ASYLUM housing policy should be devolved to the Welsh Government to give communities a greater say in how those seeking sanctuary are supported according to Wrexham County Borough Council.
An Extraordinary Meeting of the council unanimously supported the devolution of asylum accommodation policy to the Senedd rather than continuing the UK’s secretive dispersal policy which has recently led to community concerns around proposals for Plas yn Rhos and Oak Alyn Hall.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Mark Pritchard led the signatories of a Notice of Motion to bring control of asylum housing decisions back to Wales.
The motion stated: “UK Government’s current policy on asylum dispersal includes the use of private sector agents acting on behalf of the Home Office to procure accommodation.
“These agents operate for profit and are reported to be making substantial financial gains from public funds, with limited transparency or accountability to local authorities.
“Local authorities are frequently given extremely short notice, often as little as five days, of asylum placements which severely restricts the ability to plan, assess impacts and consult with elected members and our constituents.
“The lack of meaningful consultation with local authorities prior to decisions being made undermines partnership working, places additional pressure on already stretched local services, including health and risks negative outcomes for our communities.”
Presenting the proposal Cllr Pritchard said: “I really do hope that politics is not in the room. This is about Wrexham, Wales and the UK.
“It could have an impact on any of the 56 councillors – there could be another decision made by the Home Office tomorrow and we know nothing about it.
“How can you represent your community when you don’t know what’s being proposed for that community? The Home Office in London are working with a partner and they choose where these locations are.
“Then they give us a very small amount of time to engage and that’s it.
“If we challenge that process the adjudication panel makes that decision – that is run by the Home Office. That’s not good enough. I don’t accept it and we shouldn’t accept it.
“It’s unacceptable not just for Wrexham, but across the country. This must not carry on, it needs to be stopped.
“We are here to represent the people of Wrexham and we can’t do it. Myself and Cllr David Bithell, my deputy are told as politicians that ‘this is what’s going on, we’re engaging with you but by the way – you can’t tell anybody’.
“The Government needs to sit up and listen and change it. We have to work to the Nolan principles of openness and transparency. There’s no openness and transparency here. You can see the anger and frustration on the people of Rhos when they came out in their masses – there must have been 800, 1,000 people.
“We should celebrate what we have done in Wrexham. We are a very caring, compassionate, considerate authority. Look what we’ve done with Syrian refugees and what’s happened in Ukraine. We should always help people who are fleeing persecution or whose countries are being invaded by dictatorship.
“On this motion I hope every authority across Wales does exactly the same thing however because this can’t continue. There’s no democracy, there no openness, there’s no transparency until it’s too late and that is not right, we shouldn’t accept that. Wrexham is better than that.
“I believe all 56 of you represent our constituents for the right reasons and we are restricted in doing so.”
The motion was backed by Labour group leader Cllr Dana Davies, who added that funding for asylum accommodation should also come to the Senedd and that Wrexham must define a housing model for houses of multiple occupancy to ensure accommodation standards are met.
“It is a difficult position you are in and that’s the same for local members as well,” she told Cllr Pritchard. “There is a consensus that that process doesn’t work.
“Officers are given just five days to consult with all partners including police, health board, fire service and respond back to the Home Office. It is hard to meaningfully participate in that process.”
Cllr Paul Pemberton, whose Ponciau ward includes the Plas yn Rhos site once considered for asylum accommodation said: “We understand the situation the Government is in with a large number of asylum seekers needing accommodation. But the way they are going about it is wrong.
“Local members are sworn to secrecy to avoid any ripples in the process.”
Cllr Hugh Jones, whose Rosset ward was recently the subject of false rumours about Llyndir Hall Hotel being used for asylum accommodation, added: “The current policies are creating unnecessary fear in communities, leading to tension and unrest due to the secretive nature of the process that are, as in my ward, often unwarranted.”
Not every councillor was totally convinced. Conservative Cllr Jeremy Kent – who has spoken publicly against Welsh independence and the importance of the union with the UK – was cautious in supporting the move.
“In terms of the scope of the motion I’m happy to support,” he said. “Albeit I am hesitant about calling for more devolved powers at this time.”
Reform UK Cllr Robert Ian Williams also backed the motion, despite voicing his concerns over both the Senedd and the UK Government.
“I have very little confidence in Welsh Government or in the Westminster Government,” he said. “This problem has been going on for nearly 10 years now.
“I’m very happy to support this motion however because I believe it is a balanced motion and stands in the tradition as Cllr Pritchard has said of the genuine hospitality we have offered refugees in this city.”
Despite some reservations councillors unanimously backed the motion in the Chamber, giving the Leader of the council the green light to lobby the First Minister and Prime Minister on the matter.
Following the meeting Plaid Cymru leader Marc Jones, who also backed the motion in the chamber, said Wrexham could lead the way in rethinking migration policy.
“The UK Government’s migration policy is a mess,” he said. “We believe that Wales needs its own migration policy that can better reflect the needs of the communities we serve and enable refugees to integrate and be productive within those communities.
“The way communities are being ignored with little or no consultation or transparency has caused unnecessary tensions to arise.
“It’s heartening that Wrexham Council has led the way in recognising there’s a role for the Senedd in dealing with this issue and we hope other councils add their voices to our authority in pressing for this change.”
