Agenda item
URGENT MOTIONS
Minutes:
The Council agreed to suspend Procedure Rule 13.1 to enable the following urgent motion to be debated without notice:
13.1 Motion regarding the Refugee Crisis in Europe
Mayor John Biggs moved, and Councillor Sirajul Islam seconded, the motion as tabled.
Councillor Oliur Rahman moved an amendment to insert in the second sentence of the resolutions ‘signed by all three Group Leaders if possible’ and to insert an additional resolution ‘To work with charity groups and organisations across Tower Hamlets and London, particularly, consulting and working together with the Refugee Council and Refugee Task Force that Jeremy Corbyn has asked Yvette Cooper to lead on’.
Mayor John Biggs and Councillor Sirajul Islam indicated that they accepted the amendment, and altered their motion accordingly.
Councillor Andrew Wood moved, and Councillor Chris Chapman seconded an amendment to delete the words ‘but isn’t enough’ in the second point under ‘This Council believes’. Following debate, this amendment was put to the vote and was defeated.
Following further debate the substantive motion as altered to include the amendment moved by Councillor Oliur Rahman was put to the vote and was agreed. Accordingly it was:-
RESOLVED
This Council notes:
1. The situations in Syria, Libya, Iraq and Eritrea have created a major humanitarian crisis. 4 million Syrians have left their homes and crossed the border.
2. UN figures show a third of a million people have attempted to cross the Mediterranean in the last eight months.
3. The government commitment that Britain will take 20,000 refugees over the next five years.
4. The helpful and supportive representations made by political groups on this council.
5. The petition, signed by over 430,000 people, calling for an increase in support for refugees.
6. That the crisis is a fast-moving situation with frequent developments.
This Council believes:
1. That Britain and other countries have a moral duty and a responsibility to provide a sanctuary for those who are forced to flee their homes.
2. That the government’s commitment to take 20,000 refugees is a start, but isn’t enough.
3. That local government has a part to play in the response to this crisis, but that there must be leadership from central government to coordinate and manage the UK’s response.
4. That the government must provide sufficient resources to local authorities to ensure that we can make adequate provision for refugees and asylum seekers without adversely affecting services for our residents.
5. That our priority will always be local people, but we also have a moral duty to play our own small part as a borough, with financial support from the Government.
This Council resolves:
1. To call on the Mayor to explore all possible options with an aim to provide support for a small number of refugee families during this crisis.
2. To call on the Mayor to write to the Prime Minister, signed by all Group Leaders if possible, expressing the importance of leadership from central government and requesting that sufficient resources are made available to local authorities to enable us to make adequate provision for refugees and asylum seekers whilst ensuring that we meet our primary obligation to local residents.
3. To request that the Mayor updates the council on any developments and additional details with regard to the council’s response to the crisis.
4. To work with charity groups and organisations across Tower Hamlets and London, particularly consulting and working together with Refugee Council and Refugee Task Force that Jeremy Corbyn has asked Yvette Cooper to lead on.