Thanet council Cabinet members are expected to agree to join the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network at a meeting this evening (February 16).
Members are also asked to commit to working towards the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Award, by incorporating a new City of Sanctuary Framework in the Thanet Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy when it is next reviewed later this year.
They are also expected to give approval to lobby central government to permanently extend the notice period for refugees to leave Home Office Accommodation to 56 days following the granting of leave to remain.
A report to councillors says a 56 day notice period would enable more time for the council to provide meaningful homelessness prevention support.
The City of Sanctuary UK movement promotes inclusivity, solidarity and compassion for vulnerable people and those seeking asylum and has a network of councils, schools, universities, libraries, theatres and more awarded Sanctuary status.
A motion was originally brought to Thanet council last October by Cllr Helen Whitehead, and then included additions raised by the Green Party, which pledged support to all vulnerable individuals on the isle and to recognise the rights of those seeking asylum.
It called for the council to recognise:
- The need for Thanet to promote the welfare and inclusion of all people fleeing violence, persecution or who are isolated and seeking safety.
- The importance of supporting the vulnerable, the homeless, the isolated, and all residents in need.
- The positive contribution made in our local communities by refugees and those seeking asylum or safety.
Housing eligibility
A report to councillors this evening highlights that to access permanent social housing in Thanet applicants must apply to the Thanet Housing Register. To be eligible to apply, applicants must have been resident in the district for three years, unless the council has accepted a statutory homelessness duty or they are fleeing domestic abuse from a home in another council area.
Asylum seekers without leave to remain have no recourse to public funds and are therefore not eligible for housing services, to go on the housing register or to receive homelessness services.
There are currently 1,334 households on the Thanet Housing Register, of which 10 (0.7%) are from households with a ‘leave to remain’ immigration status. To be eligible for the register asylum seeker households must have had their asylum application determined and been given leave to remain.
Of the 852 households which the council accepted a homelessness prevention or relief duty in the year to 31 March 2025, 22 households (2.6%) had been granted refugee status.
The council has been involved in three rounds of the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) , which provides grant funding from government to support the cost of acquiring or delivering new homes for people displaced by conflicts in Afghanistan and Ukraine and arriving in the UK through approved schemes.
So far the council has provided 22 homes using this funding. The homes are first used to support Afghan and Ukrainian households but in the longer term are returned to council housing stock.
Whilst an application for asylum is being considered, asylum seekers have no recourse to public funds, are not able to work and are not eligible for housing services from the local council. During this period their accommodation and welfare needs are supported by the Home Office.
‘Welcoming and fair’
The report says: “Joining the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network means a local authority is committing to being welcoming and fair to everyone in the community.”
The recommendation includes the need to include provision for the safety of women and girls in the updated Thanet Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.
Call for ‘full consultation’
East Thanet Reform has written to council leader Rick Everitt calling for the item to be removed from the meeting agenda.
The Party says it has concerns around wording that says communities are being “encouraged to divide”. The letter says there is no evidence is provided for this and the wording could create division rather than address it.
The party adds that responsibility for asylum and immigration policy sits with national government while the council already has statutory duties to support vulnerable residents, “so the motion duplicates existing responsibilities without adding practical measures.”
They also say there has been no meaningful public engagement and the report should acknowledge risks such as “community tension, particularly around housing, GP access, education capacity and pressure on local services” and “localised incidents and heightened fear of crime in some areas.”
The Party requests the item is withdrawn until full consultation and an assessment of the implications have taken place.
Bandwagon jumping by champagne socialists who in reality care nothing personally for any of those people for whom they profess to. Trotsky would be proud of them.
Reform are correct in what they are asking.
So you hate everyone unless told otherwise? Don’t you have compassion and empathy for your fellow human beings? Hitler would be proud of you. Note that 97.4% of the people getting relief in this process are UK born full citizens. One day you might be one of their number. Refornm don’t have a clue.
