Issue - meetings
Asylum Dispersal Grant
Meeting: 13/09/2023 - Executive (Item 81)
81 Asylum Dispersal Grant 
PDF 137 KB
Purpose:
To consider the planned expenditure of the Asylum Dispersal Grant
Recommendations:
That the Executive resolves to:
1. Approve the expenditure of £147,000 detailed within sections 3 and 5 of this report;
2. Delegate authority to make any amendments to these allocations, providing these are compliant with the ring fenced grant conditions, to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Executive Member responsible for Stronger Healthy Communities and the Informal Executive.
Additional documents:
- Item 7 Annex A - LA Funding Instruction Grant 3 2023-24 FINAL, item 81
PDF 241 KB
- Item 7 Asylum Dispersal Grant proposal EIA - Annex B FINAL, item 81
PDF 567 KB
Minutes:
Councillor Joy Aitman, Executive Member for Stronger, Healthy Communities introduced and gave an overview of the report, which considered the planned expenditure of the Asylum Dispersal Grant.
In debate, the Executive thanked the staff in the Witney Hotel who had worked hard to support asylum seekers and to the residents of Ducklington who had provided help as well as the various voluntary groups involved.
Councillor Sandra Simpson asked what dietary provisions were in place for vegetarians with focus on nutritional information and if there was a list of organisations where people could volunteer.
Phil Martin, Assistant Director for Business Services, confirmed that the nutritional details for meals provided could be found in addition to the menus. Monthly multi-agency meetings had been held to provide updates on the food being provided. There was a focus more localised food provision. All dietary requirements were met, and the providers were challenged over food quality. The Council had worked with Volunteer Link-up and brought in a co-ordinator post which coordinate would work being done by organisations to give opportunities to the residents of the hotel to be part of the support network. The list of organisations would be made available.
More challenges were expected however the Council was supporting asylum seekers with the resources available. The Executive thanked the Assistant Director for all the work officers had done, and also thanked the community including community groups, churches and schools.
Councillor Joy Aitman proposed that the Executive agree the recommendations as set out in the report. This was seconded by Councillor Andrew Prosser, was put to a vote, and unanimously agreed by the Executive.
The Executive Resolved to:
- Approve the expenditure of £147,000 detailed within the sections 3 and 5 of the original report;
- Delegate authority to make any amendments to these allocations, providing these are compliant with the ring fenced grant conditions, to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Executive Member for Stronger Healthy Communities and the informal Executive.