City council mulls fresh legal action over asylum seeker hotel

Coventry City Council has threatened the Home Office with legal action after complaining that a decision to use one of the city’s hotels for asylum seeker accommodation was made without proper notice.

In a letter sent to the Home Office, the local authority called for a more equitable dispersal plan for asylum seekers and for a halt to any further increases of such placements in the city.

The letter, authored by Cllr George Duggins and Cllr Naem Akhtar, came in response to the Home Office's decision to establish a new contingency hotel with 48 hours' notice and no prior consultation.

"This decision was made unilaterally, where we were informed after the fact, contravening established protocols for Multi Agency Forum consultation", the pair wrote.

In September 2021, Coventry and six other West Midlands local authorities launched a judicial review challenge of the Home Office’s policy for dispersed accommodation, claiming the scheme put pressure on mostly urban councils.

The seven councils dropped their legal challenge in response to the Home Office's decision to introduce a new policy, which would see local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales accommodate a fairer distribution" of asylum seekers.

"Since that assurance we have received repeated confirmation that there would be no more procurement in Coventry, however despite this assurance and with limited notice people have been moved into the City this weekend", the letter read.

It continued: "Your actions in placing more individuals in Coventry whilst neighbouring authorities still do not have asylum seekers accommodated suggest that this undertaking to the Court has not been adhered to."

The letter stated that the lack of notice or meaningful conversation about the procurement of hotels in Coventry "similarly contravenes the protocols previously established".

In addition, the site selected for this hotel had previously been rejected due to serious concerns regarding security, community safety, and the risk of far-right activity and access, the council said.

"The disregard for these concerns undermines the safety and cohesion of our community", it said.

The letter called for urgent action to halt any further increases of such placements in Coventry, and a more equitable and fair application of the dispersal plan be implemented.

It added that the council is considering legal action but wishes to give the Home Office the opportunity "to understand the position and seek to remedy the situation".

The Home Office has been approached for comment.

Adam Carey