DD2176 Citizenship and Integration Initiative

In April 2017, the Mayor announced the Citizenship and Integration Initiative (CII, ADD 2056), a pooled fund from independent trusts and foundations. The CII’s objectives for the first two years are:

1. Civic Engagement: Encouraging the take-up of citizenship and involvement in democracy;

2. Young Londoners: supporting young Londoners to secure their legal rights to residence;

3. Diversity, social contact and identity: celebrating diversity and building shared identity.

This paper covers work relating to the second of these objectives and seeks approval for expenditure relating to work progressing these objectives.

Thousands of London’s children and young people are growing up in the city, as Londoners, without holding British citizenship. Many young Londoners are growing up without any legal status. These young Londoners find themselves blocked from living a normal life, contributing, progressing and achieving their potential. Among an estimated 618,000 undocumented people in the UK, it was estimated that 36 per cent (222,480) were 24 and under. This age structure would suggest that there were an estimated 159,120 undocumented Londoners aged 24 and under as at the end of 2007. For a number of reasons, including the tightening of routes to regularisation and increases in fees, it is likely that the last ten years will have seen this population increase, potentially significantly.

Objective: Increase young Londoners’ awareness of their legal rights to residence and citizenship and facilitate the conditions in which more children and young people are able to secure their residence/citizenship.

Under Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, as a public authority, the Mayor of London must have ‘due regard’ of the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation as well as to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who have a protected characteristic and those who do not.

Equality, integration and inclusion are the drivers behind this programme. It gives young Londoners who are not British citizens but have grown up and been educated here equal opportunities to advance and participate in the city that is their home. These are young people who, due to their immigration status, can be at risk of marginalisation.

The programme includes extensive engagement work with children and young people who are not British citizens to ensure that their views and needs are integral to informing the delivery of the work. The GLA will co-design the programme to ensure the views and needs of those involved are fully included in decisions that will affect them. The programme takes positive action to give these groups a voice in City Hall, and to work with them to promote their rights.

The guidance will be produced in accordance with best practice for accessible communications and there will be translated outputs. The recruitment of the legal steering group will meet equality, diversity and inclusion standards.

4.1 Key risks and issues

5.1 Approval is being sought for expenditure up to £110,000 for the Citizenship and Integration Initiative.

5.2 This expenditure will be funded from the 2017-18 Social Integration budget within the Communities and Social Policy Unit.

6.1 Sections 1 to 3 of this report indicate that:

The decisions requested of the Mayor concern the exercise of the GLA’s general powers, falling within the GLA’s statutory powers to do such things considered to further or which are facilitative of, conductive or incidental to the promotion of economic development and wealth creation, social development or the promotion of the improvement of the environment in Greater London; and in formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought officers have complied with the GLA’s related statutory duties to:

• Pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people;

• Consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons, health inequalities between persons and to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom; and

• Consult with appropriate bodies.

6.2 In taking the decisions requested, the Mayor must have due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty; namely the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010, and to advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic (race, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity and gender reassignment) and persons who do not share it and foster good relations between persons share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it (section 149 of the Equality Act 2010). To this end, the Mayor should have particular regard to Section 3 (above) of this report.

6.3 Officers have indicated some additional management resources may be required. Officers must ensure that they comply fully with all GLA HR/Head of Paid Service protocols in respect of any staffing proposals, in particular the need to gain all necessary approvals for the creation of any new posts.

6.4 Any procurement required and authorised should be undertaken in accordance with the GLA’s Contracts and Funding Code and in consultation with Transport for London Procurement, who will determine the procurement strategy.

Officers must ensure that an appropriate contract is put in place between and executed by the GLA and the successful bidder(s) before the commencement of the services.