Enhancing Equality: Local Government Challenges and Solutions

1. The way forward: using effective diversity and equality practice to meet our challenges Michael Keating National Advisor Equalities and Cohesion 020 7296 6731 michael.keating@local.gov.uk Developing a multi-agency equality action plan in Cornwall 30th March 2011 www.local.gov.uk/improvementanddevelopment

2. The national picture • Tackling the deficit v long-term economic success • Big Society and devolution to communities and citizens • 60% of voluntary and community sector groups concerned with equality issues • Demographic changes • Ageing society • More women working • Growing diversity

3. The challenge to local government • Big reductions in resources • Move away from central to self-regulation • Localism: transparency = rationale for decisions + accountability • If local people say they want something why aren’t you providing it? • No red tape!

4. The public sector Equality Duty • Covering the ‘protected characteristics’ of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation • A general duty which requires public bodies to have due regard to the need to: • Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation • Advance equality of opportunity between different groups • Foster good relations between different groups • Role as employers, policymakers, service providers, commissioners and procurers

5. Supported by specific duties • Publish information to demonstrate compliance • Have “due regard” • Understand the effect of policies and practices • Look at evidence, engage with people, staff, service users and others and consider the effect on the whole community • Guidance, not regulation • Prepare and publish one or more objectives • Taking account of the size and role of the public authority and its current equality performance

6. Local government’s business case Strong cohesive places = Understanding communities + Tackling inequality The Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG) is a toolfor local government to self-regulateits own performance

8. Strengths of the model • Designed to help deliver outcomes • Peer support and challenge • Relevant to current policy and service context • Benchmark across public sector

9. ….but?

10. A new business case – what we need to do • Capacity and skills of practitioners to negotiate and influence when there is less central guidance and direction • More open problem-solving by practitioners, senior officers and councillors • Building more effective relationships within and between organisations • Find the right language - reflecting different political views, resonating with local priorities and making sense to all kinds of communities

12. Further information on the LG Improvement and Development’s equality work is available from: www.idea.gov.uk/diversity The Equality Frameworks are available from: www.local.gov.uk/equalityframeworks Network and share good practice with local government and partner colleagues on our Equality CoP: www.communities.idea.gov.uk