Transcript Good Relations and the Role of Local Authorities

Fostering Good
Relations
The Role of
Local Authorities
Nick Croft
Corporate Policy and Strategy
Manager
Local Authority Role
o Making space to develop relationships and build
interdependent futures
o No ambivalence to violence
o Tackle cultures that diminish hope and offer
reconciliation
o Commit leaders to leadership and change
o Respect and give voice to the poorly paid and
excluded
o No one single model…..
Local Authority Resources
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Schools (curriculum / parents / community access)
Community Learning and Development (including capacity building
/ community centres / youth work)
Elected Members and Committees
Community Planning (strategic and local)
Procurement, Third Sector Funding and Commissioning
Human Resources
Community Safety and Public Protection
Offender Management Programmes
Buildings and Public Places
Civic and Community Events
Websites and Social Media
In a nut shell….
“local authorities must, at every
possible opportunity, challenge the
notion that it is only my group and my
place that counts above all else”
Belfast City Council – Based on Sondi’s notion of ‘ethnic essentialism’ 2004
Activity is all well and good,
but how do you know if you are
having an impact?
Answer = Outcomes and Indicators
Egan
Review
2004
Belfast
City Council
2007
EHRC Good Relations
Measurement
Framework 2010
Measuring
Good
Relations
EU ‘Community
and Ethnic
Relations’ 1995
Crisis English
Local
Authorities 2012
Scottish Attitudes
to Discrimination
Survey 2010
Scottish Local
Authorities 2012
Key Outcome and Indicator Domains
Wigfield and Turner – EHRC – GRMF 2010
o Attitudes (respect / valuing diversity / trust / admitted
prejudice)
o Personal Security (personal safety / hate crime /
violent crime / self respect / identity)
o Interaction (isolation / neighbour support / ability and
experience of interaction)
o Participation and Influence (organised activities /
determinants / opportunities / choice)
Outcomes – Enhancing the Positive?
o Developing inclusive and cohesive societies based on
respect, tolerance, equality and dialogue
o Promoting neighbourhoods as places where people get
on together or feel they belong
o Increasing participation by groups who experience social
isolation and inequality
o Developing places where disadvantaged groups or
people benefit from improved education, health or wealth
Outcomes – Addressing the Negative?
o Discrimination, harassment, prejudice and intolerance is
tackled or eliminated
o Community tensions and discord are monitored and
addressed including hate crime / public disorder / intra
community violence / violent extremism
o Supporting ‘victims’ and tackling perpetrators of poor
community relations including restorative justice / case
management / criminal justice / offender management
Sustainable Community Indicators
Egan – UKG - 2004
o Ward Rankings - comparisons to most deprived 10% /
15% / 25%
o Population Satisfaction- local schools + parks + GP +
housing + community centres
o Crime - ASB + burglaries + personal safety
o Environment - energy + water + biodiversity + waste +
noise + air
o Health - life expectancy + teenage pregnancy + health
service access + drugs and alcohol + mental health
o Economy - employment + local businesses + earnings
o Transport – buses + roads + cars + bikes + rail
Good Community Relations Indicators
o % Residents who think people get on together
o % Residents who think they belong
o % Residents who feel they participate / are involved in
their area / have influence
o Reporting and dealing with hate crime
o Attitudes to prejudice + equality
o Perceptions of different societal groups
o Comfort with diversity ( area + relationships + workplace +
professions)
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Attitudes to immigration
Attitudes to public service equality work
Segregation in housing and education by social group
Qualitative life experiences of groups who share
protected characteristics
o Perceptions of fairness and respect in work / health /
neighbourhood / education
o Legal justice – access to representation / stop and
search / criminal justice proceedings and disposals /
relationships with the police / asylum and refuge
“The sort of world we live in, depends
upon what we choose to measure”
Mark Twain