Key information
Executive summary
Specifically, it requests approval to spend up to £595,000 from the Social Integration Team budget 2018-19, up to £50,000 from the Communities & Intelligence minor programmes fund 2017-18, and up to £30,000 from the Communities & Intelligence minor programmes budget 2018-19. This expenditure will continue work begun in 2017-18 and approved by MD2192 ‘Social Integration Programmes 2017-18’. In most cases we are seeking full approval to spend the budget as per these proposals. Where this is not the case for specific projects, we have made clear that we are seeking delegation to get detailed spending proposals approved via a DD or ADD at a later date.
Decision
Part 1: Non-confidential facts and advice
1.1 This decision seeks approval for expenditure on the Communities and Social Policy Unit’s Social Integration Programme for 2018-19 to deliver the aims set out in the Mayor’s Social Integration Strategy, ‘’All of Us’’.
1.2 Specifically, it requests approval to spend up to £595,000 from the Social Integration Team budget 2018-19, up to £50,000 from the Communities & Intelligence minor programmes fund 2017-18, and up to £30,000 from the Communities & Intelligence minor programmes budget 2018-19. This expenditure will continue work begun in 2017-18 and approved by MD2192 ‘Social Integration Programmes 2017-18’. In most cases we are seeking full approval to spend the budget as per these proposals. Where this is not the case for specific projects, we have made clear that we are seeking delegation to get detailed spending proposals approved via a DD or ADD at a later date.
1.3 Although London is a diverse city, Londoners do not always have opportunities to build relationships with others from different backgrounds. Londoners are more likely to be lonely than people in other parts of the UK, and rates of participation in volunteering, voting and civic life vary widely between groups. This, combined with the additional barriers some groups face to taking a full part in the life of the city, undermines the potential for London to reap the benefits of its incredible diversity. Social integration gives us all a stake in each other’s lives and wellbeing. It helps reduce alienation and isolation, creating a healthier, safer and fairer city.
1.4 In November 2017, MD2192 approved four flagship social integration programmes – namely the London Family Fund (formerly known as the Social Integration Innovation Fund), Workforce Integration Network (WIN), the Social Integration Design Lab, and ESOL Plus. These programmes were formally launched in the Mayor’s Social Integration Strategy in March 2018 and successfully started with funding from 2017-18 budgets. The programmes are going well – with high demand for grant offers and positive stakeholder feedback – so we intend to continue using the same approaches for a second year. Funding is requested for 2018-19 in order to continue them, as planned, into a second year along with Mayor’s Citizenship and Integration Initiative (CII), which was launched in April 2017 and has also proven to be an effective model.
1.5 A breakdown of the expenditure proposed for approval is summarised in the table below*.
1.6 A detailed strategy setting out funding requirements for the money allocated in the table above* is set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 below. For all projects we are funding through grants and procurement, full funding agreements will be put in place with external partners when funding is awarded.
*The breakdown can be seen in the decision file attached to this page.
The Social Integration Team works with colleagues across the GLA to:
• Deliver key initiatives with social integration at their heart;
• Lead policy and advocacy work to remove specific barriers to social integration;
• Mainstream social integration in the organisation’s strategies, projects and policies; and
• Partner with a wide range of stakeholders to affect change for Londoners.
The Team’s key objectives for 2018-19 are:
• To widely communicate the Mayor’s strategy for improving social integration in London and turn his vision into reality through strategic actions and key initiatives in close collaboration with London-wide stakeholders.
• To develop a useful dashboard of social integration measures for London that allows City Hall to understand and track progress on improving integration, plan strategically, and advocate for policy change by others.
• Through the Citizenship and Integration Initiative (CII), to run an effective partnership with civil society which increases civic engagement, facilitates the pathway to citizenship for Londoners with insecure status, celebrates diversity and builds shared identity.
• Through the London Strategic Migration Partnership (LSMP) and Migrant and Refugee Advisory Panel (MRAP), to work closely with strategic partners to achieve a reduction in specific barriers to social integration facing migrant and refugee communities in London by promoting policy change, improved policy implementation and effective programmes such as community sponsorship.
*Details of social integration projects, expected outcomes and breakdown of spend can be found on the decision file attached to this page.
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. Tackling disadvantage and discrimination is a central part of these programmes on social integration. The programmes on workforce integration and ESOL are specifically designed to overcome the additional barriers that some groups face to social integration (in this case race, and English language proficiency).
The London Family Fund will continue to make the inclusion of disadvantaged and excluded groups key criteria for awarding funding to a project.
Risk register
Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities
An extensive phase of community and stakeholder engagement informed the development of the Mayor’s Strategy for Social Integration. The London Family Fund has been further developed in consultation with families and parents, and the Social Integration Design Lab has been co-designed with integration and equality leads from London borough councils.
Approval is sought for expenditure of up to £675,000 on the Communities and Social Policy’s Social Integration Programme for 2018-19.
Of the budget required, £595,000 will be funded from the Social Integration Programme budget for 2018-19 held within the Communities and Social Policy Unit, £30,000 will be funded the Director of Communities and Intelligence’s Minor Programmes budget for 2018-19. The balance of £50,000 will be funded from the Communities and Social Policy’s agreed 2017-18 carry-forward, original funded from Director of Communities and Intelligence’s Minor Programmes budget for 2017-18.
Sections 1-7 of this report indicate that:
The decisions requested of the Mayor (in accordance with the GLA’s Contracts and Funding Code) 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, conducive 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 Authority’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.
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 and foster good relations 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 (section 149 of the Equality Act 2010). To this end, the Mayor should have particular regard to section 5 (above) of this report.
Officers must ensure that the funding is distributed fairly, transparently, in accordance with the GLA’s Equality Duty and in a manner which affords value for money in accordance with the Contracts and Funding Code. Officers must ensure that an appropriate funding agreement is put in place between and executed by the GLA and recipient before any commitment to fund is made.
Officers should ensure that should any works/services/supplies be required, it must be procured by Transport for London Procurement who will determine the detail of the procurement strategy to be adopted in accordance with the GLA’s Contracts and Funding Code. Officers must ensure that appropriate contract documentation is put in place and executed by the successful bidder(s) and the GLA before the commencement of any works/services/supplies.
Once this MD has been approved the team will develop a detailed delivery plan for each of the programmes for the year.
Signed decision document
MD2311 Social Integration Budget 2018-19