Agenda item

The Chair introduced Peter Fenn and Penny Hobman, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, who gave members an overview of the integrated communities strategy which had been published prior to the meeting.

The Integrated Communities Strategy builds on the Casey Review and sets out the Government’s thinking on the main drivers of integration and how to tackle the causes of poor integration. The strategy sets out a national framework of priorities as well as a localised approach to implementing them. The Government was keen to work with local authorities to try new, innovative approaches to integration, building on existing assets and work already being carried out alongside the voluntary sector. The strategy focused on the following eight themes:

1.    Strengthening leadership

2.    Supporting new migrants and the communities into which they arrive

3.    Education and young people

4.    English language skills

5.    Places and communities

6.    Economic opportunities

7.    Rights and freedoms

8.    What works and how it is measured

Members were advised that the consultation had been opened and would run until 5 June.

The following comments were made:

·         It would be useful to compare and contrast this with both the Syrian Resettlement Scheme, which was successful and led by local authorities, and the Asylum Seeker Dispersal Programme, which was enforced on local authorities and failed in terms of community cohesion.

·         Some of the building blocks of community integration - such as youth centres, children’s centres, libraries, community centres – have been closed as a result of basic cuts to funding. Councils want to be innovative but grants and funding have been cut. Peter and Penny from MHCLG acknowledged the funding pressures authorities were under but noted that the Government wanted authorities to think about how to use existing money effectively in delivering integration within other services like health and social care.

·         Members voiced some concern about area-based programmes, noting that a regional approach might not work in delivering local integration. Peter noted that the team would be co-designing strategies with five local authorities and would keep this in mind.

·         Members wanted to see information about the strategy being published in Councillors’ News magazine. Peter and Penny agreed, noting that they were keen to get the message out through a variety of means.

·         The impact of home schooling was discussed and members were keen to see a register of home schooled children, as well as greater transparency and guidance on the requirements parents taking this decision needed to meet. The Chair noted that he had discussed home schooling at his ministerial meeting the previous week.

·         Members mentioned that need for additional training around unconscious bias and the impact it had on the employment of particular groups.

Decision

Members noted the presentation.