Agenda item

Mayor's Announcements

Minutes:

The Leader, Cllr E.V.Latham addressed Council.  The Leader updated Council on the worsening situation in the Ukraine and the resultant humanitarian crisis and the need to support displaced people as a matter of urgency.  Work has been ongoing with Welsh Government to make preparation to receive Ukrainian refugees.

 

Council received details of the variety of routes that would allow refugees to come to the UK.  It was noted that the Welsh Government would take on the role of a super sponsor and establish a number of reception centres prior to dispersing refugees to a network of accommodation.

 

Local Authorities will receive £10,500 per refugee in the first year, future funding to be determined.  The monies would go towards the cost of providing services for example educating children of school age of refugee families.

 

The Director of Social Services, Health and Housing will co-ordinate the Council’s involvement and has already established groups to take forward this work and has started discussions with partners on the wider community response.

 

It was also highlighted that the Council was not only responding to the humanitarian crisis but was developing the best response to assist communities deal with the increasing energy costs and the implications of that.

 

Members noted that a detailed briefing note would be emailed to all elected members following Council today.

 

The Mayor stated that as this was the last meeting of Council, there would be an opportunity at the end of Council for Members who were retiring to speak.