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In recent years, much work has been done to evaluate the housing needs of black and minority ethnic (BME) communities and the extent to which they are met by social housing providers. Research has shown room for improvement, with race and equality issues too often sidelined to specialist units rather than integral to mainstream activity. New guidelines, codes of practice and legislation have been drawn up, and now the bodies which regulate housing providers - both RSLs and local authorities - are expecting to see some action.
The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 gives public bodies a legal duty to tackle unlawful discrimination and promote good relations between persons of different races. This, and the Housing Corporation's own BME policy, are incorporated into the new Regulatory Code for RSLs, requiring them to act on all aspects of equality and diversity, with BME-related targets for lettings, tenant satisfaction and representation, governing body membership, staffing and contractors. RSLs are expected to be working towards these obligations from April 2002, their performance scrutinised by the Corporation's new Inspection Team.
The DTLR, in its Action Plan, gives local authorities a strategic role in implementing the new Act - not only as housing providers in their own right, but also in identifying need, planning and co-ordinating action at local level. Their performance will be assessed by the Housing Directorate through Best Value inspections.
This seminar, which gets to grips with the new requirements and their practical implications, is a timely opportunity for providers of all kinds to gear up for effective action on BME housing and assess how they can work together in partnership to achieve change.
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Session 1
The Race Relations Amendment Act and the DTLR Action Plan
An overview of the Act
Commission for Racial Equality
Implications of the DTLR BME Action Plan for local authorities
Government Office/DTLR
Implications of the Act for the Housing Corporation and RSLs
The Housing Corporation
Session 2
Working partnerships
Developing BME strategies and services in partnership with stakeholders
Bristol City Council with an RSL
Lunch
Session 3
Workshops
- Stock transfer
- Best use of information: theory and practice
- Working with small dispersed communities
- Inclusion and segregation: issues and solutions
- Securing and retaining BME staff and board members
Session 4
Summary and conclusions
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in partnership
