WORKING TOGETHER FOR EQUALITY FOR ALL:

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WORKING TOGETHER

FOR

EQUALITY FOR ALL:

REPORT ON

IMPLEMENTING OUR POLICIES

2006

SUMMARIES OF:

1. LAST YEAR WE SAID WE WOULD …

Report on what we have achieved

2. THIS YEAR WE WILL …

Equalities & Community Cohesion

Improvement Plan 2006-7

3. RACE EQUALITY 'RISK ASSESSMENTS'

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ARE WE ACCESSIBLE TO YOU?

IF NOT - ASK US!

We want everyone to be able to understand us.

We want everyone to be able to read our written

materials.

We aim to provide what you need for you to read,

talk, and write to us.

On request we will provide free -

Language interpreters, including for sign

language.

Translations of written materials into other

languages.

Materials in braille, large print, on tape, in Easy

Read.

Please contact us:

General enquiries - 01246 345345 Fax - 01246 345252

General enquiries mobile text phone - 079609 10264

Housing enquiries -

01246 345177

Leisure enquiries -

01246 345096

Environmental enquiries -

01246 345734

Planning enquiries -

01246 345811

Or

Email

-

WHAT DO

YOU

THINK?

We would like your views and comments on these

documents.

There is a short questionnaire at the end that you

can fill in and return to us or you can write to or

email us (see previous page or below).

If you would like this document in another format or

language please contact us.

See previous page or below for how to contact us.

Contacting the Equalities Officer:

Email

Tel.

01246 345247

Fax.

01246 345252

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Page

Introduction

4 Last Year We Said We Would …

5 Report on what we have achieved from the

2005-6 Equalities and Community Cohesion

Improvement Plan

This Year We Will …

29 Equalities and Community Cohesion

Improvement Plan 2006-7

Including Race and Disability

Equality Schemes Objectives

Race

Equality

'Risk

Assessments' 40

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WORKING TOGETHER FOR EQUALITY FOR ALL

Implementing Our Policies - Summary Documents

Introduction:

The Council's vision includes the aim that everyone should enjoy living, visiting and working in Chesterfield. This is underpinned by a commitment to community and equality - to tackling poverty, discrimination and

exclusion. We believe equality and social justice are important for all our communities, bringing economic and social benefits to our town.

We welcome the opportunity to live, work and learn with people from different cultures and countries, with different religions, languages and life-styles. We respect our diverse communities, recognising the valuable contributions that they make to life in Chesterfield.

As part of our legal duties, and our good practice, we need to publish and make widely available a Council wide equalities improvement plan and other reports.

Our Equalities improvement Plan includes our 'community cohesion'

objectives and actions. Community cohesion is about building united local communities which respect and value each other's differences.

Chesterfield Borough Council has always supported 'equalities for all' recognising that racism and other forms of discrimination divide and damage our communities.

Please note that these documents are only summaries of much longer and more detailed plans.

Copies of the full documents are freely available - please contact the Equalities Officer, who is also happy to answer any queries or questions you may have about the documents.

We welcome comments and feedback - please use the form at the end of this document.

Cllr. Mark Higginbottom, Deputy Leader

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1. LAST YEAR WE SAID WE WOULD …

Report on what we have achieved from the

2005-6 Equalities and Community Cohesion

Improvement Plan:

Last year we said would take the following action

on equalities and community cohesion.

We can now report on what we have done and

what we have achieved - and what we haven't

done and why not.

This report is based on the summary of the

Council's Equalities and Community Cohesion

Improvement Plan 2005-6. This was circulated

publicly last year.

Copies of the full document and of our revised

Equalities and Community Cohesion

Improvement Plan for coming year (2006-7) are

available from the Equalities Officer (contact

details on previous page).

These documents include our Race Equality

Scheme Objectives and forthcoming work to

develop our Disability Equality Scheme. Next

year we will be reporting on our work to develop a

Gender Equality Scheme.

Please do not hesitate to ask us questions you

may have or to make any criticisms or

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PAGE

Corporate Equality Services 7

Human Resources 12

Chief Executives Unit 15

Housing Services 17 Environmental Services 20 Leisure Services 22 Revenue Services 24 Economic Promotion 25 Planning Services 26 Design Services 26

Accountancy & Audit Services 27

Legal, Scrutiny, Democratic & Monitoring Officer Services 27

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Corporate Equality Services

1. Promote equalities and community cohesion, including the Race Relations Act general duty of promoting race equality by:

A. Presentations to Community Forums, Tenants and Residents Associations, community groups and other agencies:

Presentations made to:

Inkersall Den Support Committee Holly's Inkersall

Hollingwood Elders

Chesterfield Market Traders Hasland Playhouse

Grangewood Tenants and Residents Assoc. Brimington Tenants and Residents Assoc. Chesterfield Canal Trust

B. Production and circulation of relevant materials:

Continued distribution of 'challenging racism', 'domestic abuse - there is no excuse' and 'equality=respect' drink mats and leaflets. Also new equalities policy circulated.

C. Issuing press releases and articles

Not achieved

D. Continued promotion of 'Equality=Respect' campaign promoting communities working together:

Community event held at African Caribbean Centre October 28 2005; feedback very positive.

E. Promoting equalities and community cohesion with partnership organisations (police, Primary Care Trust, Education etc.):

Working with police, education & other agencies in the Racial Harassment Consultative Group; working with the Local

Strategic Partnership - agreed equality & community cohesion actions including training; meeting with PCT Marketing Officer & agreed support for equality actions.

F. Ensure the Chesterfield Festival is multi-cultural & accessible.

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2. Reaching 'harder to reach' groups by:

Implementing the Comprehensive Performance Assessment Harder to Reach action plan.

6 out of 10 actions implemented; 1 action found not to be appropriate; 3 actions deferred pending review of Council's public relations function.

