Colchester can expect to have to house around 20 asylum-seekers a month under new government regulations.

Members of Colchester Council's new housing, community safety and health policy panel were given the approximate figures last night after commenting on the lack of information given to them on asylum-seekers.

The panel was told it would have to take its share after a consortium was set up to disperse asylum-seekers away from London and Kent around the country.

But the panel was concerned about the possible effects of having to house asylum-seekers ahead of those on the council's own waiting list.

Frank Wilkin (Lab, Shrub End) said: "We have got to use both our heart and our head because of the figures. If we put them on our own housing programme, how do you explain to someone who has been on the waiting list for two years how someone has got a place in front of them."

Sonia Lewis (Cons, Lexden) supported this view. She mentioned a recent case in her ward concerning someone who was to succeed to a tenancy and said: "How am I going to explain to someone that has lived in the same house all their lives asylum-seekers are going to have it?"

Council insists it is not a 'soft touch'

Colchester will agree to have a quota of asylum-seekers - but only if everyone else does.

Government policy has recently been changed to try to move asylum seekers away from London and Kent which have borne most of the burden so far.

Members of Colchester Council's new housing, community safety and health policy panel agreed last night a list of recommendations for the new cabinet accepting the Government quota system based on the principle that all local authorities agree to participate.

Tim Young (Lab, St Andrew's) said: "There are other authorities like Colchester Council which have a tradition of caring but we don't want to be seen as a soft touch and that is why we have got to use our heart and our head."

Under the new legislation, regional consortiums have been set up, including one for the eastern region based in Colchester, with the task of organising how asylum-seekers will be dispersed more evenly across the country.

Asylum-seekers can be housed not only by the council but by private landlords and hotel-owners.

To ensure the council knows how many asylum-seekers are in the borough, and to be sure the landlords are reputable, the panel has recommend it be given the full addresses of landlords which deal directly with the consortium.

Members were also concerned about the cost of housing asylum-seekers and in particular the cost to social services, health and education authorities which currently aren't due to be reimbursed for the services they are expected to provide.

Mike Hogg (Lib Dem, St Anne's) felt this could hinder the service provided to ordinary people.

Mr Hogg said: "We could find ourselves unable to deliver the service we are required to deliver because of this."

The panel therefore recommended these agencies should be reimbursed.

In addition, the panel recommended Robin Rennie, the new head of the eastern consortium, should come to a meeting of the panel to hear its concerns and a representative of the council should either be on the consortium or whichever body is set up for the council to have a voice.

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