Issue - meetings

(i)         Councillor Temperton to Councillor Bettison OBE, Leader of the Council

Can we have an update on what the Council is doing to welcome and support our refugees to Bracknell Forest?

(ii)        Councillor Bidwell to Councillor Heydon, Executive Member for Transformation and Finance

Energy prices are increasing adding to a steady increase in inflation, currently 5.1%. Commentators suggest that family costs are going to increase by £1200 per annum and that the lowest income families will once again suffer:

What is the Strategy for supporting those that are most vulnerable? Is there sufficient money in any existing hardship fund to support those in need and if not, can more be added to this year’s budget?

1.     Councillor Temperton asked Councillor Bettison OBE, Leader of the Council the following published question:

Can we have an update on what the Council is doing to welcome and support our refugees to Bracknell Forest?

In response Councillor Bettison reflected that local authorities across the United Kingdom had played a vital role in the success of the resettlement efforts following the events in Afghanistan. The Locally Employed Staff Relocation Scheme supports people who had served the United Kingdom in Afghanistan to relocate and rebuild their lives safely. He advised that Bracknell Forest Council had welcomed three such Afghan refugee families to Bracknell over recent months. The Council had worked to secure three privately rented properties which were affordable for the families. The homes were fully furnished and equipped by the Council, ready for occupation, including white goods and soft furnishings.

He added that the Council had used Government allocated funding to employ an additional officer in the Early Help service to be able to offer dedicated support to these families. Support workers were making daily contact with the families to help them to get to know the area, adjust to their new location and settle in safely. 

He advised that Education, Health, Early Help services, Housing, engagement and equalities teams had all worked together with charitable/faith organisations to ensure that the refugee families have been able to quickly settle into their new homes. This support had included helping them to register with a GP surgery; finding school and early years places for their children; accessing English language courses if needed; setting up bank accounts and direct debits for utilities; help with registering for benefits initially and then support in accessing the Job Centre and finding work. 

He concluded that he had been humbled by the local response and kind offers of help and donations by local organisations and residents. Involve community services had worked with the Council and other charitable organisations to bring together a community support offer for Afghan refugees who had recently been welcomed to Bracknell Forest - this has included providing toys for the children and televisions for the families.  Bracknell Islamic Cultural Society had offered to greet families and offer cultural support and information as required. 

Councillor Temperton was pleased to hear about the range of support on offer and enquired whether this extended into the schools welcoming the children due to any language or mental health issues which may arise.

Councillor Dr Barnard was invited to respond. He responded that support was given to schools from before the places were allocated starting with ensuring that the schools were fully briefed on the needs of the children. He understood that the children were doing well, were making friends and were supporting their families with developing English language both formally and informally.

As with other children requiring additional support their progress was being tracked by the relevant teams. He concluded that there would be a proactive approach to following their progress and he would be happy to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42