3. Improve consultation with Black and ethnic minority people by:

Continued investigation of options.

Invested in informal personal contact.

4. Continue to attempt joint working with the business community by:

Formal approach to Chamber of Commerce.

No response.

5. Ensure communications and information are accessible by:

A. Monitoring web site equalities section;

No accessibility complaints and feedback positive.

B. Having access statement on all public documents;

Statement on all documents.

C. Interpreters, translations, provision of materials in other formats are provided as requested.

Accessible materials provided and no complaints.

6. Improve understanding and increase knowledge of Council's Equalties and Community Cohesion policies by employees & Councillors by:

1. Provision of training & briefings;

Many older staff attending Equalities Induction Training (not just new employees); briefings provided on new disability equality duties.

2. Evaluate employee awareness by using the employee survey.

Awareness/satisfaction slightly down this year, but low return and satisfaction down across majority of areas.

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7. Promote equalities and community cohesion in the media by:

A. Work in partnership with local media.

See below

B. Engage local media with positive stories.

See below

C. Investigate how coverage in the Council newspaper could be developed.

All deferred pending review of public relations. New

marketing team including Equalities Officer now established, which will assist with this.

8. Continued implementation of the Local Government Equality Standard by:

Undertaking required the work for the different levels of the Standard.

Retained Level 3.

9. Ensuring there is support for employees who may experience discrimination by

Investigating whether Black and ethnic minority and disabled employees would find a workers group useful.

Not achieved 05-06, but dates for meetings set for June 06.

10. Ensuring there is continuous improvement in disability

access by:

A. Continue to improve achievements in Best Value Performance Indicator 156 on the accessibility of the Council's public

Buildings;

Improved from 62% in 2004-5 to 68% in 2005-6 (Council's public buildings accessible to disabled people).

B. Liaising with local disabled people's groups;

Equalities Officer has rolling programme of meeting and discussing with all local disability groups.

C. Implementing Disability Discrimination Act adaptations.

Last year the Council spent £40,000 on implementing prioritised improvements based on access audits and feedback from local disabled people.

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11. Tackling Hate Crime by:

A. Encouraging incident reporting and ensuring all incidents reported investigated;

'What you can expect from us' harassment reporting leaflets widely distributed and translated. Housing Services provides additional material, which is also available in other languages and formats. Liasion with BME groups encourages reporting even of comparatively 'minor' incidents. All incidents

reported to the Council are investigated.

B. Participating in the local Racial Harassment Consultative Group, the Domestic Abuse Action Group and the Anti-Social Behaviour Task of the Community Safety Partnership;

All meetings attended by Council representatives and issues raised incorporated into Council's practice.

C. Continue to promote the 'Challenging Racism' campaign.

Drink mats and other publicity continue to be circulated and 'Challenging Racism' is a major feature of Equality=Respect events.

12. Ensure there is corporate equalities co-ordination and

ownership with services mainstreaming equalities through -out their work by:

Consolidation of the Equalities Development Group.

EQDG now in its 3rd year and attendance continues to be good including Councillors , officers and trade unions. Recent

significant improvements in services eg. Housing.

13. Ensure that the Council's Race Equality Scheme is legally

compliant by:

A. Implementing Equality Impact Assessments for existing and proposed policies;

Briefings held for relevant staff and all Year 2 (Medium Relevance) Race Equality Impact Assessments of existing policies completed. Directors and Service Heads briefed on Assessments for proposed policies.

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B. Implementing service monitoring;

Reports received from Housing and Planning Services; Human Resources and Environmental and Leisure Services reports nearing completion.

C. Undertaking consultation;

Services undertake their own consultation as appropriate and there is ongoing corporate engagement and discussion.

D. Implementing equalities in procurement work;

Equalities incorporated into tenders and specifications as is appropriate. Briefings held for private companies and

equalities training made available.

E. Raising race equality issues in partnership working;

Race equality issues raised in all partnerships especially Local Strategic Partnership which is undertaking training as a result and supporting 'Equality=Respect' event.

F. Ensuring Council information is accessible.

Widespread circulation of accessible information policy and translations and interpreters used as appropriate.

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Human Resources

1. Ensure Race Relations Amendment Act compliance by:

A. Implementing results of high relevance Race Equality Impact Assessments:

Recruitment and Selection:

• First employee monitoring report since new introduction

IT system to be published July 2006

• Using 'Jobs Go Public' web-site which is directly linked to

wide range of BME web-sites

• Moratorium on vacancies has prevented further positive

action being taken.

Training and Development:

• No improvements identified.

Employee Performance and Development Reviews:

• No negative feedback from any particular group • However, one third approx. of employees still not

receiving EPDs.

B. Undertaking medium relevance Equality Impact Assessments:

Not yet complete.

C. Undertaking low relevance Equality Impact Assessments:

For completion by March 2007.

D. Undertaking impact assessments of any proposed policies:

None undertaken.

E. Implementing equalities in procurement and contracts:

Only one contract - for OH and equalities included in specification.

F. Seeking agreement for joint equality objectives and targets with Partnerships:

One partnership - for OH - see above.

2. Ensure all managers competent in equalities by:

Developing management equality competencies:

Included in senior manager EPDs and in the Leadership Development Programme with target date of May 08.

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3. Ensure all revised HR policies equality 'proofed' by:

A. Equalities included in all policy revisions as appropriate:

Achieved.

B. Revise Recruitment and & Selection policy and procedure with particular focus on under-represented groups:

Currently being revised.

4. Ensure Staff Handbook reinforces CBC equality ethos by:

Updating handbook to include comprehensive equalities policy statement.

Revised handbook including equalities to be completed by December 2006.

