Agenda item

The Chair introduced Neil O’Connor, Director of the Cross-Departmental Review, DCLG. The Director outlined that the review will be looking at opportunity and integration in isolated communities. The review will be looking at some key issues including:

·         How government can ensure people learn English

·         Boosting employment

·         Segregation in schools

·         Housing

·         Learning from past approaches.

The review will comprise a paper review looking at past research and policies, visits to local areas, and include a call for evidence and submissions. The review will report in early 2016 and inform the new cohesive communities programme. The review was considering the role of local government and wanted to hear from councils on what works and what they would like to see in any strategy.

The Chair thanked the Director for his presentation and invited members to give their views. Members made a number of comments:

·         Support and resources would need to be made available to areas.

·         Concerns that the Community Extremism Trigger could lead to vexatious complaints and that the demands it places on local authorities could become burdensome.

·         The need for co-operation with the police on the Prevent duty but there were also concerns around the flow of information from the police to councils, and the role of police and crime commissioners.

·         The vulnerability of individuals and communities and links for example to mental health services needed to be explored.

·         Applying the lessons learned in Baroness Young’s recent review on improving outcomes for BAME offenders to this area of work.

·         The role of schools and the interaction between local authorities and academies and free schools.

·         Equipping councillors and officers with the necessary skills to deal with this issue.

·         The role of faith groups, the voluntary sector and arts and culture in improving integration and community cohesion.

·         The Welsh experience needed to be considered both around language of the community and the use of community cohesion coordinators.

Action:

Officers to progress as appropriate in line with Members comments.

Decision:

Members noted the publication of the Counter Extremism Strategy.