Home Office has requested that each region develop their own
Regional Plan for Asylum Seeker dispersal with their strategic
migration partnership, which for our region is the North East
Migration Partnership (NEMP). The Regional Plan will need to be
agreed in partnership with Mears (who are contracted by the Home
Office as the accommodation provider in our region), the Home
Office and all 12 Councils in the North East, to ensure it is
deliverable.

Under the Regional Plan, the numbers of Asylum Seekers placed in
Darlington would increase from 95 to 195, subject to Mears being
able to procure appropriate accommodation.

However, with the exception of County Durham, Darlington has the
lowest number of Asylum Seekers compared to our cluster limit
(percentage of Asylum Seekers per head of population) than any
other Council in the North East.

Implementation date: 15/06/2023

Decision

That the Chief Executive, in consultation with
the Leader of the Council, approves the Regional Asylum Seeker
Dispersal Plan, on behalf of Darlington Borough Council.

It is in the best interests of Darlington to approve the Regional
Asylum Seeker Dispersal Plan and avoid a back stop being imposed by
the Home Office. Currently, Darlington is the only Council in the
North East yet to agree to the Regional Plan.

Approval of the Regional Plan will ensure continued engagement with
NEMP, Mears and the Home Office in relation to Asylum Seeker
dispersal in Darlington.

An urgent decision is required under the Chief Executive’s
emergency powers to ensure the back stop position is not imposed on
Darlington by the Home Office.