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Response by the Cabinet Member: Response to Question 1: The quotation in the members question is taken from the Home Office description of their suggested ‘Pilot 2’. Powys County Council’s proposal – as set out in the Cabinet paper – is different and suggests that Home Office funding could be utilised to fund additional newbuild homes in Powys, which would be allocated to Powys residents on the Common Housing Register (waiting list). Existing, older stock where we identify it, could then be offered to the Home Office for their asylum dispersal programme on a temporary leaseback basis. This would provide an overall net increase in Council homes. Not only would this equate to a ‘neutral’ position regarding waiting list times, it would also enable Powys County Council to better meet existing need; ie. Being able to build more one and two bedroom properties which are in the highest demand. This model of delivery would also mean that money saved, due to the Home Office funding new homes, could be rolled forward to fund additional homes to meet local need - increasing further the number of Council houses available for local need. Response to Question 2: The Cabinet had access to the information needed to make the decision through the papers, briefings and the summary of Pilot 2 included in the report. Response to Question 3: The Member, who served as Cabinet Member for Housing, should already know that funding for new Council housing and new housing association housing homes in Wales is allocated by the Welsh Government, not the UK Government. The Council and housing associations both receive Social Housing Grant from the Welsh Government to help make sure that new Council and social housing can be let at rents affordable to local people. The pilot proposed by the Home Office will, if it is progressed, be funded from a UK Government budget that is not available for any Council in Wales to access for mainstream social housing. Response to Question 4: The Council would expect to receive vacant possession at the end of the ten-year lease. Response to Question 4a: Under the existing dispersal system, once a claim for asylum is determined the occupants will receive notice from the Home Office to vacate the accommodation. Response to Question 4b: If an individual’s asylum claim is unsuccessful, they will be required to leave the Country. If their claim is successful, they will be granted some form of right to remain in the UK which would usually include the right to rent. Response to Question 5: People seeking asylum do not have an automatic ‘right’ to rent accommodation. They do not ‘accrue’ any tenancy rights during their time in Home Office provided accommodation. Response to Question 6: The Home Office has a statutory duty to accommodate people seeking asylum who are otherwise unable to secure it for themselves or are unable to meet their basic living needs. Any legal implications relating to occupation are therefore a matter for the Home Office. Response to Question 7: The basic premise of the above question is incorrect. I refer the Councillor to the response to Question 1. Response to Question 8: No decisions have yet been made regarding the number of homes. However, should the pilot proceed, Powys County Council will gain control over the process in terms of numbers, locations and the level of support provided. The Member will know that the report he authored and secured Cabinet approval for in November 2021 entered the Council into an arrangement where it supported and cooperated with Clearsprings Ready Homes (The Home Office Provider) through a system that gave the Council no control over the process, locations/communities, numbers or support. Response to Question 9: The Council can only comment on individuals accommodated by the Home Office. Under this remit, we are aware that one family has been placed in Powys by the Home Office agent. Response to Question 10: The statement was issued in good faith based on the information made available to me at the time. The service has since confirmed (as stated above) that one family has been accommodated in Powys under the UK Government’s Dispersal Programme.
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