The need to address ongoing pressures, sustainable funding and the need for effective engagement with local government has been consistently raised by the LGA. From October 2024, Ministers in MHCLG and the Home Office will meet quarterly with the LGA Chair, Vice Chairs and the LGA Asylum, Refugee and Migration Task Group as the Asylum and Resettlement Ministerial Local Government Forum.
The member-led LGA Asylum, Refugee and Migration Task Group is made up of LGA lead members from across the LGA political groups and regional member representation covering all of the English regions and Devolved Administrations. It focuses upon the issues around the asylum and refugee agenda at a national and strategic level from a local government political leadership perspective.
Meeting quarterly since 2019, the Asylum and Resettlement Council Senior Engagement Group (ARCSEG) is co-chaired by the LGA and the Home Office and attended by chief executives representing each region and local government association. It aims to achieve better engagement and oversight; access to funding and data; and a place based and more equitable approach to asylum dispersal and resettlement.
The LGA has been involved in discussions with Government and with regions for a long period of time on how to work together to find sustainable solutions that minimise the pressures on local authorities, local communities and vulnerable adults, children and families.
The Home Office also engages with their accommodation and support providers and local government at a devolved administration and regional level. Views and queries on this and other programmes detailed below also can be raised with Strategic Migration Partnerships (see folder below for contact details).
Please go to children and young people for more information on our work on social care for children and young people.
Although these were published some time ago, things to consider when setting up or reviewing your resettlement programme can be found in our publications Syrian refugee resettlement - a guide for local authorities and Resettling refugees: support after the first year - a guide for local authorities.
The LGA is working with Government to improve access to data on asylum and resettlement so councils can both plan and monitor impacts. Details of currently published data can be found on our data on asylum and resettlement page.
Local authorities should contact their Regional Strategic Migration Partnership (RSMP) for more advice or if they are interested in participating in any of the programmes detailed on this page.