I don’t hate anyone. I never have.
I just loathe virtue signalling hypocrisy. Which is what I’m calling out here.
I have been homeless for short periods, but resolved my own problems.
compassion and empathy..? for the criminals (yes they broke the law just entering the country) who set up money laundering businesses, organise rape gangs, control the drugs trade, take our housing, welfare, schooling and milk the NHS.
I have compassion for women afraid to walk the streets, the taxpayers footing the cost of these criminals for Jews who now live in fear.
This is no more than virtue-signalling from Thanet District Circus.
Wrong. It’s not a criminal offence.
It’s a criminal offence to stow away, putting lives of others in danger.
Alex Peters what a load of tosh. If you had compassion for women you would be railing against the white British boyfriends, husbands and ex’s which constitute by far and away the largest group behind assaults, rapes and murders of woman, and the police that routinely ignore domestic violence. Likewise drug dealers, money launderers etc. Look at the very rich if you want to see evil, venal people stealing from our country.
Im with you Harry
😉
What’s not to like? Love, Peace, and Happiness to all. 😍
On the same agenda tonight. Labour having to admit that this year’s overspend is now looking like £3.2m. An increase of £300k to that reported last time when they promised to take immediate and decisive action to resolve. £8m of overspending in two years. Surely a record for TDC ?
Absolute clowns. How about dedicating your time to sorting this out and the filthy state of the streets rather than virtue signalling and rolling out the red carpet to all and sundry. Embarrassing.
Councils have very limited powers in these areas, which are largely determined by the Government and the legal system. However to be welcoming and use what powers you do have seems reasonable. The alternative is to be racist, aggressive and unpleasant. Given that those opposing this claim to be religious, it’s a dawned funny form of Christianity!
No, councils should have no powers, immigration policy and it’s funding is a matter for central government. Not something a local council should be wasting it’s limited resources on.
There is never only one alternative.
The idea that you choose to be an all embracing suicidal empathist or an out and out xenophobe is a false presentation. This is just an overtly performative gesture. The Law is there and will provide resources where possible if one asks for it. One does not have to make an exhibitionist song and dance out of it. Which is what the councillors are doing.
Given that those opposing this claim to be religious?.. I’m the last person to be called religious, but decency and common sense do not prevail (at least not for decent, law-abiding indiginous people) when we are forced to live amongst foreign criminals who have no respect for law and order, decency and democracy.
I hope this is all remembered when we get the chance to vote… if this corrupt regime allows us to vote this year.
There should indeed be a public consultation if you pretend to have any semblance of a democracy. Lazy slurs to try and shut down debate just don’t work any more Phil. Welcome to the year of the fire horse.
It called for the council to recognise:
The need for Thanet to promote the welfare and inclusion of all people fleeing violence, persecution or who are isolated and seeking safety.
The importance of supporting the vulnerable, the homeless, the isolated, and all residents in need.
Excuse my ignorance-but shouldn’t TDC already be doing this anyway? Why do they need to join a group to achieve basic decency & human rights for people?
Why indeed ? Because it gives Whitehead yet another opportunity to virtue signal and take up valuable Council Committee time. They spent as much time talking about this in their Cabinet meeting this week as they did talking about the gaping £3.2 million financial black hole they have got this year. Priorities.
Interestingly, Whitehead was asked this exact question in Cabinet; “why”. It’s worth watching her answer on the meeting video recording because it was pretty clear that she didn’t really know why either apart from talking about being kind and learning from other Councils. You would have expected a very clear, articulate, line of reasoning but she just couldn’t provide one at all.
Total waste of time.
Thanet people have been giving money , hope and understanding etc etc since the closing of b&bs in Cliftonville years ago, we have been repaid by crime, drugs, prostitution, littering, graffiti and feral kids. The low life’s have had the opportunity to improve their lot and just took advantage of decent people. It’s time for hard working law abiding citizens to reclaim their neighborhoods.