Embedding Equality Impact Assesments - New Good Practice Case Study

07 Jul 2010

Derbyshire County Council: Success Embedding Equalities Impact Assessments.

Derbyshire County Council has been recognised for the design of a new Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) and embedding it successfully into the Council's ways of working, particularly within project management across the Council. The revised EIA assisted in achieving Level 3 of the National Equality Standard for Local Government. During the Level 3 assessment Derbyshire County Council was particularly commended for its work in the use of equality mapping, consultation and research, as well as for its strong record on promoting disability equality.

"The way in which the new Equalities Impact Assessment has been embedded at Derbyshire County Council, at every level, means Equalities is considered in day-to-day decision making, rather than separately. This means that not only are our staff empowered, but the communities we work with are too. Two-way communication that invites people to be actively involved, help us achieve our aim of considering the impact change can have on people in every decision."

Nick Hodgson
Chief Executive
Derbyshire County Council

To read case study and more like this please CLICK HERE

East Midland’s Police Forces- Steps to becoming an equality purchaser, Guidance for Contractors and Suppliers

07 Jul 2010

 This Steps to becoming an equality purchaser, Guidance for Contractors and Suppliers is an example of good practice around the equalities and diversity and procurement agenda. This East Midlands Forces are committed to providing an excellent service in all that we do. We desire to have a national reputation that is second to none. We fully acknowledge our influence as a positive force for good within communities and our ability to build community cohesion, provide re-assurance and tackle criminality.

Equality and diversity communities of practice (CoPs)

07 Jul 2010

Communities of practice support professional networking across local government and the public sector. These communities of practice (CoPs) enable practitioners and staff working with the Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG) and other related equality issues to share experience and good practice.

CLICK HERE to access CoPs

Mainstreaming Equality Impact Assessments (EqIAs)- IDeA Case Study

07 Jul 2010

Norfolk County Council and Central Bedfordshire Council have been looking at ways to address some of the barriers to mainstreaming their approach to EqIAs. The work demonstrates how an evidence-based, systematic approach to EqIAs helps to deliver excellent services for all, assist with preparation for a comprehensive area assessment (CAA) inspection and shift organisational culture to the next level.

CLICK HERE to read more

Nottingham City Council’s Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) of its Local Area Agreement 2008-2011- IDeA Case Study

07 Jul 2010

Nottingham City Council worked with partners to identify a small number of local area agreement (LAA) outcomes which needed greater scrutiny and focused effort to tackle inequalities. The challenge was to get all partners working together to tackle and reduce these inequalities through the equality impact assessment (EqIA) of the LA A. The target was to ensure a clear approach to equality and diversity in Nottingham’s LAA 2008 to 2011. This promotes equality and diversity as well as helping identify and reduce inequalities.

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Equality + Efficiency = Excellence

07 Jul 2010

In response to the recession and squeeze on public sector finances, Capital Ambition has been working with London authorities to deepen their understanding of the impact of the recession on London and share information on how councils are responding to the challenge. Earlier this year they produced an innovation and good practice guide called Responding to recession showcasing the actions local authorities in London are taking to help their areas through the recession.

This booklet continues to build on this work showcasing local perspectives on tackling inequality for greater efficiency. It provides innovative and practical examples of how authorities have been promoting equality to deliver efficient and effective everyday services.

The Audit Commission is clear that promoting equality and tackling discrimination is central to their core role of assessing whether public services provide value for money. Councils and their partners will be judged in the Comprehensive Area Assessment upon how well they understand the local impact of the recession and are responding to mitigate the impact on their communities and prepare for the upturn. This booklet is intended to kick start local and Londonwide thinking on how equality and efficiency is reconciled to deliver excellent and effective public services.

Delivering through people: The Local Government Workforce Strategy

07 Jul 2010

The strategy aims to support councils in achieving the skilled, motivated, flexible and diverse workforces they need to deliver value for money services that make a difference to the communities they serve.

Putting Hampshire on the equality map- IDeA Case Study

07 Jul 2010

Hampshire County Council has worked with third-sector partners over a number of years to develop a Diversity Network Project (DNP). The network supports voluntary sector organisations to meet the needs of individuals and communities experiencing exclusion from and barriers to full participation in their locality. The network aims to provide information and guidance across all equality strands through the promotion of training opportunities and events.

CLICK HERE to read more

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham – identifying data gaps through service planning- IDeA Case Study

07 Jul 2010

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham has been investigating ways to embed equality and diversity in the corporate service planning process. Previously, equality issues had been covered in a separate action plan that often did not reflect strategic objectives. The council has developed a new approach, centred on the One Barking and Dagenham programme 'Understanding and Meeting our Customers’ Needs'. This has enabled the council to make better use of customer information, improve service delivery, and embed equality issues into the broader service planning process.

CLICK HERE to read more

Richmond upon Thames’ peer mentoring approach to Equality Impact Assessments- IDeA Case Study

07 Jul 2010

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames uses a peer mentoring approach to Equality Impact Assessments (EqIAs). This has helped the council to identify needs for service and policy areas. Service managers have gained knowledge and confidence in the understanding of EqIAs. They can now use a more robust approach to equality action planning.

CLICK HERE to read more

Procurement & Efficiency Bulletin - July 2010

01 Jul 2010

EM IEP Procurement & Efficiency Bulletin - July 2010

EM IEP Annual Report 2009-10 Out Now!

