Issue - meetings
Alistair Neal has asked the Leader of the Council the following question:
Meeting: 18/02/2021 - Council (Item 102)
Alistair Neal asked the Leader of the Council the following question:
Question
This is a question about
Settled Status for EU citizens.
The deadline for EU citizens to register for Settled Status is 30th
June, 2021.
The September Council meeting passed a motion that called on
officers to review the Council's plans with respect to EU Settled
Status.
Other Councils are taking active steps to contact EU residents;
e.g. Brighton & Hove City Council have delivered a postcard to
all addresses in the city, with a friendly message on the front,
"We want EU citizens to stay in Brighton & Hove", and
information sources, including phone numbers, on the back.
There are 4,097 EU citizens in the Wokingham Borough according to
the 2018 Electoral Roll, but there may be others, living in less
formal circumstances such as sub-lets, HMOs or agricultural
accommodation
Some EU citizens are working where they have no formal contact with
employers and HR resources to tell them about the new rules, such
as self-employed tradesmen workers in the app-based gig
economy.
I’m sure that the Council would like all its EU citizens to
continue to live their lives in the Borough.
With these points in mind, could the Council Leader give me an
update on the review called for in the Council’s September
motion, and on its plan of action going forward for contacting
Wokingham’s EU citizens before July?
Minutes:
Question
This is a question about
Settled Status for EU citizens. The deadline for EU citizens to
register for Settled Status is 30th June, 2021.
The September Council meeting passed a Motion that called on
officers to review the Council's plans with respect to EU Settled
Status.
Other Councils are taking active steps to contact EU residents;
e.g. Brighton & Hove City Council have delivered a postcard to
all addresses in the city, with a friendly message on the front,
"We want EU citizens to stay in Brighton & Hove", and
information sources, including phone numbers, on the back.
There are 4,097 EU citizens in the Wokingham Borough according to
the 2018 Electoral Roll, but there may be others, living in less
formal circumstances such as sub-lets, HMOs or agricultural
accommodation.
Some EU citizens are working where they have no formal contact with
employers and HR resources to tell them about the new rules, such
as self-employed tradesmen workers in the app-based gig
economy.
I’m sure that the Council would like all its EU citizens to
continue to live their lives in the Borough. With these points in
mind, could the Council Leader give me an update on the review
called for in the Council’s September Motion, and on its plan
of action going forward for contacting Wokingham’s EU
citizens before July?
Answer
Following the Motion last September, the Council has taken the following action to mitigate the impact of Brexit for EU nationals living the Borough.
WBC is actively promoting information and advice targeted at EU citizens. Particularly, the need to register through the EU Settlement programme if they wish to remain in the UK and have access to services that they are entitled to under the scheme. Under the current regulations EU Citizens that have registered for settled status will be able access public services such as, NHS, adult social care services, benefits, housing/homelessness, housing services, primary and secondary schooling, and professional qualifications gained in EU countries will continue to be recognised.
Advice and information was distributed through a newsletter to 5000 residents in early February 2021. Information is further disseminated through regular social media messaging, reaching, 13.5K followers as well as on the Council’s website. The Council additionally plans to send information to community groups, third-party charities and organisations that are likely to be in contact with EU residents. Advice on how businesses can support EU nations will be distributed though the Business Matters newsletter.
The Council’s Public Health partner, PPP, issue licences to HMO’s and plan to ensure that information around settlement documentation for EU citizens will encourage landlords to share information with their tenants. The Council is also working in partnership with local housing providers to ensure that they share relevant information with their tenants.
The Council has offered to assist residents with the settled status app. The Registry Office and One Front Door (CAB) are providing direct information to EU citizens as well as offering document scanning and one to one support services. Registry officers ... view the full minutes text for item 102