Cabinet, at its meeting on 8 July 2026, will consider a report outlining the progress made in Year 1 to implement the Council of Sanctuary Framework and Action Plan and plans for delivery in the next year. The report also seeks approval for the adoption of the new Framework Action Plan for Year 2.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 8 July 2026, will consider a report outlining the progress made in Year 1 to implement the Council of Sanctuary Framework and Action Plan and delivery plans in the next year.  

Councillor Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Richard Wood, Head of Homelessness and Housing Need, and Stephen Cohen, Refugee and Resettlement Manager, were present to respond to questions. 

Councillor Smith highlighted that the report includes a comprehensive summary of the Year 2 Action Plan which focuses on points such as improved coordination and systemwide working, more equitable access to provision across the city, stronger progression routes in employment, and increased involvement and leadership of people with lived experience. The Committee heard that the goal is to transition from a pilot activity to a long-term and sustainable delivery model. Councillor Smith also summarised the need for enhanced communications and community cohesion to combat negative narratives and inaccurate information; reference was paid to social media narratives on topics such as social housing.  

The Refugee and Resettlement Manager summarised the report, noting that it sets out progress made against the year one action plan of the three-year plan with a focus on six priority areas derived from topics highlighted through research and engagement with residents and partnership work. The Committee heard that the framework aims to ensure a coordinated approach to supporting refugees, asylum seekers, and vulnerable migrants in the city, whilst also retaining a consideration of existing residents and hopes the benefits will be wider for Oxford and residents. A comprehensive summary of key successes to date was delivered, including increased staff training, support for individual projects such as the school advocacy project, and increased support for moves into private sector accommodation. The Committee heard that many of the initiatives within the action plan also aim to encourage people towards independence through focusing on employability skills, health and well-being, and volunteering opportunities. In terms of future challenges, The Refugee and Resettlement Manager noted that attention will be paid to addressing emerging regulations and legislation from national government, continuing to combat anti-migrant sentiment, and continuing to support homelessness prevention via the procurement of accommodation. It was emphasised that this work would be underpinned by an endeavour to ensure residents' voices are included and considered.  

The Chair invited questions from the Committee.  

Councillor Jarvis noted that the report suggested outperformance against KPIs linked to wellbeing, leisure, and therapeutic outcomes; he asked whether this was a result of significant success, or underestimation of the need required from the outset.  In the case of an underestimation, he further queried what the impact of this would be, and whether preparations have since been made for higher uptake in the future. Secondly, in reference to the positive housing outcomes KPI, Councillor Jarvis queried why this was not met, and how the Council compares to other local authorities. 

In response to Councillor Jarvis’ first question, the Refugee and Resettlement Manager explained that the grant funding received by the Council is designated for certain groups and when reviewing the KPIs, the target audience was considered. It was noted this could be reviewed for the year 2 action plan, however, the Committee was also reminded that health portfolios fall under the remit of the NHS; the City Council is only a partner within this work. 

In response to Councillor Jarvis’ second question, the Head of Homelessness and Housing Need recognised that the target had not been achieved, however explained linkages with the Home Office evictions and shorter notice periods which cause challenges with move on into the private rented sector. The Committee also understood the challenges of being required to make a decision in 42 days following Home Office decisions. The Head of Homelessness and Housing Need committed to requesting some benchmarking data from other councils. 

The Refugee and Resettlement Manager outlined ongoing work to monitor rough sleeping statistics more comprehensively to track people who have come from Home Office accommodation and have no recourse to public funds.  

Councillor Jarvis noted that the report referenced activities to support people once they have been moved on from Home Office accommodation and queried whether this starts before or after they move. This was asked in relation to employment support specifically. Councillor Jarvis also requested information on the timelines and inclusions in relation to the No Recourse to Public Funds Protocol. Lastly, the support available for those living in the Kassam Hotel was queried in the context of far-right protest activity nearby, specifically any lessons learned from last summer.  

The Refugee and Resettlement Manager explained that the Home Office has a statutory responsibility to support asylum seekers if they are destitute when their claim is being assessed; this is usually through basic accommodation and subsistence. The Committee heard that local authorities are often provided a small grant for this, and the City Council has used this to commission a local charity to provide support. In reference to the Kassam Hotel, the Committee heard that the Council’s commissioned partner runs face-to-face drop-in sessions twice a week to offer advice, signposting to activities, and links with relevant services. Furthermore, a Council team attends regularly to offer housing advice. The Refugee and Resettlement Manager demonstrated how this is a proactive approach to offering support within the guidelines of what the Home Office allows. 

