This Council notes:

1.          The recent decision to house an additional 296 asylum seekers in Altrincham's Cresta Court Hotel without prior consultation with local residents or opposition councillors.

2.          The lack of transparency surrounding this decision, including the absence of a clear impact assessment on local services and communities.

3.          The potential strain on local resources, including healthcare, education, and housing, which are already under pressure.

4.          The heightened public concerns due to the lack of consultation and short notice given to residents.

5.          The proximity of Cresta Court Hotel to several schools in Altrincham, raising safeguarding concerns.

6.          Trafford Council's repeated statements that they had no knowledge of the use of Cresta Court as accommodation for asylum seekers until days prior to their arrival.

This Council believes:

1.          That decisions of this magnitude should be made with full transparency and in consultation with all stakeholders, including local residents and opposition councillors.

2.          That the current administration has failed to provide adequate information about the long-term plans and potential impacts of this decision.

3.          That there is a need for a comprehensive strategy to manage the integration of asylum seekers while safeguarding the interests of local residents.

4.          That the rapid manner in which this situation has arisen has increased tensions and the potential for discriminatory and prejudicial responses.

5.          That the additional strain on Council resources during a time of financial difficulty cannot be overstated.

This Council resolves to:

1.          Write to the Secretary of State for the Home Office, Yvette Cooper MP, asking her to:

a.    Ensure that local authorities are given at least a month's notice before future asylum seeker hotel deals are agreed, and certainly before asylum seekers are placed in the area.

b.    Ensure that in future a full risk assessment, including the particulars of the surrounding environment of any hotel, is undertaken.

c.     Ensure that asylum seeker accommodation deals are subject to a public consultation process that seeks out the opinions of potential stakeholders, such as the NHS, the police, local authorities, local businesses, and local charitable organisations.

d.    Consider including ordinary members of the public in the consultation process to address any anxiety and concerns.

2.      Call on the administration to provide a full and detailed report on the decision-making process that led to the housing of asylum seekers in Altrincham, including any risk assessments conducted.

3.      Demand the immediate establishment of a cross-party working group to oversee the implementation of asylum seeker housing policies and to ensure ongoing transparency and accountability.

4.      Request that the Council conduct and publish a comprehensive impact assessment on local services, including healthcare, education, and housing.

5.      Urge the administration to develop and present a clear strategy for community integration and support, with input from all councillors and local community groups.

6.      Insist on regular updates to the Council and the public on the progress and challenges of housing asylum seekers, including any additional costs incurred by the local authority.

7.      Call for a review of the Council's consultation processes to ensure that significant decisions are made with proper engagement of all affected parties in the future.

8.      Develop a communication strategy to address residents' concerns and provide factual information about the situation, aiming to reduce tensions and prevent discriminatory responses.

The Motion, as set out on the Summons on Transparency, Accountability, and Community Engagement in Asylum Seeker Housing Decisions, was moved and seconded.

The Joint Amendment from the Labour and Green Party Groups , as set out and published, was moved and seconded.

(Note: During the debate on the amendment, the time being 8:53 p.m., the Mayor indicated that speeches on this matter would now be limited to a maximum of one minute per speaker.)

Following a debate on the matter, the Amendment was put to the vote and was carried unanimously. The substantive Motion was then put to the vote and was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED: That this Council notes:

1.         The recent decision to house up to 296 people seeking asylum in Altrincham's Cresta Court Hotel without prior consultation with local residents or councillors, whilst also noting the backlog in the processing of asylum claims created by the last Conservative government which means the Home Office is still having to use hotels as part of the temporary accommodation solution.

2.         The lack of information provided ahead of the decision, including the absence of a shared impact assessment on local services and communities.

3.         The potential for there to be an impact on local resources, including healthcare and housing, which are already under pressure.

4.     Acknowledges there have been questions raised by some local residents about this arrangement, given the lack of prior notice and information and recognises the need for proactive communication to address community concerns constructively and reduce tension around the arrival of people seeking asylum.

5.     Trafford Council has a duty to support people seeking asylum, many of whom have had arduous experiences and the authority has previously given a warm welcome to refugees, recognising the contribution that migrants and refugees make to our communities.

This Council believes:

1.         That decisions of this nature should be made in a transparent way, providing appropriate information to stakeholders, including local residents and councillors.

2.         That national and local bodies should collaborate as closely as possible, to ensure there is clear communication and preparedness for future plans for asylum accommodation.

3.         That there is a need for a comprehensive strategy to manage the integration of people seeking asylum, ensuring their needs are met, alongside a communication plan to alleviate public concerns and to support local residents.

4.         That the rapid manner in which this situation has arisen has the potential for tension and negative responses, which may also impact people already settled here.

5.         That there is potential for additional calls on Council resources during a time of financial difficulty.

This Council resolves to:

1.         Write to the Secretary of State for the Home Office, Yvette Cooper MP, asking her to:

a.      Ensure that local authorities are given adequate notice before future hotel deals of this kind are agreed.

b.      Ensure that appropriate risk assessments, including, for example the surrounding environment of any hotel, are considered.

c.      Provide councils with timely, factual information, including, where possible, the age, gender and languages spoken by people seeking asylum to allow local authorities to work in partnership with organisations such as the NHS, the police, local charitable organisations and faith groups, to provide support to those seeking asylum and to prepare and mitigate the potential impact on local services.

2.         Work with the Home Office to establish a standardised information-sharing process, so that councils receive information on the rationale, duration, and support provisions for asylum accommodation placements, and the potential time scale for assessing asylum applications.

3.         Explore the possibility of a cross-party working group to coordinate support resources and facilitate the sharing of information with the local community, in partnership with relevant local organisations.

4.         Request support from central government to conduct an impact assessment on local services, including healthcare, education, and housing and where identified, request additional funding.

5.         Continue to communicate with the community and to support integration with input from all councillors and local community groups, where possible.

6.         Request that the Home Office provide councils with regular updates on the costs and duration of accommodation for those seeking asylum, so that councils may communicate accurately with residents.

7.         Comply with the Council’s communication strategy which focuses on factual, transparent information to address residents' concerns, aiming to reduce tensions and encourage a welcoming, inclusive response for people who are fleeing from danger.