A strategic review: impact of inward migration from the EU accession states in North Yorkshire

Aims

The report is a North Yorkshire Strategic Partnership [NYSP] strategic review of work to address the challenges from inward migration and community cohesion.

Methodology

The NYSP Equality Task Group consulted with a range of public and voluntary sector organisations, employers and migrant workers from Poland.

Key issues

The report outlines the strategic approach, describes partnership arrangements, and discusses migration to North Yorkshire since EU expansion in 2004. The report provides available statistics and discusses shortcomings, especially that figures may be higher than suggested by the Worker Registration Scheme data. Findings are presented from a rapid appraisal of inward migration issues in the areas of community safety, education and training, employment, housing and accommodation, health, access to information and advice and community cohesion. Some data is provided on estimated costs and effects for public services working with migrants and problems faced by migrants. Actions already undertaken include developing a Welcome Pack and tension monitoring.

Conclusions

Numbers of new migrants may decline which could lead to labour shortages.

Recommendations

The review was open to consultation and an action plan has since been written to implement the plan.