Hertfordshire councillors decision to pursue Council of Sanctuary status to face further scrutiny
A decision to progress Hertfordshire to Council of Sanctuary status has been put on hold after councillors asked for greater scrutiny of the decision.
Accreditation as a Council of Sanctuary would not change immigration policy or lead to an increase in the provision of housing, benefits or other services available to asylum seekers or refugees in the county.
But supporters say it would demonstrate a commitment to human rights, a recognition of the positive contributions refugees and asylum seekers make, and enable the county council to learn from other local authorities.
MP Lewis Cocking (Broxbourne, Conservative) has already written to the leader of the county council, Cllr Steve Jarvis, to register his opposition to the move, which he has slammed as a “grandstanding gesture”.
More than 4,000 people have signed a petition on the county council’s own website calling for a referendum “before Hertfordshire County Council tries to force County of Sanctuary status on all of its residents”.
Now 12 councillors have formally called in the cabinet decision to join the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network and to “take steps towards recognition as a Council of Sanctuary”.
As a result, their decision-making will be reconsidered by the council’s overview and scrutiny committee, at a specially convened meeting.
In triggering the call-in, councillors - led by leader of the Reform UK group Cllr Doug Bainbridge - point to legal and jurisdictional concerns, financial and resource implications and procedural deficiencies.
They also want the scrutiny hearing to address issues around transparency, accountability and public consultation, and say the cabinet decision was made despite being aware of a “record” petition to the council.
The launch of the call-in process was highlighted at a meeting of the county council on Tuesday October 20.
Following that meeting, Cllr Bainbridge told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The reasons for the call-in are quite varied.
“We don’t agree with the Liberal Democrats passing this through cabinet and not having an open debate in council, where 78 councillors can discuss and put forward the views of the electorate who voted us in to do just that.
“There was no consultation to ask the residents of Hertfordshire if they wanted it or not.
“And despite the ill-informed rhetoric going around, it is important that the residents know what this means for our county.
“In Reform UK, we believe in putting our residents first - this sanctuary scheme will be putting outsiders before the hard-working people of Hertfordshire, and we deserve better.”
As part of the council’s call-in process, a meeting of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee could decide that it had no objection to the decision made by the cabinet.
Alternatively, the committee could refer the decision back to the cabinet, giving their reasons.
Or, if the decision is found to breach the council’s policy or budget framework, it could be referred to full council.
No date has yet been set for an overview and scrutiny committee meeting to consider the cabinet’s decision.
But executive member for public health and community safety Cllr Ajanta Hilton (Liberal Democrat, St Stephen’s) has already suggested that the move is a “waste of procedural time”.
“I think it is unnecessary and in my mind a waste of procedural time,” she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
“However I am very happy to answer questions on this. I believe we can wholly justify why it is for our county to pursue this accreditation.”
At the meeting of the county council the petition calling for a referendum on the Sanctuary status in Hertfordshire - and ‘signed’ by 4,096 residents - was presented by Joanne Belsey.
According to the petition, designating Hertfordshire as a “Sanctuary County” could “have profound effects on the local community, economy, and culture”.
It adds the decision “should not be taken lightly or made without consulting the public who will be directly affected”.
Presenting the petition, Ms Belsey pointed to the “over 4000” signatures on the county council platform and the “over 16,000 and climbing’ on the change.org platform.
She pointed to a “lack of democratic process” and the absence of sanctuary status on any manifestos, and said the petition represented “the people of Hertfordshire’s call for democracy”.
She said democracy was a system of government where power belongs to the people who exercise it, either directly or through elected representatives.
Ms Belsey went on to warn the county councillors in the room that they were “on notice” that the trust in elected representation has “near expired for the many”.
“My want is to help and protect the people and the wellbeing of the rights of my fellow residents of Hertfordshire,” she said.
“That’s what’s inspired the whole campaign - a campaign that sets out what I call the ‘blueprint’.
“I believe there can be no price placed on democracy. Look at our neighbours in France, a stark warning.
“As I recall, and I quote, it’s not a question of money.
“So without question the people must be given to decide on this monumental decision for our county.
“We call upon the support of this council in upholding democracy for Hertfordshire.”
In response, Cllr Hilton said councillors were elected to weigh evidence, make difficult choices and act in the long-term interest of the county, while also pointing to the costs of holding a referendum.
“A referendum will cost in the region of £1.5m to £2m,” she said.
“That is not an appropriate spend of taxpayers money on this issue.”
Cllr Hilton said it was “not true” - as suggested in the petition - that sanctuary status would have a profound effect on the community, economy and culture.
With a series of questions and answers she set out “very clearly, some things I understand people thought they had signed a petition on”.
“Will we end up with more asylum seekers and refugees in our county?” she said.
“No. It does not change national immigration policy, and in actual fact current numbers in our county are decreasing - with two asylum hotels closing in the past month.
“Will we need to provide more housing, benefits or other services for asylum seekers and refugees?
“No. There is no queue jumping. Asylum seekers and refugees have no recourse to public funds - and, as before, the numbers are coming down.
“0.06% of Hertfordshire residents receive asylum support. 0.06%. The proportionality must be heard.
“Hertfordshire County Council remains absolutely committed to providing services for all our residents with no cuts due to achieving Sanctuary status.
“[…] Will we be spending more money?
“No. It is designed to build on work already taking place. Resourcing of this work will be met from existing staff working in the area and does not require additional money.
“The Council of Sanctuary fee is £2,700. I’ll stress that again £2,700 - compared to what we are looking at a referendum of £1.5m to £2m.
“We have other accreditation such as the violence against women and girls and our Ministry of Defence employee veteran accreditation scheme as well.
“Those do not require a referendum to be carried out.
“We should do it because it is the right thing to do. It makes sure that we are delivering support in the most effective way.
“It is a natural extension of what good work we already do in the county.”
The petition - which was formally accepted by Cllr Hilton - will be further considered by the council’s overview and scrutiny committee, alongside the ‘call-in’ of the decision.
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council said: “We have received a petition from residents with more than 1,000 signatures, asking for a referendum on Hertfordshire’s sanctuary status.
“This was discussed at a full council and the petition will be considered as part of the call-in of the cabinet decision to become a Council of Sanctuary.”