A pledge to settle at least 48 refugees in the Westmorland and Furness area during the 2023/24 financial year has been given the green light.
The measure would see them arrive under the United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme.
Councillor Peter Thornton told a meeting of the Westmorland and Furness Council shadow cabinet on Friday that it was a win-win situation.
“I just want to highlight the benefits to our area of resettlement of refugees,” he said. “Clearly, it’s something we do because we have a responsibility to people in those positions, but it is also a selfish thing as well.
“The refugees tend to be young and, unlike asylum seekers, they are allowed to work right from the start.”
Cllr Thornton’s comments followed a presentation to cabinet by Cllr Giles Archibald.
“We have in fact in Cumbria pledged already 381 refugees under the scheme and we are on target for achieving that by March 2023,” said Cllr Archibald.
Cllr Virginia Taylor told the meeting at the county hall in Kendal: “There is a huge amount of amazing work being done in the third sector supporting refugees but also, at the moment, supporting asylum seekers.”
The Home Office says it provides tariff funding for the UKRS for the first year, including for education and health. For years two to five, tapered tariff funding is provided.
A report authored by Helen Blake, senior manager – customer, policy and scrutiny, Cumbria County Council, ahead of Friday’s meeting gave more details about the scheme.
She said the target of at least 48 individuals was felt to be achievable alongside the delivery of the other migration schemes the council will be involved in supporting over the same period of time.
“Should the council feel it appropriate to resettle further numbers of refugees, there is nothing to stop the council increasing the pledge,” said Ms Blake.
“Refugees travel to the UK with the support of the International Organization for Migration. They are met at the airport by the resettlement team and then settled into the house the council has secured, furnished and prepared for the family.”
The cabinet voted to make the recommendation to Cumbria County Council that 48 refugees be resettled during the 2023/24 year.