In relation to the protocol, the Committee heard that the County Council leads this work and the City Council is a partner alongside other voluntary organisations. The Refugee and Resettlement Manager explained that the protocol will be signed off in around 3-6 months, at which point it will be publicised. Members understood that the protocol focuses on the Council’s statutory responsibilities and improving what is on offer for marginalised groups.  

The Head of Homelessness and Housing Need reassured the Committee that work is proactively ongoing to support the current cohort ahead of the protocol being finalised, for example close working with the Oxfordshire Homeless Movement; the protocol will then provide further structure and emphasis in the future. 

In response to Counclilor Jarvis’ concerns regarding far-right activism, the Refugee and Resettlement Manager outlined ongoing work with Thames Valley Police to provide community safety responses. The Committee also heard that the Year 2 Action plan outlines myth-busting workstreams which aim to reduce the scope of misinformed narratives relating to refugees and asylum seekers. Information was also provided on a range of community activities and volunteer opportunities; a regular litter pick run by the Council and local residents was referenced as an example. The Refugee and Resettlement Manager emphasised this as cross-cutting and noted that partnership working with the police and other districts is critical.  

Councillor Altaf-Khan requested that additional statistical data be presented to the Committee on the different communities within Oxford City, and the channels of funding and financial support they receive.   

 
The Refugee and Resettlement Manager noted that some data is publicly available and could be provided to the Committee, however, some is confidential due to security and protection requirements for certain groups.  

The Head of Homelessness and Housing Need explained that information on grant funding is already included within the existing needs assessment documentation. 

Councillor Smith reminded the Committee that the scope of work relating to the Council of Sanctuary accreditation is wide and includes consideration of groups other than those in asylum accommodation.  

Councillor Thorniley queried how access to services is evaluated and how successful this has been. 

The Refugee and Resettlement Manager explained that whilst considered within the action plan, success measurement is hard as the topic is impacted by national and local issues. The Refugee and Resettlement Manager committed to taking this away for consideration.  

Councillor Elphinstone noted the importance of communication around housing and community cohesion and recognised the positive results of comms in respect of community engagement. In relation to the refugee employment program referenced in the report, it was asked if any more is being done.  

The Refugee and Resettlement Manager thanked Councillor Elphinstone for the feedback and explained that the refugee employment programme was a historic project run in partnership with other charities in Oxford that is currently under evaluation.  Examples of other ongoing workstreams were outlined, including projects with the youth ambition team on CV writing and employability skills for residents. The Committee was also reminded that resettled families receive employment support, and focus is simultaneously paid to individual and wider projects.  

Councillor Morris emphasised the need to focus on the health and wellbeing of those seeking sanctuary and queried whether there has been consideration of other partners who may focus on specific areas of health inequality, such as mental and sexual health. Councillor Morris noted the value of expanding the scope of third sector organisations involved.  

The Refugee and Resettlement Manager outlined that the Council works in partnership with the NHS and sits on the Oxfordshire Migration Partnership with other district councils, the county council, the police, and the health service. The Committee heard that grant funding is used to support health outcomes, including via an asylum seeker health coordinator who works to bridges gaps between hotels and primary care, and via counselling services.  

The Chair requested that an updated version of the KPIs be circulated to the Committee once available.  

The Chair invited the Committee to consider recommendations. 

The Committee made the following recommendations to Cabinet: 

1. The updated Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to be published as part of the updated report and circulated to the Scrutiny Committee. 

2. Further, localised data and information regarding the refugees housed in Oxford, to be included within the report next year and to be shared with the Scrutiny Committee. 

3. To include Community Associations within the updated Action Plan. 

4. A bench-marking exercise against similar authorities to the City Council have succeed in positive housing outcomes, linked to government data. 

5. The No Recourse to Public Fund (NRPF) protocol, once finalised with Oxfordshire County Council, to be returned to the Scrutiny Committee for review. 

6. Measure the impact of the Council comms team regarding myth busting against misinformation. 

The Chair thanked Councillor Smith, the Refugee and Resettlement Manager, and the Head of Homelessness and Housing Need. 

Councillor Smith, the Refugee and Resettlement Manager, and the Head of Homelessness and Housing Need left the meeting and did not return.