Agenda item

            (Ms. K. Walsh, Business, Research and Development Manager, attended in connection with this item)

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

            The purpose of this report is to update Members on the EU Settlement Scheme.

2.0       Recommendations

            Members are asked to note the update provided.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

            Members are reminded that a report was brought to the January meeting of this Committee outlining plans for an information session on the EU Settlement Scheme in City Hall.  It was agreed that local organisations who successfully obtain funding from the Home Office funding scheme to allow them to support EU citizens to apply to the Scheme, be invited to provide the information at the session.  It had also been proposed that the information session be held in late February/early March. 

            We are aware that a local consortium has applied for funding from the Home Office Fund but a decision has not yet been made on their application.  However it has emerged that if they do receive funding it must be spent in the financial year 19/20. 

            The scheme is currently open to some EU citizens and their family members and will open fully by 30 March 2019.  The current advice from the Home Office is that the deadline for applying will be 30 June 2021, or 31 December 2020 if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. The Home Office’s website also advises ‘You can apply now if you’re eligible, but you’ll probably get pre-settled status rather than settled status if you do not currently have 5 years’ ‘continuous residence’.

            It was announced on 21 January 2019 that there will be no fee when the scheme opens fully.   Anyone who has applied already, or who applies and pays a fee during the test phases, will have their fee refunded and details of the refunds process will be published shortly.

            Members are advised that the next meeting of Migrant Forum has been scheduled for 4th March and that an update on the EU Settlement Scheme is on the agenda for this meeting.  Through the Migrant Forum officers will liaise with the Executive Office and where appropriate we will work with them in disseminating information around the EU Settlement Scheme

            Given these circumstances it is suggested that the Information Session is moved to April and that we use the meeting of the Migrant Forum in March to get their views on the format the information session should take, and what channels we should use to promote the session to ensure that all relevant groups are aware of it. 

            A briefing document on the EU Settlement Scheme is attached as appendix 1 which includes information on the difference between settled and pre-settled status.

            Officers will disseminate this information to businesses and community and voluntary organisations through existing networks.  We will also continue to participate in the Home Office teleconferences in relation to the Scheme and update Members as appropriate. 

            Financial and Resource Implications

            To deliver the Information Session will require the use of the City Hall for one day and a small budget to cover tea and coffee which will come out of existing resources.

            Equality or Good Relations Implications/

            Rural Needs Assessment

            There are no implications relating to this report.”

            Noted.