EU nationals are our family members, parents, friends and colleagues. They care for our elderly and they teach our children. They are an integral part of a vibrant and thriving Wokingham.
In the Referendum campaign, we were promised that "there will be no change for EU citizens already lawfully resident in the UK and [they] …will be treated no less favourably than they are at present”.
This promise has not been honoured. Many EU citizens are unaware that if Brexit goes ahead, they risk deportation from their homes of many years unless they are granted settled status.
Home Office figures show that many EU nationals have not applied for Settled Status, or have applied but have been refused. We don’t know how many Wokingham residents, perhaps elderly or vulnerable people, are unaware that they may become illegal immigrants. We risk a Windrush-style scandal here in Wokingham, with families broken up.
We also need to think of the 1.3 million British citizens who have made their homes in EU countries, who may be forced to return to the UK, particularly when Brexit means they lose their access to healthcare. Many of these people are elderly, and many have made their homes overseas because of difficulties making ends meet on their pensions. How many will come to Wokingham, needing assistance with social housing and other support?
Therefore, the Council asks that Officers urgently undertake and publish a review of the how the Council can best mitigate the effects of Brexit on local residents including:
1. How we can promote and assist with applications for settled status particularly for residents who face language or technology barriers.
2. What we can do to help landlords and employers to be trained on immigration status, to avoid potential discrimination against EU nationals.
3. How Brexit is likely to affect EU nationals accessing services provided by the Council, and steps that we can take to mitigate difficulties.
4. The likely impact on Wokingham of British citizens returning to the UK and how we can best prepare for this.
Minutes:
The Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by Rachel Bishop-Firth and seconded by Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey.
‘EU nationals are our family members, parents, friends and colleagues. They care for our elderly and they teach our children. They are an integral part of a vibrant and thriving Wokingham.
In the Referendum campaign, we were promised that "there will be no change for EU citizens already lawfully resident in the UK and [they] …will be treated no less favourably than they are at present”.
This promise has not been honoured. Many EU citizens are unaware that if Brexit goes ahead, they risk deportation from their homes of many years unless they are granted settled status.
Home Office figures show that many EU nationals have not applied for Settled Status, or have applied but have been refused. We don’t know how many Wokingham residents, perhaps elderly or vulnerable people, are unaware that they may become illegal immigrants. We risk a Windrush-style scandal here in Wokingham, with families broken up.
We also need to think of the 1.3 million British citizens who have made their homes in EU countries, who may be forced to return to the UK, particularly when Brexit means they lose their access to healthcare. Many of these people are elderly, and many have made their homes overseas because of difficulties making ends meet on their pensions. How many will come to Wokingham, needing assistance with social housing and other support?
Therefore, the Council asks that Officers urgently undertake and publish a review of the how the Council can best mitigate the effects of Brexit on local residents including:
1. How we can promote and assist with applications for settled status particularly for residents who face language or technology barriers.
2. What we can do to help landlords and employers to be trained on immigration status, to avoid potential discrimination against EU nationals.
3. How Brexit is likely to affect EU nationals accessing services provided by the Council, and steps that we can take to mitigate difficulties.
4. The likely impact on Wokingham of British citizens returning to the UK and how we can best prepare for this.’
Rachel Bishop-Firth commented that she had first submitted the Motion in October last year. It was important to support those residents who would have to apply for settled status, some of whom may not realise that they had to do so. She was pleased that the Council had offered to assist residents with the settled status app if they needed it and questioned how those who might have language or technology difficulties could be further assisted. Many British citizens currently living abroad may also be forced to return to the UK and would also require support.
Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey reiterated the need to support EU citizens living locally.
It was proposed by Pauline Jorgensen and seconded by Daniel Sargeant that the Motion be amended as follows:
‘EU nationals are our family members, parents, friends and colleagues. They care for our elderly and they teach our children. They are an integral part of a vibrant and thriving Wokingham.
In the Referendum campaign, we were promised that "there will be no change for EU citizens already lawfully resident in the UK and [they] …will be treated no less favourably than they are at present”.
This promise has not been honoured. Many EU27 citizens are unaware that if Brexit goes ahead, they risk deportation from their homes of many years unless they are granted settled status.
Home Office figures show that many EU nationals have not applied for Settled Status, or have applied but have been refused. We don’t know how many Wokingham residents, perhaps elderly or vulnerable people, are unaware that they may become illegal immigrants. We risk a Windrush-style scandal here in Wokingham, with families broken up.
We also need to think of the 1.3 million British citizens who have made their homes in other EU countries, who may be forced to return to the UK, particularly if Brexit means they lose their access to healthcare. Many of these people are elderly, and many have made their homes overseas because of difficulties making ends meet on their pensions. How many will come to Wokingham, needing assistance with social housing and other support?
Therefore, the Council asks
that Officers urgently undertake and publish a review of
the how the Council can best mitigate the effects of Brexit
on local residents and publicise what we
intend to do and what mitigations we have already
implemented including:
a) How we
can promote and assist with applications for settled status
particularly for residents who face language or technology
barriers.
b)
What we can do
provideto help landlords
and employers to be trained on immigration status, to avoid
potential discrimination against EU27 nationals.
c) How Brexit is likely to affect EU27 nationals accessing services provided by the Council, and steps that we can take to mitigate difficulties.
d) The likely impact on Wokingham of British citizens returning to the UK and how we can best prepare for this.’
Pauline Jorgensen commented that a lot of work had already been carried out regarding the possible effects of Brexit.