Issue - meetings

This report asks the Cabinet to support York seeking recognised status as a City of Sanctuary.

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet, on behalf of the City of York Council, pledges its support for the City of Sanctuary initiative and in doing so:

·        Recognises the contribution of refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and all seeking sanctuary in York;

·        Resolves to welcome and include them in our activities;

·        Supports York in seeking recognised status as a City of Sanctuary;

·        Agrees to support the kind of practical initiatives set out in paragraph 10 of the report.

REASON:            So that York may become a City of Sanctuary.

Members considered a report which asked them to support proposals for York to become a City of Sanctuary.

City of Sanctuary was a movement to build a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary in the UK.  The organising committee aimed to gather pledges of support from all sectors of the city and then to ask the council to seek recognition from the national organisers of City of Sanctuary for official receipt of that status.  A number of cities had already been so recognised, including Sheffield, Bradford, Coventry, Bristol and Swansea.

At a meeting in September 2010, representatives from a large number of organisations in York had declared their support for the movement and a small working group had subsequently been set up.  It was now suggested that Members formally support that initiative on behalf of City of York Council, enabling York to become a place of welcome, safety and security and building on the City’s history of providing help and support to those in need of sanctuary.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That Cabinet, on behalf of the City of York Council, pledges its support for the City of Sanctuary initiative and in doing so:

·        Recognises the contribution of refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and all seeking sanctuary in York;

·        Resolves to welcome and include them in our activities;

·        Supports York in seeking recognised status as a City of Sanctuary;

·        Agrees to support the kind of practical initiatives set out in paragraph 10 of the report. ¹

REASON:            So that York may become a City of Sanctuary.