Dorset Council anticipates potential surplus from asylum seeker barge contract

The local authority responsible for accommodating a contentious barge for asylum seekers has indicated a potential “slight profit” upon the conclusion of its agreement. Nick Ireland, who leads Dorset Council, stated that the council obtained funding from the Home Office for the Bibby Stockholm, which is anchored near Portland. According to BBC information, approximately 300 occupants have been relocated from the vessel, with around 100 remaining aboard. Mr. Ireland announced that the barge is expected to be vacant by the close of November, and should any excess funds remain, “we’ll be trying to keep it, of course”. He further stated: “I believe the Home Office are already making noises about trying to reclaim some of the money.” He added, “The current contract for the Bibby, which obviously isn’t being renewed now, ends in January and I can assure you we’ll be trying to keep hold of any money that the Home Office wants to take back from us.” Mr. Ireland verified that no asylum seekers who have departed the barge or are in the process of doing so will be resettled within Dorset county. Advocates assisting the individuals report observing their relocation to various locations, such as Cardiff, Wolverhampton, Bristol, and Worksop. The Bibby Stockholm initially arrived in Portland in July 2023 and served as accommodation for male asylum seekers awaiting determination on their eligibility to remain in the UK. The vessel has been a source of contention since its arrival in the region, with certain Portland residents asserting a lack of consultation. “We never agreed to the Bibby Stockholm, we didn’t want it there, it was the wrong solution to the issue we faced in terms of asylum seekers,” stated Mr. Ireland. Previously, a Home Office spokesperson issued a statement, saying: “This government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain, with thousands stuck in a backlog without their claims processed.“We have taken immediate action to restart asylum processing which will save an estimated £7 billion for the tax payer over the next ten years, and are delivering a major uplift in returns to remove people with no right to be in the UK. Over the long term this will reduce our reliance on hotels and costs of accommodation.“We remain absolutely committed to ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers.” Readers can connect with BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.