Minutes

4.       SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT TO THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE – The Chief Executive submitted a report proposing the Council’s response to the crisis in Ukraine following the unprovoked invasion by the Russian Federation in February 2022. The invasion had been confirmed as a violation of sovereignty and a breach of international law.

The report stated that fighting in the country continued and the invasion had resulted in a humanitarian crisis, which had seen up to 800,000 people to date being displaced and fleeing into neighbouring countries. North Lincolnshire Council condemned the unprovoked invasion and proposed immediate support to the people of Ukraine through the following:

•         Solidarity and Support - visible support to the country and people of Ukraine by lighting up its main headquarters building at Church Square in blue and yellow and once sourced, the Ukrainian Flag to be flown from Church Square House, both throughout March 2022,

North Lincolnshire Council was committed to ensuring that it would not knowingly invest in or have financial links with any Russian or Belarusian companies’ organisations or individuals, The Council website to be updated with information advice and guidance and provide links to additional support.

•         Coordination and Promotion of Action - co-ordination to practical responses such as collation and distribution of non-financial donations and liaison with voluntary and community agencies. Logistical support would continue to be made to partner agencies, private companies and charities who are delivering responses to the crisis.

•         Refugee Resettlement – continuing the Council’s long history of providing support and resettlement to refugees and displaced people, committing in advance to support the delivery of future Government Resettlement programmes for Ukraine Nationals welcoming and enabling Ukrainian refugees to settle locally on the established fair share basis with access to housing, education, employment, and community.

The Council would also work with local communities and businesses to promote the revised Humanitarian and Work Visa programmes in line with Government policy, increasing the sponsorship of refugees.

•         Strategic Planning - Medium and Long Term - developing a wider strategy position on Resettlement to ensure the Council could respond to ongoing requests for support to help alleviate the crisis and ensure it had the required capacity and expertise to respond effectively.

The decision was urgent to enable the council to implement immediately its support to the people of Ukraine.

Resolved – (a) That North Lincolnshire Council condemns the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation which has been confirmed as a violation of sovereignty and a breach of international law, and (b) that the above proposals for immediate support as set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report be approved and adopted.