Purpose

On
29 December 2020, the Defence Secretary and Home Secretary
announced the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP). This
scheme offers relocation or other assistance to former Locally
Employed Staff (LES) in Afghanistan to reflect the changing
situation in Afghanistan. Given the rapid implementation of the
programmes and the large numbers of people involved, the Home
Office has commissioned hotels around the country known as
‘bridging hotels’ where Afghan evacuees and refugees
are housed until long term accommodation is sourced.
 
Hotel residents are supported to settle in and make longer term
plans for life in the UK through the provision of ‘wraparound
support’ in the hotels. The support is funded by the Home
Office by payment to the local authority which hosts the hotel. In
Yorkshire and Humber, Leeds City Council (Migration Yorkshire)
co-ordinates this arrangement as the accountable body by processing
payments and managing sub-contract arrangements.
 
North Yorkshire Council (previously North Yorkshire County
Council prior to local government re-organisation which took place
on 1 April 2023) has been the location of two bridging hotels, one
of which closed on 31 July 2022. It has agreed to vary the existing
Partnership Agreement with Leeds City Council (Migration Yorkshire)
to include the provision of a ‘wraparound support’ for
Afghan evacuees and refugees in the bridging hotels in North
Yorkshire to 31 July 2023.
 
City
of Doncaster Council is the location of one bridging hotel. It has
agreed to vary the existing Partnership Agreement with Leeds City
Council (Migration Yorkshire) to include the provision of a
‘wraparound support’ and therapeutic support for Afghan
evacuees and refugees in the bridging hotel in Doncaster to 31 July
2023.
 
A variation to the existing Grant Agreement
with British Refugee Council (‘Refugee Council’) is
required to deliver this service and provide for a revised and
updated budget and service provision.

Content

 
The Director of Communities, Housing and
Environment
a) 
Approved a variation to the existing Partnership Agreement between
Leeds City Council (Migration Yorkshire) and North Yorkshire
Council to provide ‘wraparound’ support to residents of
the Afghan bridging hotels in North Yorkshire to 31 July 2023. The
variation agreement has a retrospective commencement date based on
when the service commenced of 1 September 2021.
b) 
Approved a variation to the existing Partnership Agreement between
Leeds City Council (Migration Yorkshire) and City of Doncaster
Council to provide ‘wraparound’ support to residents of
the Afghan bridging hotel in Doncaster to 31 July 2023. The
variation agreement has a retrospective commencement date based on
when the service commenced of 1 December 2021.
c) 
Approved a variation to the existing Partnership Agreement between
Leeds City Council (Migration Yorkshire) and City of Doncaster
Council to provide therapeutic support to residents of the Afghan
bridging hotel in Doncaster to 31 July 2023. The variation
agreement has a retrospective commencement date based on when the
service commenced of 1 June 2022.
d) 
Approved a variation to the existing Grant Agreement between Leeds
City Council (Migration Yorkshire) and the Refugee Council to
deliver the above services with revised and updated budgets and
service provision.
e) 
Approved the entry into such other
agreements that the Head of Migration Yorkshire believes are needed
to enable the delivery of a wraparound services to residents of the
Afghan bridging hotels.