5. Continue work to get a representative workforce by:

A. Increasing Black and Ethnic Minority and disabled applicants for jobs at all levels and women applicants for jobs at senior level:

First employee monitoring report since new introduction IT system to be published July 2006. Using 'Jobs Go Public' site which is directly linked to wide range of BME web-sites. However, moratorium on vacancies has prevented further positive action being taken.

B. Continue to investigate and trial different forms of positive action - targeted adverts, web-sites, liaise with community groups.

See above.

6. Policy development is informed by communities and employees by:

A. Women's, disabled, Black and ethnic minority and other relevant groups are consulted:

Feedback from communities has informed policy development.

B. Action is taken to tackle equality issues arising from the Employee Survey.

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7. Provision & analysis of comprehensive workforce monitoring by:

Implementation of computerised personnel record system.

First employee monitoring report since new introduction IT system to be published July 2006.

8. Facilitate flexible working for employees by:

Review new flexi-leave scheme after 1year.

New time scheme with no core hours has been permanently adopted.

8. Disabled applicants, recruits and employees supported by:

A. Reasonable Adjustments implemented as appropriate:

All known RAs implemented.

B. Good practice for disability related absence being implemented.

Implemented as far as aware and following up in disabled employees meeting.

10. Equal pay implemented by:

Equal pay reviewing with completion of job evaluation.

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Chief Executive's Unit

1. All Sections ensuring Race Relations Amendment Act compliance:

Chief Executive's Unit compliant - see report from Corporate Equalities Service Point 13.

2. Policy Section:

A. Public Relations: Function reflects Race Equality Scheme Requirements by implementing the results of the impact Assessment:

Access to information statement now included in 'Our Town'. No action yet on obtaining feedback from BME population but all publicity material being reviewed as phase 2 of the

Marketing Best Value Review – includes the future of 'Our Town'.

B. Community Safety: Anti-Social Behaviour and Hate Crime:

A range of activities being undertaken on anti-social

behaviour Including hate crime (evidenced by Minutes of ASB Task Group).

C. Equalities & Community Cohesion: see reports in Corporate

Equalities Services section.

D. Performance - Function reflects Race Equality Scheme Requirements by implementing the results of the impact Assessment:

Summary Best Value Performance Plan printed in Our Town together with Access statement

E. Corporate Policy: Council policy & service delivery informed by an objective needs based mechanism for targeting deprivation - using new geography of deprivation provided by Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2004 mechanism:

Decision for Healthy Living Centre in Staveley made on the basis of Staveley being high on the Indices of Multiple Deprivation.

F. Staveley Neighbourhood Management Project - Implement the Community Cohesion Action Plan.

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3. Best Value, Quality & Improvement Section:

A. Corporate procurement process is equalities compliant by implementation of guidance:

Guidance is implemented.

B. Best Value process is equalities compliant by Best Value reviews including Equality Improvement Plans:

All reviews include EIPs.

4. E-Gov & ICT Services Section:

A. Web-site - Maintain accessibility standards

Accessibility standards maintained.

B. E transactions - Make transactions available electronically

Increased from 1517 in 2004-5 to 7111 in 2005-6. 100% of transactions now available electronically.

5. Elections:

A. Implement CRE guidance:

Guidance implemented.

B. Implement disability access good practice.

Good practice implemented accessibility standard maintained.

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Housing Services

1. Ensuring Race Relations Amendment Act compliance: Tenancy Participation – Posters and leaflets in Urdu and

Cantonese distributed to churches, schools community centres.

Careline – Members approved purchase of new system.

Home Improvement Agency - The membership of the Advisory Committee is being reviewed as a result of expansion (now covers North East Derbyshire and Bolsover), including inviting representation from a disabled persons support group. A representative from the African Caribbean Community Association sits on the Committee. All equality groups

contacted explaining the new joint HIA and inviting interest on the Committee. All local ethnic minority support groups were invited to the launch on the 26th. The Chair of ACCA attended, as did 2 representatives from the Chinese community.

Presentation given to ACCA on the HIA services.

Currently monitor the number of BME households assisted through the HIA:

1st Qtr : 1.7% 2nd Qtr : 2.1% 3rd Qtr : 0.8% No targets developed yet for numbers of BME households assisted or number of ethnic reps on Advisory Committee. As still discussing how these should be set.

Anti-Social Behaviour - All complainants visited within 24hrs. Leaflets produced and translated into Urdu and Cantonese Customer satisfaction monitoring not yet implemented, but a model has been produced to assist with monitoring, now in a position to start to implement.

Equality Impact Assessments - All completed with some adjustments to the timetable.

Proposed Policy Race Equality Impact Assessments - To be completed for review of Allocation Policy and review of Tenant Participation Strategy as these come on line.

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Procurement - All contracts have equality targets in accordance with the Corporate Policy.

Partnerships - All partnerships have equality targets in accordance with the Corporate Policy.

2. Have comprehensive picture of different groups use of housing services & any differential impact by:

Producing equality monitoring analysis reports in line with Best Value Performance Indicator 164:

Monitoring report produced in line with BVPI 164. Data collected and storage has been on an ad hoc basis. Systems have now been put in place to ensure collection and monitoring take place on a regular basis.

3. Tenants and Residents Associations engage with all members of their local communities by:

Actively encouraged through the Tenant's Compact to engage with communities & implement their constitutions - this means - • supporting anti-discrimination action;

• treating everybody with respect and courtesy; • behaviour compatible with the equalities policies; • promoting enthusiasm for diversity.

