Agenda and minutes

1.1       The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 May 2019.

Disclosure by all Members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

2.1       Councillor Trevor Webb declared a personal interest in Item 4, in that he is closely involved in the Link project, but he did not consider this to be prejudicial. 

3.1       Reports referred to in the minutes below are contained in the minute book.

Report by the Chief Executive

4.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Executive. 

4.2       The Lead Member agreed to give further consideration to the final wording of the motion he would recommend to Council in consultation with the proposer and seconder of the original Notice of Motion.

DECISIONS

4.3       The Lead Member RESOLVED, following discussion of the final wording with the proposer and seconder of the Notice of Motion, to recommended to Council the following motion:

“East Sussex County Council believes that:

(i)            people seeking asylum generally want to be able to work so that they can use their skills and make the most of their potential, integrate into their communities, and provide for themselves and their families;

(ii)           restrictions on the right to work can lead to extremely poor mental health outcomes, and a waste of potentially invaluable talents and skills both for the economy of East Sussex and the UK; and

(iii)          allowing people seeking asylum the right to work would therefore lead to positive outcomes for those seeking asylum in East Sussex and for the local and national economy.

East Sussex County Council calls on the UK Government to consider giving people seeking asylum the right to work, unconstrained by the shortage occupation list, after they have waited six months for a decision on their initial asylum claim.”

Reasons

4.4       The Notice of Motion asks the County Council to call on the UK Government to give people seeking asylum the right to work after they have waited six months for a decision on their initial asylum claim.  Policy in relation to asylum seekers’ right to work is determined by national government and as such is not within the Council’s control.