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ITEM NO.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & POLICY SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY 4 JANUARY 2006

REPORT FROM MALCOLM RUSSELL – STRATEGIC DIRECTOR

COMMUNITY COHESION UPDATE

PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

To inform Members of the progress made in relation to the corporate priority to strengthen Community Cohesion.

INFORMATION

Community Cohesion

1.Community cohesion lies at the heart of a safe community. It is delivered by creating strong community networks, based on the principle of trust and respect for local diversity, and nurturing a sense of belonging and confidence in local people. Delivering community cohesion also tackles the divisions in society which may lead to conflict. A cohesive community is one where participation is taking place within and across communities, knitting them together into a wider whole.

2.The principles of community cohesion underpin the achievement of the Vision for Wrexham that is contained within the Community Strategy:

‘To improve the quality of life for all in Wrexham County Borough.’

3.It is recognised that promoting community cohesion is a significant activity for all Community Strategy partners and that much excellent work is already underway. Indeed work to include disadvantaged and marginalised groups in mainstream activities has been a primary focus for partners for many years. More recently the Council has identified Community Cohesion as one of the top four corporate priorities. It will be used as a measure of how well different communities develop and relate to each other. These communities may define themselves by neighbourhood, ethnicity or culture, age group, faith and other characteristics or interests. Community Cohesion is concerned with majority and minority communities, and the relationships within and between them.A cohesive community has been defined as one where:

  • There is a common vision and a sense of belonging for all communities;
  • The diversity of people’s different backgrounds and circumstances is appreciated and positively valued;
  • Those from different backgrounds have similar life opportunities;
  • Strong and positive relationships are being developed between people from different backgrounds and circumstances in the workplace, in schools and within neighbourhoods

[Local Government Association - 2004].

  1. There are well established ethnic minority communities in Wrexham with established support mechanisms including the Filippino and Muslim communities. However Wrexham faces particular challenges because of the recent changes to its population. The demographic composition of the County Borough has changed significantly over the last two years with growing numbers of migrant people coming here to live and work. These include economic migrants, asylum seekers and people with approved refugee status. There has also been a substantial Gypsy and Irish Traveller community in Wrexham for many years. In the last two years the largest groups have been economic migrants from Portugal and more recently from the EU Accession States, particularly Poland. These changes have enriched the local community but have also created pressures for local services and highlighted some of the difficulties faced by minority communities.
  1. The Council has sought to respond positively to those challenges over the past two years. The work has strong links to other Council initiatives in combating poverty and promoting equality. The legislative base covering much of the community cohesion and equalities agenda is the Race Relations Act 2000 which gives us specific duties to:-
  • Remove the barriers that make it difficult for some minority groups to be included and to participate in activities the majority community takes for granted [Eliminate unlawful discrimination under the RRA 2000] and
  • Promote a common sense of belonging and purpose across and between all communities in Wrexham. [Promote good relations between people from different racial groups under the RRA 2000]

BACKGROUND

6.A range of initiatives have already been taken forward through a number of reports. These are outlined below with further details available in the Members library.

Caia Park reports

  1. Following the civil disturbances of June 2003 the Council co-ordinated a wide range of partnership activity to address the pressing issues it had highlighted. A number of detailed reports were produced, culminating in eight recommendations which have been taken forward [AMR/04/04]. Information on their implementation is detailed in the Executive Board report [AMR/12/05] and in section 3 of this report.

Economic Migrants reports

  1. Concerns in relation to economic migrants were raised in January 2005 [AMR/01/05] and in February [AMR/04/05]. As a result a Council-led joint Member / Officer Task and Finish Group was established to identify the issues. A cross cutting action plan was drawn up [AMR/13/05] and this is now nearing completion. A separate progress report has been drawn up and is included elsewhere on today’s agenda.
  1. The Executive Board report [AMR/23/05] “Migrant Worker Services” informed Members of the service pressures placed on the Wrexham Citizen’s Advice Bureau and the Caia Park Partnership in relation to their support for migrant workers. Members approved additional funding in the current financial year to enable both organisations to provide services to migrant workers. It was recognised that this work supports the implementation of the joint Member / Officer Task Group on Migrant Workers – Action Plan and strengthens the Council’s ability to discharge its duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 to promote good race relations and foster community cohesion.

Commission for Racial Equality [CRE] Gypsy and Traveller Scrutiny Project

  1. Wrexham was one of 9 authorities selected for an inspection of its services for Gypsies and Irish Travellers in January 2005. Following the inspection, CRE gave informal feedback on a number of development issues, but their full conclusions and recommendations must await publication of the national report.

Fair Share Trust

  1. In 2002 the New Opportunities Fund identified that some areas of the United Kingdom had received proportionately less grant funding than others. Wrexham is one. To address this funding has been allocated equally to these Fair Share areas. The Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham [AVOW] are the lead body for accessing this funding. The agreed priorities for funding are:
  • Economic migrants
  • Gypsy and Irish Traveller people
  • Asylum Seekers and Refugees

12.There are clear links between the Fair Share priorities and the range of council activities promoting social cohesion. It is anticipated that Fair Share projects will complement and add value to these initiatives. Local organisations have been invited to apply to Sefyddliad for this funding and decisions are expected early in the New Year.

