BARNSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL. Representation on the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Migration Group

Transcription

1 BARNSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL Cab /8 Report of the Chief Executive Representation on the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Migration Group 1. Purpose of Report To consider, insofar as Barnsley MBC is concerned, the appointment of Councillor D. Bostwick, Adult Social Services and Health Spokesperson and a Senior Officer representatives (as a deputy) to the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Migration Group. 2. Recommendations (1) that, insofar as Barnsley MBC is concerned, Councillor Bostwick, Adult Social Services and Health Spokesperson be appointed to the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Migration Group as a representative of the South Yorkshire sub-region; (ii) (iii) that, Julie Wingfield, Special Projects Manager, Barnsley MBC be appointed as a deputy representative; and that Member attendance at meetings of the above be confirmed as an approved duty. 3. Background The Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Migration Group provides strategic leadership and advice for the region on all matters to do with migrants and influences policy and service delivery nationally, regionally and locally to ensure a positive impact upon the balanced needs of both immigrants and the region. The Group is a partnership of organisations from the statutory, voluntary, community and private sectors. Funding for the Partnership comes mainly from a grant from the UK Border Agency. Key responsibilities for the group are: To monitor the impact of migration into the Yorkshire and Humber region, in particular its impact on community cohesion, housing and health services To make strategic decisions relating to cluster areas and overall numbers of dispersed asylum seekers To respond on behalf of the region to consultations on new policy initiatives To consider any issues relating to support of dispersed asylum seekers which cannot be resolved at local level and to make recommendations to the appropriate Authority To take a leadership role in informing regional strategies which have an impact on migrants

2 To promote a fair and balanced understanding of the impact of new refugees and migrants that recognises their cultural and economic contribution to the region Terms of reference are attached as Appendices to the report. 4. Current Position The Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Migration Group has recently restructured to include a Member from each of the four sub-regions. Previously North Yorkshire were not members of the Group. The previous Group, the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Consortium for Asylum Seekers included Councillor D. Bostwick and Julie Wingfield (Barnsley MBC) who were South Yorkshire members. The Local Government Yorkshire and Humber (LGYH) are co-ordinating the nominations for the new Strategic Migration Group and have requested one Member and one Senior Officer (who will deputise for the Member) from each sub-region to serve for a two year term. The South Yorkshire Authorities have discussed details of nominations and have agreed that Councillor Bostwick and Julie Wingfield should be nominated as the sub-regional representative and deputy, respectively. The group also requires one of the four Members to chair the group and is seeking nominations for this position. In addition to chairing the group and acting as a sub-regional representative the chair will represent the region nationally at the LGA Task Group on Migration. Councillor Bostwick has indicated a wish to be considered for this position. 5. Proposal It is proposed that, insofar as Barnsley MBC is concerned, Councillor Bostwick, Adult Social Services and Health Spokesperson be appointed to the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Migration Group as a representative of the South Yorkshire sub-region and Julie Wingfield, Special Projects Manager, be appointed as deputy representative. 6. Appendices Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Terms of Reference for the Strategic Board Organisational Structure Chart Officer Contact Craig Rogerson Telephone (01226) Date October, 2008 OB Report- Y&H Strategic Migration Group 2008

3 Y f'mber ( Mqrt ' The Yorkshire & Humber Strategic Migration Group (YHSMG) Structure agreed by the YHSMG at its meeting on 12 June Role of SMG i. To provide strategic leadership and advice for the region on all matters to do with migrants and To proactively influence policy and service delivery nationally, regionally and locally to ensure positive impact upon the balanced needs of both immigrants and the region. 2. Terms of Reference i. To monitor the impact of migration into the Yorkshire & Humberside region, in particular its impact on community cohesion, housing and health services. ii. To take strategic decisions relating to cluster areas and overall numbers of dispersed asylum seekers. iii. To respond on behalf of the Region to consultations on new policy initiatives. iv. To consider any issues relating to support of dispersed asylum seekers which cannot be resolved at local level and to make recommendations to the appropriate authority. v. To take a leadership role in informing regional strategies which have an impact on migrants. vi. To promote a fair and balanced understanding of the impact of new refugees and migrants that recognises their cultural and economic contribution to the region. 3. Principles of Membership: i. The YHSMG is a strategic advisory group and attendance is by invitation to named individuals. ii. Senior Officers in each organisation to be represented on the YHSMG will be members of the group. iii. Members will have the seniority within their organisations to be aware of wider strategic impacts and to be able to give informed advice or make a decision on behalf of their organisation. iv. All YHSMG members are there as representatives of their own or a 'subgroup' of organisations v. The political Members will be nominated by LGYH for a 2 year term. vi. The Chair will be a politician elected from the YHSMG membership, for a 2 year term. SMG structurejune 2008 final June Page 1 01/09/2008

