Council opposes private placements

Up to 150 asylum seekers could shortly be placed in Southampton with a private provider against the city council’s wishes.

The private company will provide accommodation, induction and support services but John Beer, the council’s executive director of health and social care, said he expected that some of the asylum seekers would also need council social services.

He said those who gained refugee status would probably stay on in the city and were likely to be those who were the most traumatised and needed extra support.

The Home Office has said it will provide a small amount of funding to the council to provide services if really necessary, but the council said this might not be adequate.