1. MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL DIVERSITY, EQUALITY & COHESION FORUM CONSULTATION OVERVIEW January 2006

2. Background to Consultation Political and corporate commitment to equality, diversity and cohesion Review of Middlesbrough Council diversity systems identified weaknesses in external diversity approaches Existing Diversity Forum focussed on ‘inward facing’ diversity Proposed Middlesbrough Equality, Diversity & Cohesion Forum Consultation October – December 2005

3. Responses Positive and Supportive - Commission for equality and Human Rights 2007 - a clearer focus on Equality, Diversity & Cohesion issues within the LSP - potential to share good practice - rationalise consultation - clearer scrutiny and accountability - opportunity to involve private sector - opportunity to establish clearer leadership - potential as a ‘clearing house’ for information - make clearer links between diversity and regeneration - celebration of diversity - other agencies, not just the Council

4. Responses (2) Areas of concern - possibility of duplication - consultation/involvement fatigue - long term sustainability of Forum - needs to fit in with LSP - equality and diversity should be mainstreamed not just an add on - need for trust building - need to resource Forum - has to mean something not just another talking shop

5. What Should the Forum Look Like? Joint Agency Working Group? - pull together agencies to specifically drive diversity agenda forward more effectively - identify key Equality & Diversity responsibility within partner agencies - as diversity sub-group of LSP - would focus on agency/service provider approaches to diversity, sharing good practice across agencies - rationalise constitution - communicating across agencies - carry out diversity audits

6. What Should the Forum Look Like? (2) An ‘Event Based’ Forum? - annual/bi-annual event, report back on progress from JAWG - LSP to adopt as one of their annual stakeholder events - conference style with workshop opportunities - diversity celebration - opportunity to showcase diversity, both for agencies and community groups.

7. What Should the Forum Look Like? (3) What isn’t covered? - where/how does the JAWG interact with community groups? - potential to develop and deliver town wide Diversity Strategy - inclusion of wider community input of wants/needs/ideas - limits the virtual dimension, production of a diversity website which could act as a resource - gathering and monitoring community tension - local awards for excellence - other?

8. Key Question Do the proposals deliver what is needed?