Participation is monitored. Latest monitoring has shown that there are no reps from BME households at the present time. Posters and leaflets designed to encourage participation and translated into community languages have been distributed. As part of the review of the TP structure a BME Forum is being established

4. All customers at same level of satisfaction by:

Action to address Black and ethnic minority satisfaction disparity:

Satisfaction with Housing Services is monitored annually. In 2005/06 satisfaction with the overall service for non-BME tenants was 88% and for BME tenants 57%. Satisfaction with opportunities for participation for non BME tenants is 69% and for BME tenants 71%. These results were based on a sample of 1000. 997 respondents answered the question relating to ethnic origin. Of these 1% stated their ethnic origin as BME. This

proportion is consistent with the census which recorded 1.3% as of BME origin.

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5. Tackling perception that all forms of ASB are not responded to with equal firmness & resources by:

Disseminating information to tenants & residents that • Council takes firm/fair action against all forms ASB; • promotes respect for all groups;

• promotes working together to value all cultures & celebrate differences.

Anti Social Behaviour and Racial Harassment Polices have been put into leaflet form and translated into community languages.

6. Benchmark Housing Services' equalities work:

Housing Diversity Network health check and review of access to housing.

Report from HDN still outstanding but have chased. Own internal assessment carried out in accordance with CRE Code of Practice to prepare improvement plan. As soon as HDN report received Improvement Plan will reflect their comments.

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Environmental Services

1. Ensuring Race Relations Amendment Act compliance:

Communicable Diseases Race Equality Impact Assessment results have been implemented - the service has been

publicised in the Staveley area, translated advisory material has been developed, use of translator has been arranged where necessary, result of PCT investigation into reaching ethnic minority population is awaited.

Health Development Race Equality Impact Assessment results have been implemented - difficulty with obtaining data on

groups that benefit from this service because this service has to rely on databases/intelligence of other partners eg. Data

Protection Act precludes us from using GP practice records. However, the service can ask GPs to target individuals. Regular work with Staveley Seniors to develop and target individuals for projects. No progress made yet on training pack due to

capacity. More resources required to build in house capacity to collect & evaluate evidence and provide equalities leadership for projects but 2 growth bids unsuccessful in 2005.

Sustainability Race Equality Impact Assessment results have been implemented – awareness raising session held with BME Groups.

Further Race Equality Impact Assessments of existing policies being undertaken this year.

Race Equality Impact Assessment of proposed policy on bulky household waste completed.

Procurement - Monitoring of contracts includes equalities requirements.

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2. Have comprehensive picture of different groups use of environmental services and any differential impact by:

Monitoring specific services: • Advice requests

• Visits

• Formal enforcement action

• Home improvement applications and grants and outcomes • Satisfaction surveys

Report on Service Requests for 01/04/05 to 31/12/05 produced. Report on visits, notices served and customer satisfaction surveys produced for Food and H&S Services.

Evaluation of Senior Safe Event Oct 2005.

3. Increase ethnic minority groups' awareness of services by:

Improving communications with Black and ethnic minority

groups and incorporate material illustrating involvement of BME groups.

Four food hygiene inspection reports translated into the recipients first language during 2005/06. Several Health & Safety inspection reports translated into the recipients first language during 2005/06. Delivered Licensing Act seminar in Cantonese to Chesterfield Chinese Association.

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Leisure Services

1. Ensuring Race Relations Amendment Act compliance: Museums Service Race Equality Impact Assessment

• Received a banner from the Polish ex-Servicemen's Association which is on permanent display accompanied by information that explains the origins of Chesterfield's Polish community.

• Have been in negotiation with MLA East Midlands (Museums, Libraries and Archives Council), about a grant to produce some ethnic diversity materials for loan to schools. This would involve collecting material from ethnic minority groups. However, funding may not be forthcoming.

• Discussing joint consultation exercise with the Winding Wheel and the Theatre.

Pomegrante Theatre Race Equality Impact Assessment

• Consultation - see point above re. joint exercise with Museum and Winding Wheel.

• New Leisure Services Marketing Officer to be appointed who will complete Marketing Plan and non-user survey - this will allow more targeted action to reach BME communities.

Winding Wheel Centre Race Equality Impact Assessment

• See above.

Bereavement Services Race Equality Impact Assessment

• Investment in soundproofing of the Chapel at the Crematorium to reduce disturbance of funeral services by waiting mourners, new internal and external signage including Braille.

• Minimum period for exclusive rights of burial in the Council's cemeteries has been increased from 50 years to up to 100 years to cater for those religious groups who seek additional

reassurances regarding non-disturbance of graves.

• Brimington Cemetery Chapel has been surveyed to establish costs for upgrading for Muslim burial services following a site meeting with Muslim community representatives.

• A detailed study of Muslim burial customs and practices has been completed. A telephone booking service has been introduced to allow bookings of cremations 24 hours a day. Additional staff have been recruited to enable extended opening hours at the

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Further Race Equality Impact Assessments of existing policies being undertaken this year.

Race Equality Impact Assessment of proposed policies: None required this year.

2. Have comprehensive picture of different groups' use of leisure services & any differential impact by:

Producing equality monitoring analysis reports.

Analytic report produced for Lead Member June 2006 - copies available from Equalities Officer.

3. Implement leisure & culture objectives of Community Strategy by:

Developing inclusive programme & events.

Events programme increasingly more inclusive reflecting wider cross sections of audiences. General satisfaction measured but very little exit surveying undertaken.

4. Organise events which promote community cohesion by:

1. Museum - 1 exhibition/event pa that reflects Chesterfield's

Diversity: Replaced with 'Tales from India', 60 people attended

with good feedback.

2. Arts Development -Rother Ward Music Project;

Successful range of events took place.

3. Sports activities promoting inclusion of gypsies.

Programme ceased through lack of partnership support and availability of coaches.

4. Queens Park Café activities - Contractor appointed who will

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Revenues Services

All required Race Equality Impact Assessments completed - Revised guidelines & advice to rate relief applicants includes race equality implications.

Benefit forms include accessibility statement.

Recovery calling cards now incorporate accessibility statement in five languages.

