Councillors are set to debate a “border emergency” motion only weeks after a similar issue led to chaos in the council chamber.
The latest motion comes after a debate at Swale council was derailed by anti-immigration activists, resulting in damage to the headquarters.
Police were called to Swale council’s offices in East Street in Sittingbourne after vandalism and “horrendous” scenes during a meeting about asylum seekers in December
Reform UK members Cllr Kieran Mishchuk and Cllr Richard Palmer have lodged a proposal entitled “Border emergency” to be debated at the full council meeting this Wednesday (January 28).
In the motion they say that national government decisions on immigration affect Swale through “increased demand for accommodation, pressure on housing supply, rising use of temporary accommodation, and strain on council-funded services”.
They are calling for the council to recognise that “both legal and illegal migration pressures are contributing to housing and service challenges within Swale, including impacts on housing availability, temporary accommodation usage, homelessness services, private sector housing regulation, and community cohesion”.
Cllr Richard Palmer (Ref), who has proposed the motion
They also ask the council’s leader, Cllr Tim Gibson (Lab), to write to the Prime Minister and other relevant ministers, and “call for clear national leadership and accountability in addressing the local consequences of migration-related pressures” and ask for legislative support in easing the pressure on local services caused by immigration.
“Residents are being asked to accept ever larger housing developments and garden village proposals, while the UK birth rate is falling,” said Cllr Palmer.
“The numbers simply do not add up without mass immigration playing a major role.
Cllr Kieran Mishchukm, the Reform UK councillor seconding the motion
“Local councils are left dealing with the consequences, but without any say over the policies causing them.”
The latest move comes after Swale has been at the centre of growing public tension over immigration in Kent.
On December 10, a council meeting was thrown into chaos during a motion calling for the area to be declared a “district of sanctuary.”
Swale council’s offices were left in disrepair in December after an immigration-related debate
The City of Sanctuary scheme is a national project for local authorities who declare themselves to be “welcoming places” for those who come to Britain seeking asylum.
The motion, proposed by Cllr Hannah Perkin (Lib Dem) and Cllr Alastair Gould (Green), attracted opposition.
Following days of mobilisation by anti-immigration activists Harry Hilden and Jodie ‘Missuskent’ Scott, who urged residents to attend the meeting, some people in the public gallery repeatedly disrupted the debate by chanting “we say no”, bringing a halt to proceedings.
Water damage caused part of the ceiling of the ground floor of Swale council’s offices in Sittingbourne
Abuse included Cllr Ben Martin (Lib Dem) being called a “f*****”, an egg being thrown at Cllr Alastair Gould, and people also spitting towards nearby councillors.
It was later discovered that taps in one of the public bathrooms had been left running with sinks blocked, leading to significant flooding damage and causing part of the ceiling to collapse.
A lift was also left out of order, and the council building was unable to open the next day.
Faversham-based Harry Hilden, who has led anti-immigration protests in Faversham
In subsequent days, two teenagers were arrested and later bailed.
The events followed months of heightened protests against immigration and asylum in Kent, including one in Faversham when hundreds of protesters and counter-demonstrators descended on the market town.