PROGRESS IN ACHIEVING THE COMMUNITY COHESION CORPORATE PRIORITY

General

13.An elected Member now takes lead responsibility for Community Cohesion. Another elected Member was confirmed as the lead on asylum/refugees issues and represents the Council at meetings of the All Wales Consortium Executive.

  1. A Community Cohesion Co-ordinator has been appointed and took up her post in June of this year. Key activities for the post in the current financial year are:
  • Communication – within and between majority and minority communities
  • Information - for and about minority communities

Existing groups

  1. In order to respond to the challenges brought about by an increasingly diverse population, the Council and the Community Safety Partnership established a number of groups to co-ordinate thinking and activity. Some of these groups have been in existence for several years. They are invaluable in identifying their communities’ needs and making representation on their behalf. In general service areas they are making the necessary changes to service delivery to accommodate these identified needs. However, there has been no one group which co-ordinates activity at strategic level, including:-

-the promotion of community cohesion

-communication issues, including interpretation/translation services

-information

-consultation

-identifying service needs and mainstreaming service provision

-combating prejudice and facilitating an increase in the reporting of hate crime

16.A Community Cohesion Co-ordination Group has been established as a sub-group of the Community Safety Partnership to facilitate progress in these areas and to tackle common issues (see Appendix 1). The Group will co-ordinate and extend existing activity carried out by the partner agencies. It will also play a key role in monitoring the progress in implementing agreed action plans. The terms of reference for the group are set out in Appendix 1.

‘One Wrexham’ charter

17.In 2006, the Council and its key partners will be invited to adopt a “One Wrexham” Charter. This will provide the overall vision for cohesion and reaffirm themes of the Wrexham Community Strategy. The Charter draws together equality, social inclusion and community cohesion issues under the banner of “One Wrexham”. It will be the overarching theme for cohesion work. It will also underpin the planned anti race hate campaign which will address community safety issues and raise the profile of hate crime, particularly racially motivated incidents.

  1. The Charter is a simple certificate setting out a statement of values and commitment. [Appendix 2]. Interested parties can simply “sign up” to the Charter provided they meet simple criteria.
  1. The implementation of the Charter will assist the Council in achieving its legal duties under the Race Relations Amendment Act. It will provide an opportunity for local schools, colleges, businesses, support organisations, voluntary and community groups, residents associations, play groups, churches and faith groups to join public bodies and agencies to make a positive statement against the unfair treatment of anyone whilst acknowledging their role in making Wrexham a welcoming and safe place for everyone.
  1. “One Wrexham” will be the basis for building a shared sense of belonging in Wrexham. Three priority areas for action have been identified:-
  • Communication
  • Target Groups – Asylum seekers and refugees, economic migrants and Gypsy and Irish Traveller people. Other groups will be targeted as the cohesion work moves forward.
  • Strategic Action Planning

Within each priority there are a range of initiatives and actions that are being taken forward.

COMMUNICATION

Croeso

  1. The Commission for Racial Equality [CRE] launched its Croeso initiative in November 2005. This is a touring exhibition based on the life of Paul Robeson. It aims to promote diversity, active integration and a welcoming atmosphere in all communities, workplaces and institutions. The exhibition will be in Wrexham Memorial Hall for 2 weeks from 28 February 2006 and groups of school children aged between 7 and 11 will be invited to attend. A range of complementary activities for school children, the general public and professionals are being organised to support this initiative and to promote cohesion within the County Borough.

Anti race hate campaign

  1. There is much anecdotal information that race hate crime in Wrexham is under-reported. National data corroborates this picture. The Community Safety Partnership are developing a range of initiatives to raise awareness of race hate as an issue and to increase rates of reporting:
  • Monitoring form with appropriate training for staff
  • Self reporting form in all community languages
  • Co-ordinated support for victims
  • Victim support packs translated into all community languages
  • Anti-racism campaign (including posters)

It is acknowledged that there are many forms of hate crime and therefore the processes and procedures being developed can be extended to include all other forms of hate crime.

Tapestry of Life

  1. Since 1999 the Education Department has organised a biennial event for schools to celebrate religious, linguistic and cultural diversity. A range of events and workshops are offered during the week-long festival, including:
  • Interactive Judaism workshops
  • Buddhism workshops and Buddhist meditation
  • Puppet theatre workshops
  • Poetry workshops
  • Cultural food demonstrations

The festival gives primary and secondary age pupils and teachers an opportunity to experience and explore different cultures and traditions. In July 2005, 51 schools [4,950 pupils] were involved. The Tapestry is a key activity in the schools calendar and makes a significant contribution to promoting good relations between people from different racial groups.

