Agenda and minutes

To receive any disclosures of interest from Councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for Members.

Councillors Attewell, Boparai, Mooney, Sexton and Weerasinghe advised they were also Surrey County Councillors.

Councillor Nichols declared that he was on the Knowle Green Estates Board of Directors.

To consider the motion from Councillors in accordance with Standing Order 16.

In accordance with Standing Order 16 the Council received one written Notice of Motion.

Councillor Sexton moved and Councillor Bateson seconded the following motion:

The Council call upon the Homes Office to:

1.    Immediately reconsider its plans to utilise the Stanwell Hotel to house adult male only asylum seekers,

2.    Actively consult and work with the Local Authority,

3.    Continue engaging with key stakeholders and support the existing client group of families and single female asylum seekers at the Stanwell Hotel; and

4.    Give due regard to public concerns, local services and the local community

It was proposed by Councillor Lee and seconded by Councillor Mooney to amend the motion to add another request to the four above, as follows:

5.    Call the immediate and permanent closure of the hotel used a as a asylum seeker facility and urge the Home Office to return the hotel back to the local community.

Councillor Lee requested for a named vote to be taken.

The amended motion FELL

*Councillor S Doran left the meeting at 19.42 and returned to the chamber at 20.21. She did not take part in the vote on the proposed amended motion.

The Leader read out the following statement to the Chamber:

“We are here tonight because the people of Stanwell have serious and valid concerns about the proposed changes to the Stanwell Hotel. To be clear, the Home Office will determine the outcome regarding the hotel independently. Whilst they are not obligated to consult with us or consider our representations, they are now actively engaging with us.

While we can express our views and pass motions, we must operate within the limits of existing legislation. That said, I - and every member of this chamber, will do everything in our power to protect the interests of our residents and to challenge decisions that are not in the best interest of our community.

I want to speak directly to every resident and reassure you, your voices are being heard, and your concerns are not being ignored by this Council.

Earlier today, alongside Councillor Jon Button, I met with senior officials at the Home Office. We went into that meeting with one clear mission: to ensure that the voices of Stanwell are carried straight to the top.

We left no room for doubt. Once again, we made it absolutely clear that the Stanwell Hotel is not, and never will be, a suitable location for this proposal. We have repeated, firmly and unequivocally, that this plan does not work for our community.

However, I must be honest with you: as of now, we have not received the reassurances we wanted. The Home Office has not yet committed to stopping this proposal.

We remain strongly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78/25