01 Jul 2010

Local authorities are faced with delivering services in the context of high public expectations and increased fiscal tightening. In many cases this means real-term funding reductions, with local government needing to demonstrate value for money. Councils and local partnerships need to find new ways of responding to these challenges by maintaining and improving the quality of services they provide.

Member engagement and leadership is placed at the very heart of the East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (EM IEP) governance arrangements. Elected members have built a strong, shared vision for the region coordinating and supporting  collaborative working, leading to better outcomes and more value for money at a regional and sub-regional level.

To date, the East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership has received £35.6m from the government and partners, which has provided the opportunity and challenge for local authorities, across the region, to manage their own improvement. The EM IEP is supporting councils to respond to this opportunity and challenge by investing £19m in five sub regional programmes and £14m in regional programmes.

I am delighted to introduce our Annual Report, which provides an overview of progress to date and the challenges that lie ahead. Efficiency projects, funded by the EM IEP, are predicting benefits of £217m over 5 years, with £35m delivered to date. There has also been significant investment in collaborative working and 'area based' activity.

The third year of our programme will include support for a number of projects based on the 'Total Place' concept. These projects will explore how local authorities can work more effectively with partners at a local level, cutting out duplication, sharing resources and targeting their combined effort more effectively for the benefit of their customers.

The EM IEP is celebrating and sharing the 'best practice' identified by the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) green flags across the region and working closely with local authorities to address the red flags and other identified performance issues. This 'Sector Led Support' is being provided through existing programmes and by working in partnership with the IDeA, Audit Commission and the East Midlands Government Office (GOEM), acting as a regional 'hub' to enable local authorities to access 'Sector-Led Support' when required.

Best wishes

Councillor Martin Hill, OBE
Chair of the EM IEP Board and Leader of Lincolnshire County Counci

Setting Up HR Shared Services in Local Government

30 Jun 2010

Through combining dispersed HR administrative activities, shared services can deliver cost and quality benefits for councils.

I&DeA Setting Up HR Shared Services in Local Government

30 Jun 2010

The I&DeA and the Institute for Employment Studies have published this document to help local authorities that are considering setting up HR shared services.

Through combining dispersed HR administrative activities, shared services can deliver cost and quality benefits for councils. Shared services can be delivered in-house, outsourced to an external provider or executed in partnership with another organisation. Though likely to be a focus of government public sector saving, shared services needs careful design and excellent implementation.

P-Cards save over ÂŁ1m in Lincolnshire

30 Jun 2010

Watch our short film explaining how Procurement Lincolnshire has achieved over £1 million savings through the introduction of P-Cards. P-Cards are an innovative solution to reducing procurement costs for low value items (under £500) involving partnership working with local authorities, NHS Trusts, schools and fire service and is delivering cost savings.

Watch the film at: http://www.eastmidlandsiep.gov.uk/emiep-tv/1/34/ 

Identifying Contract Opportunities suitable for SMEs

23 Jun 2010

OGC and BIS have produced a guidance note in relation to identifying contract opportunities suitable for SME's.

Procurement Lincolnshire have used this guidance to include a summary on their web site.
see www.procurementlincolnshire.co.uk/section.asp?docid=87373&catid=23629

Local Authority 'Value for Money' Toolkit

22 Jun 2010

CIPFA and the LGA have announced that a new, easy-to-use 'Value for Money' tool for local authorities in England is being launched by CIPFA and the LGA Group this September.

What is the toolkit?
The tool will enable councils to track the costs and performance of their services, compare that to their peers, and provide access to data early enough to be useful in planning budgets and identifying efficiencies for the coming year.

The Value for Money (VfM) Toolkit was originally developed by Somerset County Council on behalf of the Society of County Treasurers, but has now been expanded to include district and unitary functions as well as becoming a fully interactive online service.

How to take part 
Authorities are actively encouraged to take part in this free service and would be grateful if you could arrange for completion of the VfM questionnaire, which is available to download at www.cipfastats.net/questionnaires.asp .

To assist with the timely release of the toolkit, CIPFA LGA would appreciate if you could arrange completion of the return by:
Monday, 19th July 2010.

HM Treasury Spending Review

21 Jun 2010

George Osborne has published details of the process and principles that will underpin the Spending Review, which will report in the autumn.

The Spending Review will set spending plans for the whole of this Parliament.

Last year, Britain had the largest deficit in peacetime history and the highest in the G7 and G20. If this rate of borrowing is allowed to continue, it could threaten the UK's economic stability. It could lead to higher interest rates, tax rises and less money for services such as schools, hospitals and policing.

 The Spending Review Framework

State of the Nation Report

21 Jun 2010

This report sets out a comprehensive assessment of poverty in the UK in 2010. The Government will use it to inform policy decisions as it advances its aims of tackling poverty and improving life chances, to ensure that everyone has the best possible chance to fulfil their potential.

 State of the Nation: poverty, worklessness & welfare dependancy in the UK

Janitorial Supplies Contracts released

18 Jun 2010

The Essex Procurement Hub has let a framework for janitorial supplies.

On 22nd May 2010 Braintree District Council let a four-year framework agreement for the supply of janitorial supplies. Following an OJEU notice, the winning company was short-listed from a number of suppliers and a thorough evaluation process took place, taking into consideration numerous aspects, such as price, policies, quality etc.

For more informations go to our Contracts page on the Procurement Hub.

(Please note that the Procurement Hub is restricted to local authority officers only).