Build on economic benefits of migration, report urges

Councils are underestimating the positive impact migrants have on their local economies, according to the Institute of Public Policy Research.

The thinktank's research fellow Laura Chappell urged councils to "take a step back" when devising migration strategies.

The Your Place or Minereport, due to be published next month, will argue migrants fill skills gaps and bring entrepreneurial expertise, helping to boost growth and employment. It follows numerous complaints led by councils including Slough BC and London boroughs that their funding has failed to keep pace with the burden increasing migration places on public services.

Ms Chappell said: "Different people bring new ways of working and thinking and there's evidence to show that a more diverse team can be more creative and innovative."

The report will urge local and central government to do more to attract and retain migrant workers and develop local strategies to maximise benefits to local businesses, for example by developing work experience schemes for foreign students.

Meanwhile, the Local Government Association said services were still under pressure despite a sharp fall in the number of people applying for work permits from Eastern Europe.

The latest Home Office statistics showed applications to the worker registration scheme from the eight accession countries are at their lowest level since they joined the EU in 2004.