Further Race Equality Impact Assessments completed in 2006.

No new policies proposed but Race Equality Impact Assessment will be undertaken as & when required.

No new contracts have been let but equalities requirements will be included as and when applicable.

2. Targeting deprivation - Increase benefits take-up in most deprived wards inc. by hard to reach groups by:

Targeted take up campaigns.

Take up increased, but difficult to assess if it as a direct result of take-up campaigns. Presentation given to Primary Care Trust Minority Steering Group by Benefits Adviser. ACCA have

booked a presentation for 15/02/06 and Chinese Association have requested similar talk. Benefit leaflets stocked in Urdu and Chinese as are tapes, videos and DVDs.

Considering how to quantify take-up from different groups.

3. Monitoring use of the services by:

Claimant satisfaction survey.

No groups reporting disproportionate dissatisfaction Complaints monitored for any signs inequality

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All required Race Equality Impact Assessments completed.

Further Race Equality Impact Assessments to be done in 2006.

No new policies proposed but Race Equality Impact Assessments will be undertaken as and when required.

No new contracts have been let but equalities requirements will be included as and when applicable.

Partnerships - with Market Traders - The Equalities Officer has twice addressed meetings on equalities liabilities and

importance of behaviour in line with the Council's policies.

2. Improved grants awards framework removes inequitable anomalies - Community groups of people at risk of social exclusion have improved funding opportunities by:

Implementing the new framework & publicise its implementation to community groups.

Review postponed until 2006-7 financial year.

3. Community cohesion in areas badly affected by economic restructuring by:

Provision of business premises & land at Ireland Industrial Estate, Staveley:

• Small workshop scheme • Hi-tech work space scheme • Serviced industrial land

All schemes completed and 50 employment opportunities created or safeguarded.

4. Disability fire evacuation in Council owned properties improved by:

A. Examine Market Hall for possible fire refuge area: B. Provision of further advice to tenants.

Unresolved - now being discussed as part of Health and Safety fire risk assessment.

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1. Ensuring Race Relations Amendment Act compliance: Race Equality Impact Assessments for Development Management and Building Control completed.

No new policies for assessment in 2005-6.

Procurement - Programme Officer contract issued using model clauses.

2. Identify any differential use of services by:

Producing analysis of service use monitoring.

Annual monitoring report on planning applications completed March 06 and no differential use of services identified.

3. Equality for gypsy/traveller communities by:

Incorporating new government requirements into policies.

DGLG supported criteria based policy on sites in local plan.

4. Designing out hate crime by:

Incorporating guidance into Supplementary Planning Guidance on Designing out Crime.

Design Out Crime Guidance to be prepared in 2006-7.

Design Services

1. Ensuring Race Relations Amendment Act compliance: No High or Medium Relevance Race Equality Impact

Assessment - low relevance assessments to be undertaken in 2006.

Race Equality Impact Assessment of proposed policy on Town Hall security examined retrospectively.

2. Improve access to council premises by:

See Corporate Equality Services.

Improved from 62% in 2004-5 to 68% in 2005-6 (Council's public buildings accessible to disabled people).

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Accountancy & Audit Services

1. Ensuring Race Relations Amendment Act compliance: No High or Medium Relevance Race Equality Impact

Assessment - low relevance assessments to be undertaken in 2006.

No Race Equality Impact Assessment of proposed policies.

Legal, Scrutiny, Democratic & Monitoring Officer Services

1. Ensuring Race Relations Amendment Act compliance: Medium Relevance Race Equality Impact Assessment completed.

No Race Equality Impact Assessments of proposed policies. .

Partnerships - The Joint Council's Panel has produced a Partnership handbook, which includes evaluation of

partnerships' and ongoing monitoring of the implementation of equalities policies as criteria for a partnership.

2. Ensure the review of Community Forums is equalities compliant by:

Implementing the Best Value review.

The Handbook for CF's was introduced in March 05. It

incorporated equalities and was issued to all CF co-optees. One CF has increased its ethnic minority representation by 3

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3. Increase member awareness of equality implications of Members Code by:

Further training for Community Forum members and councillors.

General training was to be deferred until the government

revised the code. But as this seems to be delayed till 2007, there will be having training by Eversheds in summer 06. There has been one allegation of racist abuse (Nov 05).

4. Use international links to develop local community cohesion by:

Developing events to promote working together of different communities.

Alfie Ndjenge from Namibia attending course at Chesterfield College gave a very successful talk to the Afro-Carribean Assoc. and to Equality=Respect Event. The Mayor was invited to the Chinese New Year celebration in Chesterfield.

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2. THIS YEAR WE WILL …

Summary of the Equalities and Community

Cohesion Improvement Plan 2006-7

including -

Race and Disability Equality Scheme Objectives

PAGE

Corporate Equality Services 30

Human Resources 32

Housing Services 34 Environmental Services 35 Leisure Services 36 Revenue Services 37 Economic Promotion 38 Planning Services 39 Design Services 39

Accountancy & Audit Services 40

Legal, Scrutiny, Democratic & Monitoring Officer 40

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Corporate Equality Services

1. Promote equalities and community cohesion, including the legal duties to promote race and disability equality by:

A. Presentations to Community Forums, Tenants and Residents Associations, community groups and other agencies;

B. Production and circulation of relevant materials;

C. Organise annual community cohesion 'Equality=Respect' event; D. Promoting equalities and community cohesion with partnership

organisations (police, Primary Care Trust, Education etc.); 2. Have dialogue with, and ensure involvement of, BME people,

disabled people and other potentially excluded/discriminated against groups:

Implement a rolling programme of meetings, discussions, participation & feedback from and to groups including informal discussions.

