Peterborough City Council confirms interest in pilot asylum seeker schemes

It has been reported that the authority has expressed a willingness to participate in the Asylum Dispersal Pilot, under which asylum seekers could be housed in newly built or refurbished social housing.

While the city council has not confirmed this, Cllr Zameer Ali, Cabinet Member for Communities, Poverty and Public Health admitted they have expressed an interest in hearing more about pilot projects being considered by the Government.”

Cllr Ali also said the council’s priority was ‘ensuring the Dragonfly Hotel is stood down as soon as possible.’

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor Paul Bristow has called for answers to a number of questions regarding the council’s interest in the scheme – highlighting resident’s concern over a lack of housing stock already.

Cllr Ali said: “Peterborough already does more than its capacity and has been helpful towards supporting and has more asylum seekers than any other place in the East. Our priority remains ensuring the Dragonfly Hotel is stood down as soon as possible and ensuring other places pull their weight in supporting asylum seekers.

“We have expressed an interest in hearing more about pilot projects being considered by the Government in relation to how the country manages asylum seekers, but as yet there is no commitment for us to take part. No pilot is underway in Peterborough. The Government is committed to cleaning up the asylum mess, but that does not mean treating existing residents unfairly.

“The last government spent billions privatising emergency asylum seeker housing to private contractors like Serco and Mears. The government needs to end these contracts as soon as they can and clean up the mess.”

In a letter to Matt Gladstone, chief executive of Peterborough City Council, Mr Bristow said: “My inbox continues to be inundated with correspondence from residents expressing deep concern about access to social housing in Peterborough. Many of those contacting me are in Band One – the highest priority category – yet remain subject to exceptionally long waiting times. As the council itself has acknowledged, there are substantial delays in processing Housing Register applications, and the average wait for a two- or three-bedroom property currently stands at approximately two and a half years for Band One applicants, and considerably longer for those in lower bands. This has led to growing frustration and a perception among residents that the system is failing those in greatest need.”

He added: “I would be grateful if you could address the following questions:

"1. What communication has taken place between Peterborough City Council and the Home Office, or any other body, in signalling the council’s willingness to participate in the Asylum Dispersal Pilot?

“2. Has any formal decision been taken by Cabinet or Council, or is this matter currently being progressed at officer level?

“3. What specific safeguards will be put in place to ensure that participation in the pilot does not worsen existing delays for households already on the Housing Register, particularly those in Band One?

“4. Should the council proceed with this scheme, what additional funding, if any, will be provided to offset increased pressure on housing provision and local services, and will this funding be ring-fenced?

“5. How does the council intend to communicate any decision to participate to local residents, particularly those who have already been waiting years for social housing, to maintain confidence that the allocation system remains fair and transparent?

“6. What assessment has the council made of the long-term net addition to Peterborough’s social housing stock resulting from participation in the pilot, including the timescale over which properties would become available to local households once no longer required for asylum accommodation?”