Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

            The purpose of this report is to update Members on the EU Settlement Scheme.

2.0       Recommendations

            Members are asked to note the update provided.

3.0       Main report

            Key Issues

            Members are reminded that a report was brought to the September meeting of this Committee providing information on the EU Settlement Scheme.  Since this last update the Home Office has issued further information and Officers participated in a teleconference in relation to the Scheme on 4th December.  A representative of the Home Office also attended the meeting of the Migrant Forum on 3rd December and provided an update on the Scheme. 

            In summary the background to the Scheme is:

·        In December 2017 the UK government reached an agreement with the European Union on citizens’ rights. In March this was extended to cover those arriving during the implementation period (to 31 December 2020).

·        The agreement protects the rights of EU citizens after the UK leaves the EU and enables them to continue to live their lives as now. It also covers their family members.

·        EU citizens in the UK and their family members will need to apply to secure their rights through a simple digital system to get settled or pre-settled status

·        The Home Office has said that the application process will be as quick and user-friendly as possible and they will use existing government data to reduce the amount of evidence applicants will need to provide.

·        The settlement scheme will be phased in until it is fully open by the end of March 2019. EU citizens do not need to do anything now.

·        The scheme will remain open until 2021 so there will be no need to rush to apply.

            A briefing document on the EU Settlement Scheme is attached as appendix 1 which includes information on the difference between settled and pre-settled status.

            Recently published information

            In the period since the last update was brought to Committee there have been several developments in relation to this Scheme including:

            Employer’s toolkit

            A toolkit has been published to assist employers, this includes briefing information on what EU citizens need to know and do.  This information is available at:

            https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-employer-toolkit

            Local authorities/community leader’s toolkit

            The Home Office have developed a toolkit for local authorities and community leaders to provide them with sufficient information and tools to support EU citizens and at-risk local communities in their networks.  This toolkit was published on 3rd December and is available at:

            https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-community-leaders-toolkit

            Availability of a grant scheme for Community & Voluntary  sector organisations to support this work

            The Home Office has up to £9 million funding for voluntary and community organisations to provide support to vulnerable EU citizens and their family members with making EU Settlement Scheme applications.  The funding scheme opened on 30 November and will close on 1st February 2019.  There are 2 categories of funding available:

·        Projects between £5,000 up to £39,999 (aimed at small locally based organisations)

·        Projects between £40,000 up to £750,000 (aimed at large, nationally based organisations)

            Information on the funding is available at:

            https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/dcc90ff7-c416-465a-ad92-9dd7f15bcce7

            Officers will disseminate this information to businesses and community and voluntary organisations through existing networks.  We will also continue to participate in the Home Office teleconferences in relation to the Scheme and update Members as appropriate. 

            Financial & Resource Implications

            There are no implications relating to this report.

            Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

            There are no implications relating to this report.”

            After discussion, the Committee agreed to send a letter to Mr David Sterling, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service to consider the provision of an advice service to support EU citizens and their family members resident in Northern Ireland, with making EU Settlement Scheme applications.

            It was further agreed that Belfast City Council would facilitate an information day in the City Hall to provide advice and guidance on the EU Settlement Scheme to EU citizens who reside in Belfast, and that officers would work with the Migrant Forum to support communication with those affected by the scheme.