4 vii. viii. The Chair will represent the Region at the LGA Members' Task Group, the second Member will deputise for the Chair at the LGA Members' Task Group if necessary. Two Deputy Chairs will be nominated and elected by the YHSMG for a period of 2 years. At least one must be from the Voluntary Sector. 4. Roles and Responsibilities of Members i. All members know which organisation or group of organisations they are representing and sign themselves as such when attending the meetings ii. YHSMG members know why they or their organisation is on the YHSMG i.e. one or more of the following key areas: commissioning; leadership; key regional strategic plans; service users (see Xi below). iii. Members will bring their experience to the YHSMG in order to inform regional discussion and direction. iv. Members are expected to consult their members, organisation or sector and to represent their views at the meeting. v. Members will report back to their sector the outcome of discussion at the YHSMG. vi. Representatives on national groups: the National Migration Group; Migration Impacts Forum will be expected to report to and from the YHSMG. 5. Criteria for attendinci/enqapinci: i. The criteria for membership of the YHSMG are those organisations having a key role with regard to asylum seekers, refugee integration or new migrants in relation to one or more of the following areas: 1. commissioning 2. political leadership 3. key strategic plans 4. service users. ii. YHSMG members are named individuals and are expected to attend all 4 meetings or have a single named substitute who has been appropriately briefed. iii. Other officers/representatives/individuals may attend by invitation for discussion or presentation of reports on specific issues 6. Members: Criteria (see 51 above) CHAIR: Local councillor* nominated by LGYH Local councillor* nominated by LGYH Local Authority Officer x 2*: Director level nominated by LGYH GOYH Yorkshire Forward Contracted Voluntary Sector: Refugee Council Non-contracted: Northern Refugee Centre Regional Assembly Health Sector BIA: Regional Director Police JobcentrePlus Regional Migration Partnership: Manager (Secretariat) 1,2,3,4 1,2,3,4 1,2,3,4 1,3 1 1, ,3 1,3 3, 4 1,3 1,3 *The total local authority representation of 2x councillors and 2x officers to include one member from each of the four sub-regions. SMG structurejune 2008 final June Page 2 01/09/2008

5 7. Role of Secretariat i. The role of the secretariat is to co-ordinate and support the meetings and activities of the YHSMG. ii. The core secretariat for the YHSMG will be provided by the YH Regional Migration Partnership Team (YHRMP) iii. A small group from the YHSMG comprising representatives from UKBA; officers from the Secretariat; Chair; Deputy Chairs; GOYH and YH Assembly will convene between each YHSMG to assess action, prepare the agenda and deal with urgent matters. iv. Minutes and key messages from the YHSMG will be posted on the YHRMP website. v. The YHRMP Manager will brief the Chair and Deputy Chairs prior to the YHSMG meeting and as necessary otherwise. 8. YHSMG Supporting groups i. The work of the YHSMG will be informed, advised and supported by a number of formal sub-groups as follows; 1. Asylum Impacts: including legal issues; cluster policy; case resolution; asylum policy issues; S4and destitution; community cohesion; 2. Children and Young People: including UASC 3. Health Interest 4. Employment and Skills: including learning/skills/employability/employment 5. Refugee Integration Group 6. Yorkshire & Humber Local Authorities Group on Migration 7. Migration Impacts Group ii. In addition there may be a number of networks, task and finish and ad hoc groups which will be commissioned by and/or report to the YHSMG as necessary. iii. Sub-group chairs are responsible for the management of their groups, including setting agendas, preparing meeting minutes and ensuring the main YHSMG is fully and regularly informed of sub-group business. iv. Officers from the YHSMP (the Secretariat) will attend as many supporting groups as possible, resources permitting. v. Chairs of sub-groups or other networks will notify the YHRMP manager of items for inclusion in the Forward Plan or of other urgent issues which had not been foreseen for discussion at the next SMG meeting. vi. All sub-groups and their chairs accept responsibility for ensuring that the YHSMG is informed of any decisions or actions having strategic impact. 9. Meetings: timings and organisation i. The YHSMG will meet quarterly. The meetings will be held alternately between Regional UKBA accommodation in Waterside Court, Leeds and a hosting authority. ii. The timed agenda will be broken into 4 themes: a. Business b. Asylum SMG structurejune 2008 final June Page 3 01/09/2008

6 c. Refugee Integration d. Migration iii. Members will attend the whole meeting. Others will attend by invitation or notification for a set time to present specific reports. iv. It is proposed that as appropriate, the Deputy Chairs each facilitate one of the themes and assist the Chair in general management of the meeting. v. A template agenda and organogram is attached. 10. Tim eframe for introduction i. Discussion of proposals and sign-off March 2008 ii. New format for meetings begins June 2008 iii. LGYH to nominate elected Members June - August 2008 iv. Chair elected from membership September 2008 v. New nominations/representatives appointed June-September 2008 vi. YHSMG with new membership starts September 2008 SMG structurejune 2008 final June Page 4 01/09/2008

7 vii. Template Agenda Theme Areas of reportldiscussion/information SMG Business: for YHRMP Manager's report decision/views/action YHRMP half year progress report RMP annual report RMP strategic plan RMP business plan BIA regional business plan YHSMG administration Forward plan Asylum Refugee Integration Management Information Asylum Impacts (see subgroup) Children's Issues including UASC Gender No recourse to public funds Government Policy YH Refugee Integration Programme Refugee Integration & Employment Services Gateway/settlement programmes Inclusion issues Employment Community Development Refugee voices (through RCOs/RCO forums) Migration Data: trends and forecasts Impacts Mapping Policy impacts Migrant voices 13OO AOB Information items Close SMG structurejune 2008 final June Page 5 01/09/2008

8 SMG organogram Strategic plan Business plan SMG admin Annual report RMP finance BIA regional business plan Asylum impacts RMP Policy briefings NRPF network Mi. Multi-agencies RCOs RIG RIES RCO5 Migration Impacts Regional Networks Regional TUC Policy and Stats analyses Impact assessments SMG structurejune 2008 final June Page 6 01/09/2008

9 Yorkshire & Humber Strategic Migration: organisational structure National links Yorkshire & Humber Strategic Migration Group Local/regional inks Asylum Refugee Integration I Migration Asylum Impacts Forum Cluster policy Casework Resolution Legal f 1 Refugee Integration Group YH Integration Strategy Ref. Integration & Employment Ref. Community Organisations Migration Impact Group Health Interest Children & Young People Employment & Skills YH Local Authorities Group on Migration No Recourse Public Funds

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