Public Sector Group

What is the Yorkshire and Humber Public Sector Group?

The Yorkshire and Humber Public Sector Group is a partnership of ten local authorities which provides housing and support to asylum seekers dispersed to the region from across the UK. The ten local authorities are: Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Doncaster, Hull, Kirklees, Leeds, Rotherham, Sheffield and Wakefield. The Public Sector Group’s work is paid for by Central Government, under a contract with the Home Office, called the ‘Target Accommodation Contract’.

What does it do?

The Public Sector Group:

Manages the accommodation contract on behalf of the ten local authorities and in conjunction with the UK Border Agency [UKBA - part of the Home Office].
Finds housing for asylum seekers in local authority accommodation in the region, making sure that they get the right support, and that anyone with particular needs has those needs met.
Works closely with various government departments at local and regional level.
Liaises with UKBA Yorkshire and the Humber to make sure that we're working together to deliver in the region.
Supports the regional Asylum Impacts Group, which is chaired by UKBA and involves key organisations such as local authorities, voluntary sector, private housing providers and the police.

What are its key priorities for this year?

This year, the Public Sector Group will focus on:

Delivering the highest standards of housing and support to asylum seekers.
Providing high quality management information to the local authorities involved in the contract.
Preparing for a review of the contract, and talking with other partners and local authorities in the region about the shape of future delivery arrangements.
Supporting the Home Office ‘sustainability’ agenda, by reviewing various methods for saving energy and ensuring that the delivery of the contract reflects these.

How does it work?

The Public Sector Group’s Contract Management Team [CMT] is responsible for delivery of the contract. The Contract Management Team:

Manages the performance of the contract, ensuring that the Public Sector Group meets the Home Office’s standards and support requirements.
Coordinates requests from UKBA for placing asylum seekers into local authority housing in the region, liaising daily with the local authority asylum teams and with a wide range of services to ensure that individuals and families get appropriate housing and practical support.

CMT is part of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Migration Partnership. CMT is accountable to the Accommodation Contract Board, which meets quarterly to oversee the delivery of the contract and to provide support and direction to CMT. The Accommodation Contract Board makes decisions on any operational changes that are necessary to ensure the contract remains viable. All ten local authority senior managers are on the Board, and they have delegated decision making powers on behalf of their respective local authorities to agree strategic and operational changes for the betterment of the contract and of their local areas.

Who are its members?

Current membership of Public Sector Group Accommodation Contract Board is:

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council - Julie Wingfield
Bradford Metropolitan District Council - Sarah Possingham [Chair]
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council - Lisa Walch
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council - Peter Alflat
Hull City Council - Steve Ibbetson
Kirklees Metropolitan Council - Helen Geldart
Leeds City Council - Bridget Emery
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council - Kirsty Everson
Sheffield City Council - Suzanne Allen
Wakefield Council - John Feasey
Contract Management Team [Regional Migration Partnership] - Brian Poole
Contract Management Team [Regional Migration Partnership] - Mervyn Millington

More information

Mervyn Millington, Contract Manager
Phone: 0113 395 2433
Email: mervyn.millington@migrationyorkshire.org.uk