COUNCIL leader Stephen McCabe has highlighted challenges facing public services as the number of asylum seekers locally increases and more people look set to settle permanently in the area.

Mr McCabe spoke at a council meeting as details emerged of a move by private firm Mears, contracted by the Home Office to provide asylum seeker accommodation, to snap up over 60 properties in the district from a private landlord.

They were contained within a report presented to the social work and social care scrutiny panel setting out the impact of various programmes and schemes around refugees, asylum seekers and those resettling locally.

Mears, who accommodate asylum seekers awaiting a decision from the Home Office on their cases, want to buy 61 properties from a local landlord.

The UK Government has been working to speed up decisions on asylum applications, meaning that those who have been housed until now in the likes of the Holiday Inn hotel and other accommodation need housing in Inverclyde within a very short space of time.

During a debate the panel, led by convenor Francesca Brennan, agreed that Inverclyde welcomes those fleeing trauma and conflict. They added that there was a need to look at the impact UK Government policies are having on services and local resources.

Councillor McCabe said: "Our local health and social care partnership staff and partners are doing a fantastic job under incredibly difficult circumstances. Those circumstances are getting more difficult and more difficult by the day.

"It is not unique to Inverclyde, and what we are seeing in Scotland here is probably what councils in the south east of England were dealing with for many years, particularly Kent.

"There are a complex range of programmes all running at the same time.

"We would be failing in our duty not to be highlighting these issues, and it is important we have these reports. I think it is important we make representations."

Mr McCabe said it was 'good that we are now seeing positive decisions on asylum seekers'.

But he added: "The timescale in positive decisions to supporting them into housing is difficult.

""It is important that we continue to support people coming here but to try also to manage the impact on the community.

"It is a very challenging situation but our staff and our local partners are doing the best they can to support our New Scots."

Council officials say Mears have agreed bed space of 32 people living in the community with a further five properties acquired, but they have now informed the local authority they plan to snap up a further 61 in the area.

They have indicated this is due to the number of empty properties available locally and the low cost of housing.

A recent decision to double up in hotel rooms at the Holiday Inn increased capacity for asylum seekers there to 134.

Councillor McCabe said resource concerns have been highlighted with the Home Office, and pointed out the housing emergencies declared in both Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The council leader praised the work of public sector staff staff and their counterparts from third sector partners such as Your Voice, who have helped care for asylum seekers and New Scots settling here permanently.

He added: "It is important we welcome and recognise the very, very challenging circumstances they have come here under, and not necessarily through choice, and it is important we support them."

Convenor Cllr Brennan said: "Our community response is and always should be very compassionate in supporting people.

"We recognise the richness of new people joining our community and that is not up for debate."