Fife says it is willing to take in four unaccompanied children as part of the UK’s asylum seeker dispersal scheme.
The region’s councillors have agreed to the offer being made to CoSLA and the Home Office to assist the 10 to 12-year-olds via residential and/or foster care.
Councils in the south-east of England declared an emergency last month due to a higher number of migrant boats arriving across the Channel.
CoSLA and the Home Office approached all local authorities in early June to highlight the situation.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has the power to order councils to accept asylum seekers should they not participate in the dispersal scheme voluntarily but Fife feels in a position to make the first move.
The cost of accommodating and supporting four children for up to eight years old ranges between £865,280 for a Fife Council foster care placement to more than £5.8 million for a purchased residential care placement.
Home Office financial support is available to local authorities in certain instances and a joint report to councillors by Kathy Henwood, head of education and children’s services, and John Mills, head of housing, said further work is needed to “bottom out” what the true costs are likely to be.
“The age group of interest is 10-12 years with relatively low health need and low additional educational support need,” the report added.
“It should be noted that by the nature of being an unaccompanied asylum seeking child who has lost their family and community, some level of additionality should be expected.
“We can confirm that given Fife would not qualify currently for the revised costs there would be additional costs for Fife Council to meet but this has to be balanced with the urgent need to offer support at this time of crisis.
“We will continue to model the provision and associated costs with finance and partners prior to a final offer to CoSLA and the Home Office.”
The bid to CoSLA and the Home Office comes after the leader of Kent Council said the number of children landing at Dover had doubled in the past 12 months.
So far this year, 178 unaccompanied children have arrived on migrant boats and have been placed in the care of the council.
Fife’s offer to CoSLA is predicated on there first being an “adequate pre-assessment of health (physical and emotional) care and presenting/existing medical needs”.
Officials have said the children should not require specialist educational provision due to current pressure on resources.
The Syrian Vulnerable Persons Core Group, which has overseen the resettlement of Syrian refugees in parts of Fife in recent years, will also be expected to co-ordinate the initiative and ensure appropriate health, language and educational support is available.