Public information

  1. Public information programmes provide accessible information to the whole population or to identified groups within it. The information may be in response to an expressed need or as a means of raising public awareness. In relation to our new communities there is a need to:
  • respond to expressed need from organisations and agencies working with these communities
  • respond to particular concerns raised by the public
  • provide information specifically for new communities
  • provide awareness raising information in relation to BME issues
  • Acknowledge that some groups within the community may require specific information e.g. Community Councillors.
  1. In relation to cohesion the Council is producing:
  • Asylum seeker and refugee ‘myth buster’ leaflet
  • Economic Migrant ‘myth buster’ leaflet
  • ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ booklet for Economic Migrants
  • ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ booklet for Refugees
Issues

25.Access to interpreting and translation services has been highlighted recently as a significant issue in taking forward the Corporate Equalities Plan. There are also clear links to the work on cohesion work particularly in relation to ensuring inclusion for minority communities. This work will be co-ordinated and linked to the work of the Customer Access Manager in order to develop the Councils future approach to providing accessible services.

TARGET GROUPS

Asylum seekers and refugees

  1. The Executive Board agreed to re-join the All Wales Local Authority Consortium for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in December 2004 [AMR/16/04]. The Lead Member and the Strategic Director – Corporate Governance attend meetings of the Consortium Executive to ensure appropriate support and involvement in the dispersal process at a national and local level. In addition Wrexham is contributing to a Refugee Inclusion policy currently being developed by the Welsh Assembly Government.
  1. In May this year, the Executive Board [AMR/14/05] agreed to the provision of financial support to Wrexham Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support Group [WRASSG] and the Welsh Refugee Council [WRC]. Three year funding has allowed for significant strengthening of the capacity of both organisations who are now co-located in Trinity House.
  1. There are currently in the region of 60 asylum seekers in Wrexham awaiting a decision from the Home Office and a further 52 failed asylum seekers, of whom approximately 20 are in NASS accommodation awaiting return to their home country. There are a further 40 people with confirmed refugee status and 45 with ‘leave to remain’ living in the Wrexham area. It is believed that there are a number of destitute failed asylum seekers living in the Wrexham area who are not registered with any statutory agency. Work to support these people is co-ordinated through the Asylum Seeker and Refugee Interagency Group which considers a range of practical and strategic issues.
  1. Asylum seeker and refugee issues will be included in the wider cohesion activities:
  • Inclusion in the One Wrexham campaign
  • Lunchtime seminar during Croeso initiative
  • Consultation and inclusion in the anti race hate campaign

Issues

  1. There are a number of issues in relation to asylum:
  • The post March 2005 accommodation contracts for asylum seekers are being negotiated by the Home Office [National Asylum Support Service department - NASS]. It is not known at this stage which potential providers will have contracts in Wrexham. The Asylum Seeker and Refugee Strategic Liaison Group will continue to work with local accommodation providers to ensure the best outcomes for asylum seekers.
  • When an individual’s claim for asylum has been unsuccessful, accommodation and support from NASS is withdrawn. The applicant, if eligible, can then apply to NASS for support under Section 4 of the National Asylum and Immigration Act 2004 while they await repatriation [accommodation and subsistence only]. To receive Section 4 support applicants must demonstrate that they are destitute and taking reasonable steps to leave the UK, or can demonstrate good reasons why they are unable to leave the UK at this time. Where an unsuccessful asylum applicant does not wish to leave the UK they cannot receive Section 4 support and will often abscond and therefore become destitute. A growing number of failed asylum applicants are known to be in Wrexham although none are registered with the statutory agencies.
  • The Home Office have begun a pilot scheme in selected areas in relation to Section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 2004. Section 9 aims to encourage families who have reached the end of the asylum application process and been unsuccessful, to apply to return voluntarily to their home country. It enables the Home Office to withdraw asylum support, living expenses and accommodation from families with dependent children where they do not, without a reasonable excuse, make arrangements to leave the UK voluntarily. In effect a family who does not wish to leave the UK is made destitute. Where this happens local authority Social Services Departments may be forced to take steps under the Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 – children may be taken into care. At national level, a range of organisations have expressed major concerns about the implementation of Section 9.

Economic migrants

  1. In addition to the implementation of the Economic Migrant action plan there are a number of complementary activities being taken forward. Assistance has been provided to Wrexham CAB and Caia Park Partnership as described in paragraph 9 above - Executive Board report [AMR/23/05]
  1. The Economic Development Department held two seminars in relation to economic migrant issues during Business Week. These were well attended by the business community and have identified local best practice which may be shared through the department’s business publications.
  1. The Welsh Assembly Government has established an economic migrant working group to consider the issues and make recommendations to Ministers. Wrexham is represented on the group and provided much background information.
  1. A myth buster leaflet has been developed. This will provide accurate information and answer some of the concerns raised by the public. It is currently being translated prior to printing. A Welcome to Wrexham information booklet is being produced as part of the public information programme. This will provide information for economic migrants about living in the UK and particularly about living in Wrexham. This will be launched during the Croeso fortnight. Work with the business community is on-going to identify gaps in information and to support economic migrants through support for local businesses.

Economic migrant issues will be included in the wider cohesion activities: