Commitment to double Afghan refugee support
Perth and Kinross Council has approved plans to welcome Afghan refugees to the region.
After pressure from PKC’s Labour and Independent group, the council agreed to double the number of refugees the local authority initially pledged to accommodate.
The commitment was agreed at a special meeting on Monday, August 30.
Earlier this month, councillors unanimously agreed to offer accommodation and support to what is termed Afghan Locally Employed Staff (LES) and their families, a project which was established by the UK government in 2013.
Council leader Murray Lyle put forward a motion committing an offer of support and assistance to five individuals or three households who had fled the Taliban takeover.
He added a commitment to increase that offer to 10 individuals or six households if required or “even more flexibility – if required – that we could be able to go beyond that point”.
The council hopes to be able to welcome Afghan families and/or individuals to the region in the next few weeks.
The Conservative Strathallan elected member told councillors: “We are in a good position to welcome individuals and families from Afghanistan and our participation in the scheme will confirm our commitment to providing humanitarian support to individuals and families who have worked side by side with our armed forces and officials.
“We are already engaging with a range of partners across the private, public and third sector as well as community groups and social enterprises to coordinate support for any families that come to be resettled in Perth and Kinross.
“The scheme will meet the cost of relocation for these families and they will all be housed in privately- rented accommodation.
“We have already had lots of offers of support coming in, which demonstrates the extraordinary generosity of the people of Perth and Kinross.”
Cllr Lyle’s motion was seconded by Blairgowrie and Glens Conservative councillor Bob Brawn.
Cllr Brawn said: “There can be very few people who have not been moved by the distressing scenes that have been coming out of Kabul over recent weeks.”
The housing and communities committee convener added: “Because we already have a high demand for social housing, we will be looking to source suitable accommodation from the private rented sector.
“We are currently engaging with a range of partners across all sectors as well as community groups and social enterprises to co-ordinate support for any families that are resettled in Perth and Kinross.”
Labour Carse of Gowrie councillor Alasdair Bailey put forward a motion which was seconded by Independent Highland councillor Xander McDade to make a firm commitment to double the offer of support to 10 individuals or six families.
Cllr Bailey said: “This enhanced level of commitment shall be relayed to COSLA in order that those in most urgent need are not left waiting for our support for any longer than is necessary.”
Cllr Lyall said he was happy to incorporate the Labour/Independent amendment into his motion which was agreed.
After the meeting, Cllr Bailey said: “I’m really happy that my amendment to extend a firm offer to accommodate twice the number of people fleeing Afghanistan was passed after the administration accepted it.
“These people put their lives at risk to help our failed intervention in Afghanistan and therefore it is important that we step up at this time when they need our help.”
PKC has previously provided assistance to seven families from Syria.
In addition, 17 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children have been supported by the council to resettle here.
These people put their lives at risk to support our failed intervention in Afghanistan
Cllr Alasdair Bailey