Key information
Decision type: Director
Reference code: DD2036
Date signed:
Decision by: Jeff Jacobs , Head of Paid Service
Executive summary
The Home Office funds the Greater London Authority (GLA) to lead the London Strategic Migration Partnership (LSMP). There are similar partnerships across UK regions. The purpose of the LSMP is to provide a strategic leadership, advisory, coordination and development function for migration and integration in London.
The LSMP work is informed and supported by the Mayor’s Migrant & Refugee Advisory Panel (MRAP), a consultative forum which has representation from a range of refugee and migrant communities.
Leading the Partnership enables the GLA to gather better intelligence on migration in London, improve coordination among strategic partners, influence immigration policy and take migration into account in delivering the Mayor’s responsibilities and priorities.
The grant will cover the staff cost needed to support the LSMP and the cost for delivering the agreed Business plan. The previous agreement covered the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016. We have received grant funding for this work stream since 2008.
This decision is to obtain approval for receipt of a new enabling grant agreement for the period from 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017.
Appendix A is the letter from the Home Office confirming LSMP funding for 2016–17.
Appendix B is the grant agreement for the period 1 April 2016–31 March 2017.
Decision
That the Executive Director approves:
1. acceptance and receipt of £64,000 of funding from the Home Office; and
2. expenditure of the same to lead the London Strategic Migration Partnership (LSMP) for 2016-17.
Part 1: Non-confidential facts and advice
1.1 The Home Office funds the Greater London Authority (GLA) to lead the London Strategic Migration Partnership (LSMP). A representative from the Mayor Office usually chairs the LSMP. The previous grant agreement was for £64,000 and covered the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016.
1.2 A new grant agreement of £64,000 will fund the GLA in 2016/17 to lead the LSMP as part of the Home Office’s support for regional strategic migration partnerships across the UK.
The funding for 2016/17 has been confirmed in writing by the Home Office (Appendix A). As lead partner, the GLA coordinates the activities of the LSMP.
1.3 The purpose of the LSMP is to provide a strategic leadership, advisory, coordination and development function for migration and integration in London. The LSMP brings together cross-sector partners to look at migration issues of strategic importance to London. In particular, its remit includes data and demographics; international competiveness; and supporting integration. The work of the LSMP is also informed by the Mayor’s Migrant and Refugee Advisory Panel (MRAP) whose members are organisations that support migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
1.4 The LSMP will ensure its work supports the Mayor’s priorities and the GLA policies and activities.
2.1 The LSMP business plan for 2016/17 includes 4 workstrands:
1) Strategic coordination: to provide leadership, advisory and co-ordination functions for immigration and asylum issues in London and deliver effective stakeholder and community engagement for UKVI, the GLA and other partners.
2) Demographic and policy trends: to improve the range, quality and timeliness of migration data available for London and develop and maintain a picture of the state of migration and integration in London.
3) Integration: to ensure migrants and refugees in London are able to quickly and effectively integrate with the economic, community and cultural life of the city, share best practice on migrant and refugee integration in London and to identify and mitigate as possible any unintended consequences of immigration policy implementation and enforcement in London.
4) Visas and economic growth: to support UKVI engagement with their business customers in London, in particular with the creative industries and education providers to strengthen London’s competitiveness.
3.1 The LSMP promotes equality for refugees and vulnerable migrants. The work programme takes into account the GLA’s wider statutory duties under the Equality Act 2010 to advance equality of opportunity for migrants and refugees and foster good relations between communities.
4.1 Key risks and issues
Once a new chair of the LSMP has been confirmed, this business plan will be reviewed, in discussion with Home Office and LSMP members, to take account of the priorities of the new administration.
4.2 Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities:
1. The Mayor’s ‘social integration’ priority;
2. Culture priorities;
3. The Health Inequalities Strategy; and
4. MOPAC work e.g. the Hate Crime Reduction Strategy for London.
1. Approval is being sought for the GLA’s entry into a grant funding agreement with the Home Office for receipt of £64,000 to assist in the work streams associated with the LSMP in the 2016/17 financial-year.
2. The receipt of the Home Office Grant of £64,000 will be accounted for within the Health & Communities Unit and will be utilised on funding staffing resource to support the LSMP and programme expenditure, for which approval is also being sought for the entry into all associated contracts and agreements as required during the course of the 2016/17 financial-year.
3. Any changes to this proposal, including budgetary implications will be subject to further approval via the GLA’s decision-making process. All appropriate budget adjustments will be made.
4. The Diversity & Social Policy Unit within the Health & Communities Unit will be responsible for managing this programme and ensuring all expenditure and associated contracts / agreements adhere to the GLA’s Financial Regulations, Contracts & Funding Code, Expenses & Benefits Framework and Funding Agreement Toolkit.
6.1 Power to undertake the requested decision
6.1.1 Section 30 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (“the Act”) entitles the GLA, after appropriate consultation, to do anything which will further the promotion within Greater London of economic development and wealth creation, social development and the improvement of the environment.
6.1.2 Section 34 of the Act allows the GLA, to do anything which will facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of any functions of the GLA.
6.2 In formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought officers have complied with the GLA’s related statutory duties to:
• pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people;
• consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons, health inequalities between persons and to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom; and
• consult with appropriate bodies.
6.3 Sections 1-5 of this report demonstrate that:
The requested decision may be viewed as falling within the GLA’s powers to do anything which is facilitative of or conducive or incidental to the GLA’s exercise of its power under section 30 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 to promote social development within Greater London. In this regard, the LSMP will provide the benefits of a strategic leadership, advisory, coordination and development functions for migration and integration from regional bodies in all sectors to promote the benefits of migration and minimise adverse impact.
Signed decision document
DD2036 Home Office Grant LSMP (signed) PDF