INVERCLYDE is to take 10 Syrian refugee families for at least five years — and at least two could arrive within a few weeks.

The full council made the unanimous decision yesterday afternoon following a request from the UK Government for local authorities to help with the Syrian humanitarian crisis by providing accommodation and support.

Inverclyde Council is currently participating in the ‘Afghan Resettlement Scheme’, with six families successfully re-located here and a further six arriving over the next few months.

Council leader, Councillor Stephen McCabe, said the Afghans had been re-settled here with the minimum of fuss.

He said: “Syria is a crisis on a huge scale. We are prepared to take more than our fair share of refugees and I’m sure the Syrians will receive the same warm welcome given to the Afghans.” SNP leader, Councillor Chris McEleny, said the refugees would we welcomed, and asked: “Is this the maximum number we can take?” Andrina Hunter, service manager with Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), said the numbers were based on the Afghan scheme.

She said: “We have to ensure there is adequate housing and education. It’s up to the council if we want to extend the number.” The council want to bring in families because they believe they will be more likely to stay and integrate within the wider community than single men.

Ms Hunter said it would be mainly families or single women with children who would be part of the scheme.

A report by HSCP chief officer, Brian Moore, said the major challenges for the Council will be financial, language related and cultural.

Costs will be met by the Home Office and the European Refugee Integration Fund for more than a year. The Scottish Government have also said that they will make at least £1 million available.

The refugees will be granted immigration status which will allow them to access the full range of welfare benefits, including housing benefit.

Inverclyde has funding unallocated from the Afghan scheme that could be utilised for the Syrians.

The Home Office, Scottish Government and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities are discussing an enhanced financial package because Syrians are likely to be particularly vulnerable and may have long-term needs.

Mr Moore said Syrian families would assist in the re-population of the area in the same way as the Afghans.

He said: “Local authorities and their community planning partners will be responsible for providing a range of services to the refugees, including education and health.

“Having successfully been involved in the scheme to resettle Afghan interpreters and their families, the infrastructure now in place could be replicated to support Syrian refugees and integrate families in a positive way.

“It is unlikely many of the Syrians will have any English. This would mean having to access a range of staff, including interpreters, not available locally.” He pointed out: “There have never been any Syrians, to our knowledge, living in the Inverclyde area, and staff would have to be briefed on the cultural issues, including religion, parenting and diet. Any potential community safety issues would also have to be addressed.

“Most services have supported the Afghan scheme from within existing resources. However, any increase in families will require some capacity issues to be funded.

“These pressures have been identified initially within education, health visiting and an additional support required for the HSCP refugee coordinator.

“Experience to date has highlighted an extremely positive partnership approach from a range of council services and partner agencies which have helped the Afghan nationals to settle well within the local community.” Mr Moore added: “Positive discussions have also taken place with education services and local registered social landlords to determine availability of education placements and housing.

“There has been some limited consultation with community planning partners, and a positive response has been forthcoming.

“Every effort will be made to try and obtain suitable housing near available school placements to prevent children having to be transported across Inverclyde.” Refugees will be identified in camps in countries next to Syria such as Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq.

They will then be subject to security checks and provided with documentation before they leave the camps.