Connect with us

Local Council

Council backs safer legal routes for asylum seekers and a migrant champion

Avatar photo

Published

on

Cambridgeshire County Council has asked its chief executive Stephen Moir to write to the Home Secretary to press for safe legal routes for people to seek asylum.

On Tuesday, a motion from Cllr Alex Bulat, supported by a majority of the full council, looked at the support the council could and should provide to people fleeing conflict, persecution, and economic hardship.

“I am proud of our county’s compassionate response to people from Afghanistan, Syria, Hong Kong and most recently Ukraine and many other countries” she said.

“But we cannot underestimate the challenges that we face, as more legal routes have been closed, we have seen increased numbers of channel crossings.

“People in desperate circumstances will continue to make dangerous choices”

It agreed that the council should commit to the development of a county-wide Place of Safety pledge, work with partners to support the welfare of destitute individuals or families and establish a member migrant champion role.

It called on Mr Moir, to write to the Home Secretary to highlight the challenges faced by asylum seekers and to call for safe and legal routes for people seeking asylum – as well as adequate funds for local authorities to support them.

Advertisements
canopyuk.com in-article

The Cambridgeshire Local Government Pension Scheme is also to be asked to divest from investments in fossil fuels, looking instead to invest in companies that act to minimise climate risk

A motion put by Cllr Alison Whelan, and accepted by a full council majority, calls on the pension fund, to work with companies and funds that it invests in to ensure that they are actively pursuing environmentally positive policies to eliminate carbon emissions, and disinvest in them quickly if not.

She told the meeting that she had been prompted to bring the motion following correspondence from concerned scheme members, members of the public and pressure groups and said it called for a ‘balanced and just divestment.’

It also asks that, where possible – these investments should be in local companies or initiatives that will benefit local climate solutions and so will have a positive impact on fund members, their families, and the wider community.

The fund – which includes 350 scheme employers including the county council and other local authorities as well as academies and various other companies has approximately £97m or 2.3% of its £4bn total, invested in companies which work predominantly in the area of fossil fuel. These are noted to be largely ‘passive’ – that is, intended to track market performance/indices as opposed to funds that have a more active management strategy.

The fund has already agreed a climate action plan that sets out how it will manage the climate risk within its portfolio and over time transition to a more sustainable portfolio.

CLLR ALEX BULAT: She told councillors: “No human chooses where they are born.
“I didn’t choose where I was born and no one in this room did but we do choose whether we dream of a world of Windrush scandals and planes flying to Rwanda or a world with safe legal roots and an immigration system that treats all lives with dignity and respect.
“I certainly choose the latter option and I sometimes do dream myself that the Home Secretary would change her mind and choose it too.”

In doing so the fund agreed a science-based decarbonisation pathway that is targeting a 23% reduction in carbon emissions from listed equities by 2024 (from a 2021 baseline) and a 57% reduction by 2030.

You can watch the debate around these motions and others that weren’t supported on the council’s recorded live stream of its Full Council meeting this week.

 

Facebook

Read More

News1 month ago

Ely ‘hit and run’ driver sought after cyclist left with serious injuries

Cyclist injured in crash with a grey car in Lynn Road, Ely

News1 month ago

WATCH: Police retrieve machete and cannabis from Peterborough drug dealer

Offender caught again whilst on bail for first offence

News1 month ago

BREAKING: Cambridgeshire County Council ‘truly sorry’ after it admits liability for 3 fatalities on Guided Busway

Council 'fully acknowledges the serious historic failings'

News1 month ago

WATCH: ‘You got me fair and square’ Wisbech burglar tells police in Peterborough

He was arrested in Peterborough city centre on 26 April

News1 month ago

WATCH: Police raid cannabis ‘factory’ inside Alconbury Weston house

Cannabis arrest followed a tip off from members of the public

News1 month ago

3 things to do while in the queue for an Oasis ticket – and it’s not what you might think

Tongue in cheek post has a serious message

News1 month ago

Cambs transport charity launches scathing attack after losing subsidised bus route to Stagecoach

FACT operated the 68 Wisbech service for a number of years

News1 month ago

Mayor attacks ‘cheap theatre of negativity’ over £48m Peterborough station facelift

Labour hopes Great Northern Hotel will be in future phase of re-development

News1 month ago

Opposition to 8am to 11pm pavement wining and dining in Wisbech by Wetherspoon

In Whittlesey Wetherspoon hope to use Market Place for outdoor drinkers

News1 month ago

Cambridge ‘drug lord’ caught with loaded gun, cash, and £500,000 worth of drugs

Rahman ran a criminal enterprise across Cambridge