Communities and Local Government has published guidance for local authorities on contingency planning and tension monitoring as part of its programme of setting objectives for cohesion. The guidance is of direct relevance for the three national indicators for cohesion:

1. the percentage of people who believe people from different backgrounds get on well together in their local area

2. the percentage of people who feel that they belong to their neighbourhood

3. the percentage of people who have meaningful interactions with people from different backgrounds.

The department is anxious to emphasise that the guidance is not a reflection of unrest in the UK, citing in its press statement positive data from the Citizenship Survey that shows that over 80% of people feel individuals from different backgrounds get on well together in their local areas, and respect ethnic differences. The aim of the guidance is to encourage councils to track and monitor local trends and be alert to potential tension, with an emphasis on prevention and early intervention. It is proposed that contingency plans are based on local conditions and ways of working.

 The Middlesbrough Albert Park Time Trial (APTT) is coming and is a FREE weekly 5km event for runners of all standards, which will take place every Saturday starting at 9am in Middlesbrough’s Albert Park with the first run happening on the 31st May.

It is not a race against other runners, but a 5k time trial and it can really be whatever you want it to be – a training run, a fun run and we hope, even the start of your journey towards taking part in the Middlesbrough 10k!

Link to Middlesbrough 10k run homepage 

A taskforce has been set up to encourage more women from black and ethnic minority communities to become councillors.  It is chaired by Baroness Uddin, will last for twelve months and will report to the Minister for Women and Equality.

There is a worrying under-representation of BME women councillors and those who hold positions of leadership responsibility.

Affiliates may wish to contact the task force to highlight examples of their good practice in encouraging BME women to become active in political life locally.