A ROW erupted at a council meeting in Malvern over proposals to home Syrian refugees in the town.

Green Party councillor Julian Roskams and Conservative councillor Phillip Grove clashed on the controversial issue during a brief, and at times heated, exchange.

The former urgently wants the council to bid for a government grant from the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme – and to offer a helping hand to some of the most in-need refugees.

But the latter believes the council can only proceed if more details are released about the programme’s funding, a stance shared by Worcestershire County Council which is leading on a county-wide approach to Syrian refugees.

Cllr Roskams spoke in favour of an immediate funding bid during the Malvern Hills District Council meeting on Tuesday (December 1).

He said: “Will the leader explain why 55 other councils have applied but we have not – are you looking for solutions or for excuses?”

Cllr Grove, leader of Malvern Hills District Council, replied that the council would only apply if the scheme was fully funded and said the Autumn Statement “left us with many unanswered questions”.

A lack of firm details about funding for years two to five of the scheme were posed as a particular concern by the Conservative.

This didn’t appease Cllr Roskams, who accused Cllr Grove of finding the debate amusing.

He then claimed a Home Office letter from Richard Harrington MP, which was sent to all councils, provided sufficient reassurances about funding.

But Cllr Grove did not budge and reiterated “we can only proceed with a bid if it is fully funded – we do need the detail”.

Several members of the Malvern Welcomes Syrian Refugees campaign attended the meeting and left the room following the discussion between Cllr Roskams and Cllr Grove.

Comments including “charity starts at home” and “are you not staying?” were made by councillors as the campaigners walked out.

A meeting is due to be held in January to plan the next steps with a county-wide application to the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme, which will allow those eligible to live in the UK for five years with full access to public services and benefits.

Ruth Forecast, of the Malvern Welcomes Syrian Refugees group, expressed her disappointment after the meeting.

She said: “We won’t be giving up.

“We will continue with our campaigning, which we started 12 months ago.

“We want this to happen sooner rather than later.”