Councillor Brock to move:

That this Council notes that:

• The invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces has precipitated a humanitarian crisis.
• The United Nations General Assembly has condemned Russia’s aggression, calling for both the full withdrawal of Russian military forces and respect for the sovereignty, independence, and internationally recognised borders of Ukraine.

This Council believes that:

• Reading’s Ukrainian community requires support that is both expressed and material, and that the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre has shown leadership in providing such support.
• Reading, as a recognised City of Sanctuary, has a duty and a moral obligation to provide support to those seeking refuge from conflict.

Consequently, this Council resolves to:

• Formally condemn the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, in line with United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES?11/1.
• Work with the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre and other partners to provide support for those seeking refuge.
• Immediately earmark provision of £25,000 to support voluntary and community organisations working with, and additional Council service requirements for, refugees from the conflict.
• Proactively approach the Government and indicate the Council’s willingness to play a full role in all appropriate schemes for resettling refugees from Ukraine.
• Prepare to support, in additional to national schemes, up to ten families via the Local Sponsorship Scheme, acknowledging that details of the scheme are still forthcoming at the time of writing.
• Reaffirm our commitment as a City of Sanctuary through beginning the application process for ‘Council of Sanctuary’ status.

The implementation of the above to be achieved by delegating authority to the Chief Executive, the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services, and the Director of Finance. Council further delegates authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to vary the above as additional requirements manifest.

In accordance with Standing Order 14(10)(a), Councillor Brock received the consent of the Council to alter his motion, as follows:

‘Following the sixth bullet point of the section which starts: “Consequently, this Council resolves to:” include three additional bullet points, as set out below, after the words “Reaffirm our commitment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48