Agenda item

To receive updates on actions agreed at the previous meeting.

The Committee noted the actions agreed at the meeting held on 5 October 2022.

Further clarification was sought around the status of the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme following the six-month period of Ukrainian families staying in the District. It was queried as to whether they had indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Numbers of families that had been re-housed was also questioned.

The Acting Director of Housing assured the Committee that additional numbers would be forthcoming to the Committee, following the meeting.

It was confirmed that hosting arrangements were continuing. The Council had completed 171 inspections on properties within the District. South Kesteven also remained the largest host District within Lincolnshire and the lowest number of breakdowns between hosts and Ukrainian families.

ACTION: For the Acting Director of Housing to provide further information and numbers on the status of Ukrainian families living in the District following the six-month period.

One Member requested an update from the Housing Working Group.

The Acting Director of Housing noted that another meeting had taken place and an update would be included alongside the Regulatory Compliance item.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Property clarified that following the closure of Stoke Rochford for a week, it was re-opened and the current contract for families residing at Stoke Rochford was a twelve-month period. 

One Member raised a query regarding the funding after the six-month period had ended and whether the funding was still available. Clarification was sought over the types of families staying at Stoke Rochford. It was confirmed the families residing at Stoke Rochford were refugees and Albanian families.

The Acting Director of Housing confirmed that hosting arrangements were still being funded through the Government and the Council were awaiting clarification on the timescale of the funding to end. The Council were continuing to monitor the host and family tensions on a weekly basis and a funded worker was working with the families.

The Chairman highlighted that a ‘Celebrate the Nations’ had taken place where many Ukrainian families attended.

Following a previous comment made, a Member queried the hosting of Ukrainians in Skegness.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Property clarified that the hosting of Ukrainians in Skegness had been in the media where a question was raised on the impact on Skegness and surrounding area on hotels provisions for other people and to seek an assurance that any more provision would be made at present due to the infrastructure being stretched to capacity.

A Member highlighted that a briefing had been held at Lincolnshire County Council regarding Ukrainian families. It was noted that Ukrainian families were not staying at Stoke Rochford and was being used for refugee families. This was a separate scheme to households hosting Ukrainian families. The Government had not yet announced that the six months stay period would be formally extended, however there was expectation that it would be. It had not yet been decided as to whether the allowance figure would be increased or stay the same. The announcement was expected by mid-December 2022.