Ashford could become home to up to 250 desperate Syrian refugees after plans were approved at a cabinet meeting tonight.

Following the unanimous vote, the borough will now fly in about 50 refugees a year from camps in and around Syria and provide them with accommodation in private rented houses.

The first are expected to move in before Christmas.

Addressing the meeting of cabinet members at the Civic Centre tonight, Cllr Clarkson said: “I have been talking to government and other agencies about the serious humanitarian situation in Syria that concerns us all as a caring society.

"We are addressing specific refugees from Syria who are from a nation which has been bombed to pieces" - Cllr Clarkson

“There have been concerns about how this is going to be funded. But I’ve received a letter from the government minister explaining it will be paid for with money from the overseas aid budget with additional funding to be provided for the full five years of the programme.”

Councillor Neil Bell asked Mr Clarkson if there would be any impact on those already waiting on the council’s housing register.

But Mr Clarkson confirmed no council property would be being used and refugees would be housed in private rented accommodation.

He also said it would not affect the armed forces covenant policy to house veterans in the borough.

He added: “The refugees are coming from a pretty war torn area. I understand lots of people will be concerned by the vast numbers of migrants coming to this country.

“But that is not what we are addressing here. We are addressing specific refugees from Syria who are from a nation which has been bombed to pieces.

“We want to get children and families out here to Ashford. It’s the most vulnerable people in the most horrendous conditions that will come.”

Councillors also asked about whether 50 was too high, and where refugees could be housed. Mr Clarkson said the council could review the policy to reduce or increase the numbers, depending on how well the scheme works.

He said he would like to avoid creating one ghetto of refugees, and preferred them to be spread around the borough to integrate into their new lives.

Families of about four to seven people will be processed and assessed by central government and flown to the UK with an automatic right to work and eligibility for housing and other benefits.

They will be met by council representatives at the airport, given housing from private landlords, and included in resettlement and integration programmes.

After being in the country for five years, families will be able to decide whether the situation in Syria is safe enough for them to return or they will be able to apply to settle in the UK.

ABC leader Cllr Clarkson said: “Since the crisis was highlighted by the worldwide media, I have personally received a number of approaches from residents asking what Ashford is going to do to help.

The move is part of the government’s vow to take in 20,000 refugees across the country, which Prime Minister David Cameron described as our ‘moral responsibility’.

Local authorities have been asked to voluntarily help house this intake of refugees but central government has promised to fund it.

Cabinet members were asked to support the government’s Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme by granting refugees five years’ humanitarian protection.

The initiative works closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to identify people who are deemed in need of resettlement and are then provided with refuge in the UK.

As part of the recommendations, the report states that all families will be accommodated in private lets, not council houses, to ensure the decision doesn’t impact on those already waiting for housing in the borough.

It states: “It appreciates that while the vast majority of residents will be pleased to learn that the council is determined to play a strong part in this country’s response to the international situation, local needs housing availability may be a concern to others and their concerns will be closely monitored.”

Cllr Clarkson said he personally felt very strongly about the situation and felt a moral obligation to help.

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