One Council - One CityEquality Framework for Local Government

Peer Review for Excellent

Cllr David Faulkner

Leader of the Council

Barry Rowland

Chief Executive

Our Council – our role• High quality services• Strategies and plans• Providing leadership• Promoting partnership• Driving delivery

Our Council – our values

• Open, accountable, listening, responsive• Customer and citizen at the heart of what we do• Manage resources in a co-ordinated way• Value contributions and trusting each other• See diversity as a strength• Focus on continuous improvement

Our Council – our commitment

‘We want to make sure that all people in Newcastle have equal access to education, employment, services and opportunities. We want to put equality and fairness at the centre of everything we do. We believe taking practical action to improve equality and fairness will help us achieve this vision. We believe that if Newcastle is a fairer place everyone will benefit.’

Our city• 284,300 residents• 90,000 travel to work• Aging population• Large student population• 6.9% BME (20% in schools)• 70.6% Christian• 1 in 5 people are disabled• 16.8% out of work• 25% claim free school meals• LGBT community

Our improvement and ambition

• A fit for purpose organisation• Dealing with the hard to do• Finishing what we started• Building a strong economy • Providing regional leadership• Creating confidence

Our challengesThe five big challenges1. Economic

competitiveness2. Demographic change

and health improvement

3. Climate change opportunities

4. Housing and communities

5. Child poverty

Our changing landscape• Loss of regional bodies • Major changes to the health service • Council’s involvement in public health• New partnerships with business

Local Enterprise Partnerships North East Economic Partnership

• Challenges and new opportunities

Our financial challenge• Savings of £44.1m • Loss of 665 FTE posts• Budget priorities aligned

with SCS• Commitment to high

standard of key services• Proposals based on sound

financial base• Disproportionate impact of

reductions on North East

Our budget objectives • A balanced budget • Protect frontline services • Outcomes for local people• Business growth• Corporate priorities• Value for money• Capital investment

Doing things the Newcastle Way

• Distinctive approach • Finishing what we started• Making strong partnerships • Being truly local • Safeguarding the vulnerable • Improving quality of life

Recognition by residents• Resident satisfaction with

the council continues to improve

• People feel the council is efficient and well run

• Our staff feel the organisation is improving

Our equality journey

• 2003 – Self assessment Levels 1 / 2• 2004 – Programme of EINAs• 2006 – Achieved Level 3• 2008 – Self assessment at Level 4• 2009 – Moved to ‘Achieving’• 2010 – Self assessment at Excellent• 2011 – Peer Review

Knowing our community

• Quantitative and qualitative• Outcomes Based Accountability• Joint Strategic Needs

Assessment• Equality data website• Local Information System• Gaps in data

Knowing our community

“The Council has a good understanding of the city and its people. It has detailed information on

local needs and makes good use of this when making new plans and strategies.”

Oneplace Organisational Assessment 2009

Our commitment and leadership

• Clear vision and commitment• City for Peace• Member Champions• Regional leaders• Partnership working• ICEE sub-group• Recognition

Our commitment and leadership

“Political leadership of the Council is strong. They have a clear view of how the Council should be working to improve the quality of life for people at a local level and are giving better value for

money. They actively champion more localised decision making.”

Oneplace Organisational Assessment 2009

Engaging with our communities

• Empowering Authority• Community Empowerment

Framework• 11,500 deciding how to spend

£4.5m• Neighbourhood Charters• Youth Council• Community hubs• Volunteering

Engaging with our communities

“The Council is good at involving local people in what it does. The Council’s ‘Udecide’

programme is successful in helping local people to decide on spending. There are good

opportunities for young people to be involved in decision making and influencing policies.”

Oneplace Organisational Assessment 2009

Providing responsive services

• Excellent adult social care• Customer Service Excellence• Impact assessments• Accessible services• Dignity for All• Procurement practice• High satisfaction levels

Providing responsive services

“The Place Survey shows that people in Newcastle are extremely positive about the Council.

Newcastle ranks among the highest of similar councils for the way it runs things.”

“The Council is making a difference that people can see.”

Oneplace Organisational Assessment 2009

Developing a diverse workforce

• Range of positive initiatives• Special leave policies• Investors in People• 28th place in the Stonewall WEI• Charter Plus for Member Development• Increasing workforce satisfaction• Support and develop the workforce

Developing a diverse workforce

• 93% of staff said they are able to deal with a range of customers, including for example disabled people and people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

• 96% of staff understood what is meant by equality and diversity. 92% understood their responsibilities in relation to equality and diversity.

Staff survey 2010

Any questions?