NEATH PORT TALBOT COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL

25th March 2022

Urgency Action

Report of the Chief Executive and Director of Social Services, Health & Housing

Matter for Decision

Wards Affected:

All wards

Report Title: Ukrainian Crisis: Humanitarian response

Purpose of the Report:

To seek delegated authority to Karen Jones (Chief Executive) and Andrew Jarrett (Director of Social Services, Health & Housing) to receive grant, make expenditure and enter into negotiations and contracts as necessary to enable the Council to respond quickly to the humanitarian response.

Executive Summary:

NPTC has stated its commitment to do everything it can to help support the humanitarian crisis.

For families arriving through the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme, there are expectations on the Local Authority in terms of safeguarding, property checks, making emergency payments and integration support.

Welsh Government is a sponsoring organisation through Homes for Ukraine, and as part of our team Wales approach, Welsh Government wishes to establish welfare centres which will provide accommodation as well as wrap around services including health, and education. This will be for families or individuals arriving through the Welsh sponsorship route. NPT is actively working to develop a welfare centre and a potential facility has been provisionally identified and work is underway at pace to make this happen.

The situation is fast moving and may require emergency and urgent action including negotiating or entering into, or amending contracts, for building and services outside of CPR.

Therefore delegated authority is sought to Karen Jones (Chief Executive) and Andrew Jarrett (Director of Social Services, Health & Housing) to receive grant, make expenditure and enter into negotiations and contracts, and amend any existing legal arrangements, as necessary to enable the Council to respond quickly and agily.

Any expenditure or contracts or amendments to existing contracts will be fully reported to Cabinet in the new administration.

Background:

No-one can fail to be moved by the terrible events in Ukraine, and NPTC has stated its commitment to do everything it can to help support the humanitarian crisis. Officers are liaising with Welsh Government to understand the ‘ask’ of local authorities and our partners including the third sector. Welsh Government has issued draft guidance and we are working to understand the expectations, therein.

For families arriving through the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme, the UK Government is providing funding at a rate of £10,500 per person, for the first year, to support families to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into communities, this is intended to also cover health costs. There are expectations on the Local Authority in terms of safeguarding, property checks, making emergency payments and integration support.

Welsh Government is a sponsoring organisation through Homes for Ukraine. As part of our team Wales approach, Welsh Government wishes to establish where it can, some welfare centres which will provide accommodation as well as wrap around services including health, and education, for families or individuals arriving through the Welsh sponsorship route. This will enable better planning and support for these families and individuals, including health care screening, and work towards more settled housing solutions. The Welcome Centres will provide short term accommodation and support before people are moved on to more permanent accommodation. NPT is actively working to develop a welfare centre and a potential facility has been provisionally identified and work is underway at pace to make this happen.

The situation is fast moving and may require emergency and urgent action including negotiating or entering into, or amending contracts, for building and services outside of CPR.

Therefore delegated authority is sought to Karen Jones (Chief Executive) and Andrew Jarrett (Director of Social Services, Health & Housing) to receive grant, make expenditure and enter into negotiations and contracts, and amend any existing legal arrangements, as necessary to enable the Council to respond quickly and agily.

This includes, but is not limited to –

Participating and responding to the humanitarian situation

Receiving a UK tariff for households arriving through the Homes for Ukraine scheme, managing that funding and making payments to the Health Board.

The commissioning of orientation support to families and individuals arriving through the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme

Entering into negotiations alongside WG (where appropriate) for the provision of a welfare centre and entering into or amending existing contracts or legal arrangements as necessary

The establishment, resourcing and running of a ‘welcome centre’ including any reparations for any loss in income, additional staffing, safeguarding, additional facilities and any potential capital costs

The administration of the £350 a month 'thank-you' payment for households arriving through the Homes for Ukraine scheme

Making interim payments to families of £200 per person for subsistence costs for households arriving through the Homes for Ukraine scheme

Additional staffing resources

Any expenditure or contracts or amendments to existing contracts will be fully reported to Cabinet in the new administration.

Financial Impacts:

There will be financial implications in respect of the Council’s response, including in providing wrap-around support. It is anticipated that there will be Welsh Government funding and UK Government funding, but some of the detail is not yet clear. Records will be kept of all the expenditure.

Integrated Impact Assessment:

There is no requirement to undertake an Integrated Impact Assessment as this report is to fulfil an internal function of the local authority. Notwithstanding this, this action seeks to enable the authority to provide humanitarian assistance to people feeling the conflict in Ukraine, which requires and immediate and emergency response. It will be determined at the time of entering into any potential proposal whether an Integrated Impact Assessment is required.

Valleys Communities Impacts:

No implications

Workforce Impacts:

There are potential workforce implications in respect of resources and capacity to respond, but these will be managed as necessary to enable NPT to play an active role in providing a humanitarian response

Legal Impacts:

Exemptions are built into the contract procedure rules to allow for urgent contract awards to be made, if so deemed necessary and advice will be sought from the Head of Legal and Democratic Services where so required for any potential arrangements entered into.

Risk Management Impacts:

There are risks to this action, which will be carefully managed and mitigated, and reported to Cabinet on a regular basis.

Counter Terrorism Impacts:

Colleagues from SWP and WECTU have been consulted, and have not identified any specific risk.

Consultation:

There is no requirement for external consultation on this item

Recommendations:

That delegated authority is granted to the Chief Executive and Director of Social Services, Health and Housing to receive grants and enter into any grant agreements, make expenditure, enter into negotiations and contracts (suspending the Contract Procedure Rules in the event so required due to the urgency involved) and amend existing legal arrangements as necessary to respond to the humanitarian crisis faced by Ukrainians fleeing the conflict.

Reasons for Proposed Decision:

To enable the Council to respond quickly and appropriately to the humanitarian crisis as a result of the conflict in Ukraine

Implementation of Decision:

The decision is an urgent one for immediate implementation,

Appendices:

None

List of Background Papers:

None

Officer Contact:

Mrs Karen Jones

Chief Executive

chief.executive@npt.gov.uk

Mr Andrew Jarrett

Director of Social Services, Health & Housing

a.jarrett@npt.gov.uk

Mrs Claire Jones

Strategic Manager Partnerships & Community Cohesion

Tel: 01639 763193

Email: s.c.jones@npt.gov.uk