Community Cohesion
Also in this section:
Introduction
Community Cohesion is part of our UNITY policy framework which
sets out the way that we will tackle all forms of exclusion in
Bassetlaw to build local a community where people get on well
together, have pride and respect in their area and can achieve a
good quality of life with a sustainable future.
It aims to create a safe, inclusive community which offers
equality of opportunity for everyone.
National, regional and local policy guidance has identified ways
that we should be working to improve our communities. It is
recognised that the causes of exclusion are complex and the
solutions are long term with the need to achieve continual
progress.
Our approach is to include these issues in our everyday working
using our annual Service Delivery Plans to produce measurable
actions. We have recognised that we need to build with
our partners an efficient, effective cohesive
community. By working
together and pooling resources we can achieve more effective and
better outcomes.
This framework will tackle the key issues that our residents
have identified.
These include community safety with a low crime rate, jobs and
employment, a clean attractive environment, access to services such
as health centres, shops, leisure and play facilities.
Definition
In 2003 the Local Government Association (LGA) produced the
Guidance on Community Cohesion. It stated that a cohesive community
is one where:
- There is common vision and a sense of belonging for all
communities
- The diversity of peoples different backgrounds and
circumstances are appreciated and positively valued
- Those from different backgrounds have similar life
opportunities and
- Strong positive relationships are being developed between
people from different backgrounds in the workplace, in schools and
within neighbourhoods
Background
The concept of Community Cohesion emerged from the review
undertaken by Ted Cantle, on the causes of the riots in Bradford,
Burnley and Oldham in 2001. It found that separate arrangements,
community and voluntary bodies, employment, places of worship,
language, social and cultural networks, means that many communities
operate on the basis of a series of parallel lives.
Government policy places a strong emphasis on building safe and
strong communities by mainstreaming community cohesion: Race
Equality schemes; Crime and Community Safety Strategies;
sustainable Community Strategies and Local Area Agreements. The
overall aim is to create a thriving and diverse society in which
everyone is involved and in which everyone can have a decent and
fulfilling life.
Commission on Integration and Community Cohesion – June
2007
The report of the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, Our
Shared Future in June 2007 proposed a new definition of Community
Cohesion and made practical recommendations to mainstream policies
and strategies. We will be working with the Local Strategic
Partnership, A1 Housing and other key partners to assess what it
means for Bassetlaw to provide local solutions to the impact of
growing diversity.
How is it measured?
The Home Office has identified 10 indicators to measure
Community Cohesion. In September 2004 and November 2006
Bassetlaw District Council and the Bassetlaw Local Strategic Plan
surveyed the Citizens Panel to establish a baseline of Community
Cohesion in Bassetlaw.
Community Cohesion Indicators
Table.
What is happening in Bassetlaw?
Bassetlaw District Council is a member of the Nottinghamshire
Community Cohesion Board, which produced a joint strategy for
Community Cohesion in Nottinghamshire in October 2006. Bassetlaw District Council will
implement and monitor the Action Plans of the strategy and continue
to be a member of the Board to ensure that Community Cohesion is
embedded in service delivery plans.
It identified specific issues that need to be addressed to
create safe, strong, healthy communities.
- The lack of a strong civic identity
- The fragmentation of communities
- Disengagement of young people from the local decision making
process and intergenerational tensions.
- Political and community leadership
- Differing response to community issues, particularly racial
incidents
- Local media
Our Local Community
The 2001 census identified the BME population of Bassetlaw as
1.45%. A further and
more important factor is that the issues faced by communities are
not always race and ethnicity related. In Bassetlaw there are large
rural and former coalfield communities and more recently there has
been an inflow of new EU migrant workers.
Hard to Reach Groups
In March 2005 Bassetlaw produced its Customer and Community
Engagement Strategy. It recognised we need to meet the diverse
needs of the community and should be able to engage with everyone
so no one is excluded. We and our partners have defined the
Hard to Reach as those living in rural areas, young people, people
with low levels of literacy, travellers and black and minority
ethnic communities or
“Any group which either do not or find it difficult or decline
to engage with the Council and its partners”.
Diversity
We are a member of the Bassetlaw LSP New Community Forum which
has raised awareness and identified gaps in service provision
for our new communities. In the last two years there has been an
increase in the number of migrant workers from the expanded EU
working in Bassetlaw.
The latest available figures (2005/06) identify 550 migrant workers
registered for work.
Equalities
Fairness for All – We will work towards achieving level 2 of the
Equality Standard by 2008.
We value the diversity of our communities that we serve and have
put in place a Race Equality Gender, Equality and Disability
Equality Scheme.
Useful Websites which will signpost data sources to build a
profile of community cohesion in Bassetlaw.