Birmingham to exit housing contract with UK Border Agency

Birmingham City Council has announced plans to withdraw from a contract with the UK Border Agency under which it provides accommodation for asylum seekers, saying it needs all its properties for its own citizens.

The local authority is currently part of the West Midlands Consortium, which has an agreement with the UK Border Agency until June 2011. It provides 190 homes for asylum seekers under the deal.

Birmingham has rejected the offer of an extension and notified the other councils – Wolverhampton, Dudley and Coventry – that are members of the consortium of its plans to exit the contract.

Cllr John Lines, cabinet member for housing, said: “Over the last year, we have seen a sharp increase in the number of homeless people in Birmingham and we must help the citizens of this city first and foremost.

“The decision not to continue has not been taken lightly, however in the interest of local people this decision has been made.”

Lines said the council would continue to meet its obligations to help the government, adding that it would work with the UK Border Agency to help it find alternative services, possibly in the private sector.