3. Promote accessible communication & information:

A. Monitor web site

B. Put the access statement on all public documents

C. Provide interpreters, translations, other formats on request enthusiastically and quickly.

4. Develop increased understanding & knowledge of Council's Equality & Community Cohesion policies by employees & members:

A. Training and briefings provided as required by internal demand and external requirements (equality legislation)

B. Evaluate employee awareness via employee survey.

5. Undertake equality marketing including race & disability legal duties to promote positive attitudes

Participate in marketing team.

6. Continued implementation Equality Standard:

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7. Work to ensure a continuous improvement in disability access including signage:

A. Achieve year on year improvement on Best Value Performance Indicator 156 on accessible premises

B. Dialogue with local disabled people's groups C. Implement DDA adaptations

8. Action on Hate Crime:

Encourage incident reporting for all groups and ensure all reports are investigated.

9. Develop corporate equalities co-ordination and ownership and service mainstreaming of equalities:

Continued consolidation of the EQualities Development Group. 10. Ensure Race and Disability Equality Schemes produced,

implemented and monitored:

A. Implement Race and Disability Equality Relevance and Impact Assessments for existing and proposed policies, practices and functions

B. Implement service monitoring

C. Ensure consultation, involvement and engagement is undertaken

D. Ensure race and disability criteria used in procurement

E. Ensure Partnerships are aware of obligations and have equality targets

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Human Resources

1. Ensure compliance with race and disability legal duties to promote equality:

A. Implement results of high and medium relevance Race Equality Impact Assessments

B. Undertake any remaining REIAs

C. Undertake impact assessments of any proposed policies D. Complete disability relevance assessments

E. Procurement/contracts - race and disability equality considerations included

F. Partnerships - Agreement sought for joint equality objectives and targets.

2. All managers equality competent:

Management equality competencies are part of leadership development programme

3. All revised HR policies equality competent:

Equalities included in all policy revisions as appropriate 4. Staff Handbook reinforces CBC equality ethos:

Handbook to re-enforce message.

5. Workforce representative of the local community:

A. Increase BME & disabled applicants at all levels and women at senior level

B. Continue to investigate and trial positive action - targeted advertising, web-sites, liaising with community groups. 6. Policy development informed by communities and

employees:

A. Community groups consulted and engaged

B. Action to tackle equality issues from 05-6 Employee Survey. 7. Provision & analysis of comprehensive workforce monitoring:

First report using new software due in July 2006.

8. Facilitate flexible working:

Promote possibilities to employees. 9. Equal pay implemented:

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Proposed equal pay / job evaluation proposals equality proofed.

Chief Executive's Unit

2. Policy Section:

A. Public Relations: Function reflects Race and Disability Equality Scheme marketing requirements > Undertaken by new Virtual Marketing Team.

B. Community Safety: Anti-Social Behaviour and Hate Crime - see Corporate Equalities and Community Cohesion Services 8.

C. Equalities & Community Cohesion - see Corporate Equalities and Community Cohesion Services section.

D. Performance - Function reflects Race Equality Scheme Requirements by implementing the results of the impact Assessment.

E. Corporate Policy: Council policy & service delivery informed by an objective needs based mechanism for targeting deprivation - using new geography of deprivation provided by Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2004 mechanism.

F. Staveley Neighbourhood Management Project - Implement the Community Cohesion Action Plan.

3. Best Value, Quality & Improvement Section:

1. Corporate procurement process is equalities compliant by implementation of guidance;

2. Best Value process is equalities compliant by Best Value reviews including Equality Improvement Plans.

4. E-Gov & ICT Services:

1. Web-site - Maintain accessibility standards

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2. Ensure all employees and tenant reps are trained on diversity and cultural awareness:

Provide training for employees & tenant reps on diversity & cultural awareness.

3. Have clear understanding of customer base and make up of the local population:

A. Update monitoring form

B. Provide monitoring guidance for staff C. Reinforce need to collate information.

4. Have a comprehensive database which sets out preferred

method of communication for each resident:

A. Develop a field in SX3 which identifies preferred method of communication

B. Collect information at sign up and during contact with existing tenants

C. Record information.

5. Produce a communication strategy

6. Ensure all frontline staff receive training on talktype:

Provide training for front line staff on talk type. 7. Set diversity targets for service users:

Develop diversity targets for service users based on previous years percentages.

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8. Contribute to the County Gypsy and Traveller Needs Assessment

9. Carry out a BME Housing Needs Survey:

A. Recruit consultants B. Consultation carried out C. Report produced

10. Engage with BME tenants:

Establish a BME Forum as part of the review of Tenant Participation Structure

11. Communicate the anti harassment policy to new and existing

service users:

All new tenants at sign up are made aware of the tenancy agreement in relation to anti-social behaviour and harassment.

12. Increase levels of satisfaction with service provision: Undertake annual customer satisfaction monitoring.

Environmental Services

2. Have comprehensive picture of different groups use of environmental services and any differential impact by:

Monitoring specific services.

3. Increase ethnic minority groups' awareness of services by:

Improving communications with Black and ethnic minority

groups and incorporate material illustrating involvement of BME groups.

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Leisure Services

2. Have comprehensive picture of different groups' use of leisure services and any differential impact by:

• Producing equality monitoring analysis reports.

• Producing a generic young persons consent form including monitoring information.

3. Implement leisure & culture objectives of Community Strategy by:

Developing inclusive programme & events.

4. Organise events which promote community cohesion by:

1. Museum - 1 exhibition/event pa that reflects Chesterfield's Diversity;

2. Arts Development -

• Through partnership secure funding to provide culturally diverse children's theatre targeted at deprived areas. • Organise samba/lantern parade

3. Chesterfield in Bloom

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Revenues Services

B. Remaining REIAs completed.

C. Undertake impact assessments of any proposed policies D. Completed disability relevance assessments

2. Targeting deprivation - Increase benefits take-up in most deprived wards inc. by hard to reach groups by:

Targeted take up campaigns.

