The Community, Cultural, and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee met to review a Cabinet decision regarding the cessation of refugee resettlement administration responsibilities. Following discussion, the committee voted not to refer the decision back to Cabinet. The next ordinary meeting of the Community, Cultural and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee was scheduled for 24 September 2026.

Call-In Request: Refugee Resettlement

The committee convened to review a Cabinet decision made on 3 September 2026, which proposed ceasing Lancashire County Council's administrative responsibilities for several refugee resettlement schemes. The call-in request was initiated by a group of county councillors who argued that the Cabinet's decision-making process had breached five key principles of decision-making: taking into account all relevant considerations, proportionality, best value, impartiality, and assessing the impact on human rights, equality, diversity, and sustainability.

County Councillor Azhar Ali and County Councillor Adrian Owens presented the case for the call-in. They argued that the decision was not value for money, as withdrawing from the scheme would necessitate the council finding approximately £800,000 annually to backfill statutory services currently supported by the resettlement grant. They also questioned the rationale behind withdrawing from dedicated schemes, suggesting that tailoring services to specific needs is a common practice across the council. Furthermore, they raised concerns about predetermination, citing statements made by Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities, County Councillor Joshua Roberts, in May 2026, which appeared to indicate an intention to withdraw from the scheme before the Cabinet report was presented. The presenters also highlighted that confidential information in Appendix C of the Cabinet report was not discussed during the Cabinet meeting.

County Councillor Joshua Roberts, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities, responded to the call-in points. He asserted that the Cabinet had considered all relevant information, including financial implications, legal positioning, and the Equality Impact Assessment. He argued that the decision was proportionate, as a managed transition was planned until March 2027, allowing the Home Office time to find alternative arrangements. Councillor Roberts defended the decision on the grounds of best value, stating that refugee resettlement is not a statutory function of the county council and that administration should ideally sit with authorities that have statutory housing responsibilities, such as district and unitary councils. He also addressed the impartiality point, explaining that while he may have had a view, he approached the Cabinet meeting with an open mind and considered all options presented. He maintained that the decision was made in the best interests of Lancashire's communities.

Following the presentations, committee members engaged in a lengthy debate, questioning both the presenters and officers. Key areas of discussion included the financial implications of withdrawal, the role of housing authorities, the potential for bias and predetermination, and the process followed by Cabinet. Concerns were raised about the limited debate within the Cabinet meeting itself and the lack of clarity on how the potential £1 million annual gap in funding would be addressed. The committee also discussed the relevance of a video presented by the call-in members, with the Monitoring Officer advising that its content was outside the scope of the meeting.

Ultimately, the committee voted on whether to refer the decision back to Cabinet for reconsideration. The proposal to refer the decision back was lost. Therefore, the Cabinet's original decision to cease administrative responsibility for the refugee resettlement schemes may be implemented.

The next ordinary meeting of the Community, Cultural and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee was scheduled for 24 September 2026.