Cabinet received a report of the Head of Community and Customer Services to note a tender exemption for the Council to enter into a contract with the Refugee Council to provide support for Syrian Refugees. 

Councillor Johnson introduced the report and explained there was an urgent need to establish support to help the families.  It had been necessary to agree the contract quickly due to the circumstances and there were now three families within Watford who were doing well. 

The Head of Community and Customer Services explained that the council had a contract with an organisation called the Refugee Council, which was providing support services for eight authorities in Hertfordshire.  There were two contact workers in Hertfordshire who worked with these authorities.  The three families were settling in well, their children were being allocated school places and they were registering with doctors.  The council received regular reports from the Refugee Council.

In response to a question from the Mayor, the Head of Community and Customer Services explained that the Refugee Council was supposed to engage with local charitable organisations.  He would pursue that matter with them.  Befriending was a key activity to integrate people into the local community

Councillor Johnson explained that there would be a full procurement process when the current arrangements had finished.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet notes the content of the report.