3. Monitoring use of the services by:

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Economic Promotion

2. Improved grants awards framework removes inequitable anomalies - Community groups of people at risk of social exclusion have improved funding opportunities by:

Implementing the new framework and publicise its implementation to community groups.

3. Community cohesion in areas badly affected by economic restructuring by:

Provision of business premises & land at Ireland Industrial Estate, Staveley: Hi-tech work space scheme.

4. Disability fire evacuation in Council owned properties improved by:

Consider as part of current round of Fire Risk Assessments actions to secure safety of all less ambulant persons attending the meeting rooms and offices at the Market Hall.

5. Chesterfield Festival is multi-cultural & accessible:

Festival committee considers and implements equality considerations.

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Planning Services

2. Identify any differential use of services by:

Producing analysis of service use monitoring. 3. Equality for gypsy/traveller communities by:

Incorporating new government requirements into policies. 4. Designing out hate crime by:

Incorporating guidance into Supplementary Planning Guidance on Designing out Crime.

Design Services

2. Improve access to council premises by:

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Accountancy & Audit Services

Legal, Scrutiny, Democratic & Monitoring Officer Services

2. Improve Community Forums ethnic minority and disabled people representation:

Implementing the Best Value review.

3. Increase member awareness of equality implications of Members Code by:

Further training for Community Forum members and councillors. 4. Use international links to develop local community cohesion by:

Developing events to promote working together of different communities.

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3. SUMMARY OF SECOND YEAR'S RACE EQUALITY

'RISK ASSESSMENTS'

PAGE

Explanation of 'risk assessments' 42

Human Resources 44 Housing Services 45 Environmental Services 48 Leisure Services 48 Planning Services 49

Economic Promotion Services 49

Tourism Services 50

Revenues Services 50

Legal Services 52

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Explanation of 'risk assessments'

1. Local authorities, such as Chesterfield Borough Council, have a legal duty to "promote race equality". This means that through-out all our work we must consider:

1. eliminating unlawful racial discrimination; 2. promoting equal opportunities; and

3. promoting good relations between all (white and black and ethnic minority) groups in the local community.

2. In order to carry out these legal duties we must examine our existing policies. A policy is a set of principles or criteria to help an

organisation carry out its functions or role.

3. We must ensure no groups in our community are being indirectly discriminated against by receiving a poorer service compared to any other group or are being excluded. We need to know how our

policies affect people from different racial groups (white and black and ethnic minority).

4. These examinations of policies are called "equality impact

assessments" - or they could be called "equality risk assessments".

5. We are currently required to undertake "race equality impact assessments". In 2007 we will be carrying out disability equality impact assessments and in 2008 we will need to examine our policies for their impact on equality between women and men.

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SUMMARY OF SECOND YEAR'S RACE EQUALITY 'RISK ASSESSMENTS'

Chief Executives' Unit

1. Quality Management Systems The aim of this policy is to -

* Implement Quality Management Systems in a cross-section of services across the Council

* Gain externally recognised certification * Improve effectiveness of service delivery.

* Provide a consistent approach to all tasks by all people.

The Internal Quality Auditors will do an annual update on all the consultation exercises undertaken as part of the individual Quality Management Systems. The existing arrangements for Quality Management Systems take account of the equality consultation requirements. Arrangements for monitoring impact are as part of the annual management review Meeting. All Race Equality issues that are relevant to the Quality Management Systems are

monitored as part of the ongoing Internal Audits.

2. Procurement

The aim of this policy is to provide a fair and equitable framework and procedure that promotes Council's aims in the procurement of goods and services; to achieve value for money and consistency and to ensure companies used have achieved adequate levels of Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities and Sustainability.

Proposals for improvement are to survey and encourage ethnic minority companies to join the Council's select list of companies approved for Council work

3. Best Value Reviews

The aim of this policy is to review and develop improvements in services and to progress the Gershon/ODPM agenda and provide excellent services.

In future, resources permitting, there could be increased use of specific monitoring and targets could be developed through the Customer Service Centre.

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Human Resourses

1. WorkLife Balence

The aim of this policy is to meet European Directives and

Employment Legislation; to help and support employees manage a work-life balance in both their job and home responsibilities; to act as a recruitment and retention incentive and to promote positive action and counteract past discrimination.

Employees’ take up is recorded and will be analysed for any differential impact. Also need to examine outcomes after annual review and results of employee survey.

2. Child-Care Assistance

The aim of this policy is to meet European Directives on work-life balance initiatives and make full use of changes in tax and national insurance legislation; to assist employees with childcare costs and to form a recruitment and retention incentive.

Outcomes after an annual review and the results of the employee survey will be analysed.

3. Trade Union Support

The aim of this policy is to provide arrangements for time off and other facilities to accredited trade union representatives and to enable trade union representatives to fully participate in the

development and conduct of good industrial relations between the Council and its employees. The policy meets the ACAS Code of Practice under ‘Time Off for Trade Union Duties and Activities’.

The policy is important for promoting race equality in allowing time off for trade union representatives to attend training on race equality matters. Trade union representatives can then provide strong support for the Council's equality policies. It is proposed to organise a joint working party to further develop the policy.

4. Managing Attendance

The aim of this policy is to maintain high levels of attendance which lead to higher levels of service provision and heightened morale and to provide a fair and consistent framework for managing employee absence related to sickness or a disability.

Implementation of the policy could be improved with further training for managers.

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5. Confidential Reporting Policy

The aim of this policy is to enable employees, and others that the Council deals with, who have serious concerns about any aspect of the Council’s work, to come forward and voice those concerns on a confidential basis and to eliminate fear of victimisation, any

subsequent discrimination or disadvantage when raising concerns. This Policy encourages and enables employees to raise concerns within the Council rather than ‘blow the whistle’ outside.

