Council leader Peter Henderson has called for South Ayrshire to be allowed to home asylum seekers from the Aegean Islands.
The council’s chief executive Eileen Howat is to write to the UK Government’s Home Office to ask that local authorities get permission to accept the refugees.
The camps on the Greek islands are reportedly overcrowded with about 42,000 refugees living in terrible conditions.
Councillor Henderson put forward a motion on the matter at a full council meeting yesterday, which was unanimously approved.
The SNP politician said: “This is basic humanitarianism.
“We can’t solve the world’s problems we know that. But South Ayrshire along with other councils could play a part. We have a moral duty to do what we can.
"The Syrian refugees who have settled here already are a success story."
The Girvan and South Carrick councillor added: “These are men, women and children. They just want somewhere safe and clean - where their kids can go to school and get an education. The are trained and skilled and can help us build industries.”
The motion asked the “UK Government and UNHCR (the UN refugee agency) to support the decongestion of the Aegean Island camps and allow UK councils to take inhabitants of these camps as an immediate emergency measure under the new UK Resettlement Scheme."
Tory councillor Hugh Hunter called for more practical details on on the bid to house families.
The Prestwick politician said he’d heard at the council meeting two or three families would be resettled.
He said: “I certainly think they should speak to our communities to identify how many families they can accommodate.
“I am sure it will be more than two or three as the people of South Ayrshire are welcoming and compassionate.”
European cities have pledged to help resettle hundreds of refugees from the Greek Island camps and a campaign is calling on councils across the continent to help.
The motion was seconded by Labour councillor Brian McGinley.
The meeting was held in private online as there are restrictions on the press and public attending due to Covid-19.
