Improvement Service

This document from Capital Ambition looks at how some London local authorities are tackling inequalities while achieving greater efficiencies. It contains case studies of how authorities have been promoting equality to deliver efficient and effective everyday services. Examples include benefit outreach services in Barking and Dagenham, the provision of affordable and accessible transport in Bexley, local residents acting as mystery shoppers in Greenwich and allotment gardening in Hillingdon.

This report presents the findings of a review of good practice in community engagement in Scotland from an equality perspective, carried out for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in 2008. It considers the models, mechanisms, methods, benefits of and barriers to community engagement and identifies good practice in planning and preparation, implementation and practice, and monitoring, evaluation and feedback.

The IDeA has published this workbook to give a background understanding of equality issues. It offers an introduction to concepts, exercises and practical guidance to support ward councillors in their role as community leaders and representatives using the Equality Framework for Local Government (this Framework is currently being adapted for use by Scottish local government and will be offered to Scottish local authorities by the Improvement Service). It also links equality to the wider remit of local authorities, with the overall aim of providing better services and supporting local people.

Guidance from the Equal Opportunities Commission for local government on how to implement the Gender Equality Duty. The guidance summarises the legislation, provides information on equality schemes and policies and offers tips and resources on successfully implementing the Duty.

"In November 2006 BEMIS undertook a review of engagement by local authorities, health boards, and police forces with ethnic minority communities in Scotland. Forty-one completed postal questionnaires were received from 33 public sector agencies (25 local authorities, six police forces, and two rural health boards). The findings are in line with a previous review by the CRE in Scotland in December 2003. BEMIS focused on five ‘indicators of engagement’: community profiling; involvement of service users; provision of support; monitoring/evaluation in place; and improvements identified."

Edinburgh Partnership Local Community Planning and Regeneration Output Agreements Audit of Equalities Work - Edinburgh : Draft 3 – June 2006

Measuring and Evaluating Equalities Performance The Evaluation Questionnaire - Summary of the Edinburgh Partnership conference on Monday 13th November 2006

Get Your Voice Heard! Stakeholder Report April 2006 North Edinburgh and Leith Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Community Participation Pilot Project The 'Get Your Voice Heard' programme was initiated by the Centre for Human Ecology and Edinburgh City Council Equalities Unit - the idea was to explore how the group (of 18 local people and professionals) might influence the way that ‘local community planning’ structures started working in the area, so marginalised people’s voices could be heard. Two central questions describe the focus of the group: 1) How can community planning processes practically address inequalities in listening to people’s voices?  2) How can we design our voice so it can be heard? And how can we design structures so that they can hear/listen?

Public Partnership Duties: meeting expectations How community planning partnerships can involve partners, contacts and forums in the equality agenda   Power Point Presentation from City of Edinburgh Council to the CRE / DRC / EOC / Communities Scotland 'Equalities In Partnership' Conference        

West Dunbartonshire Council's response to Scottish Executive request for information on Engagement with Muslim Communities.

The Local Government Scotland Act 2003 requires local authorities to demonstrate that they have developed a culture which encourages both equal opportunities and the observance of the equal opportunities requirements. In the light of the new equality duties on race, disability and gender, how can local authorities demonstrate their commitment to mainstreaming, equality impact assessment, procurement, monitoring and employment issues? Presentation by Chris Oswald, Head of Policy and Communications, Disability Rights Commission.