Further work is required on whether the policy is meeting its desired outcomes, user satisfaction and whether is promoting race equality. It is proposed to have feedback forms and training for managers.

1. Repairs and Maintenance

The aim of this policy is to carry out repairs and maintenance to customers properties within specified time scales, efficiently,

effectively and fairly with high customer satisfaction; to reduce costs and environmental impacts and to appoint more work to meet

customer requirements.

Service is committed to investigating lower satisfaction rate for Black and ethnic minority customers, but this may be due to low base statistical base (significantly fewer Black and ethnic minority tenants). Other methods of assessing satisfaction need to be found and the proposed new BME tenants forum may assist in this. None of the local BME groups have ever raised concerns about this service. 2. Homelessness

The aim of this policy is to provide the framework for emergency and preventative services to people who are, or at risk of being,

homeless or threatened with homelessness. The Council produces a Homelessness Strategy. Key objectives from strategy:

1. Provide quality services to homeless people. 2. Preventing homelessness.

3. Reducing use of temporary accommodation.

4. Multi-agency working to tackle exclusion and develop sustainable solutions to homelessness.

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Improvements identified:

1. Further awareness training for staff and operatives on minority group requirements is currently being arranged within the

department.

2. Working with partners to improve availability of suitable accommodation.

3. Monitoring needs improving. 3. Adaptations

The aim of the policy is to provide an adaptations service to Council Tenants that will meet the long term needs of the disabled person, either through adapting their property or looking at alternative housing solutions. The policy also aims to

1. enable tenants to be independent, or more independent, and safe in their home;

2. to reduce the risk of falls;

3. to reduce the need for long term residential care and reduce bed blocking time;

4. to offer alternative housing solutions to tenants to meet their long term needs;

5. to make good use of the Housing Stock.

Service has good monitoring in place and reported satisfaction from all groups is high.

4. Tenancy Enforcement

The aim of the policy is to:

1. ensure that everyone maintain the right to the quiet enjoyment of their home, free from crime and unreasonable disturbance;

2. Where CBC tenants are causing, or are the victims of ASB, to respond to stop the ASB using any appropriate legal and other remedies at our disposal;

3. Respond proportionately;

4. Work in partnership with the CSP and other stakeholder agencies; 5. To ensure accessibility to all members of the community and to

take any reasonable steps to aid communication with those who have difficulty;

6. Support witnesses and victims; 7. Increase the reporting of ASB; 8. Reduce ASB across the Borough;

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9. Raise awareness of ASB to help perpetrators modify their ASB and victims to respond appropriately.

The implementation of the policy has excellent monitoring systems in place and the service has a high awareness of race equality

issues. The new data base and also the new satisfaction

questionnaire are important for recording and monitoring outcomes. 5. Tenancy Support

The aim of the policy is to:

1. Co-ordinate, facilitate and link the provision of integrated services to vulnerable tenants and their carers from appropriate service providers through a client centred approach.

2. Provide direct support, advice and assistance to vulnerable tenants for an agreed period to enable them to:

- Move successfully into accommodation suitable for their needs; - Secure and maintain long term housing by identifying and addressing needs;

- Provide additional support to enable vulnerable tenants to maintain their tenancies.

3. Ensure that the Tenancy Support Service is equally available to all vulnerable tenants, that all service users have confidence in the service & the Borough Council & that service user

monitoring shows no significant difference in confidence between different groups.

4. Take positive action to counteract discrimination and break

down the barriers which may prevent some groups from using the Tenancy Support Service.

The policy is very well monitored and there is a high awareness of race equality issues. It is hoped to build on a successful meeting with the African Caribbean Community Association and have meetings with other community groups to raise their awareness of the service. The extra Tenancy Support Worker will enable more focus on reaching hard to reach groups through targeting of

WORKING TOGETHER FOR EQUALITY FOR ALL:

WORKING TOGETHER

FOR

EQUALITY FOR ALL:

REPORT ON

IMPLEMENTING OUR POLICIES

2006

SUMMARIES OF:

1. LAST YEAR WE SAID WE WOULD …

Report on what we have achieved

2. THIS YEAR WE WILL …

Equalities & Community Cohesion

Improvement Plan 2006-7

3. RACE EQUALITY 'RISK ASSESSMENTS'

ARE WE ACCESSIBLE TO YOU?

IF NOT - ASK US!

We want everyone to be able to understand us.

We want everyone to be able to read our written

materials.

We aim to provide what you need for you to read,

talk, and write to us.

On request we will provide free -

Language interpreters, including for sign

language.

Translations of written materials into other

languages.

Materials in braille, large print, on tape, in Easy

Read.

Please contact us:

General enquiries - 01246 345345 Fax - 01246 345252

General enquiries mobile text phone - 079609 10264

Housing enquiries -

01246 345177

Leisure enquiries -

01246 345096

Environmental enquiries -

01246 345734

Planning enquiries -

01246 345811

Or

Email

-

[email protected]

WHAT DO

YOU

THINK?

We would like your views and comments on these

documents.

There is a short questionnaire at the end that you

can fill in and return to us or you can write to or

email us (see previous page or below).

If you would like this document in another format or

language please contact us.

See previous page or below for how to contact us.

Contacting the Equalities Officer:

Email

[email protected]

Tel.

01246 345247

Fax.

01246 345252

CONTENTS

Page

Introduction

4

Last Year We Said We Would …

5

Report on what we have achieved from the

2005-6 Equalities and Community Cohesion

Improvement Plan

This Year We Will …

29

Equalities and Community Cohesion

Improvement Plan 2006-7

Including Race and Disability

Equality Schemes Objectives

Race

Equality

'Risk

Assessments' 40