Title

IMMIGRATION

Kent launches legal action over asylum-seeking children

Kent CC has issued a claim for judicial review against the home secretary, asking her to direct other councils to receive their 'fair share’ of refugee children.

Kent CC has issued a claim for judicial review against home secretary Suella Braverman, asking her to direct other local authorities to ‘receive their fair share' of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC).

It said the number of UASC in its care was putting a ‘wholly disproportionate' strain on its children's services.

The national transfer scheme (NTS) means that statutory responsibility for supporting UASC can be transferred from an entry local authority to another UK local authority with children's services.

Kent said that between 1 January and 1 July this year, 648 UASCs arrived in Kent and were passed on to its children's services.

The council said that of these only 426 had successfully been passed on to other local authorities under the NTS.

Kent said the scheme's operation ‘sadly remains inadequate'.

Council leader Roger Gough and cabinet member for integrated children's services, Sue Chander, said: ‘Kent residents deserve a robust, long-term solution.

'This is well overdue and critical for the future welfare of all children supported by Kent.'

IMMIGRATION

Consensus emerges over statutory climate change duty

By Joe Lepper | 02 October 2025

A ‘clear consensus’ has emerged among councils for the sector to be subject to a statutory climate change duty, the Local Government Association (LGA) has sa...

IMMIGRATION

Dear secretary of state – part 2

By Steve Leach | 01 October 2025

As the new secretary of state Steve Reed settles into his new role, Steve Leach and Colin Copus tell him that now is not a good time for a ‘disruptive, expen...

IMMIGRATION

Dudley overhauls leadership team

By Martin Ford | 12 September 2025

Dudley MBC has announced five appointments to its senior leadership team.

IMMIGRATION

Council threatens legal action over ICB recovery programme

By Lee Peart | 10 September 2025

St Helens Borough Council is considering legal action against NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB over its recovery programme, alleging some of its measures are ...

Popular articles by Ellie Ames