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Equality policy must change

1/12/2002

OLDHAM council has been blasted in a key report for failing to promote race equality policies.

The report by the Government backed Audit Commission says the council is failing to implement the latest laws on race which require all public bodies to recruit more ethnic minority employees.

It notes that Asian council workers make up less that 2.6 per cent of the total authority work force in an area where over 13 per cent of the total population is of Pakistani, Bangladesh or Indian origin.

Ritchie called for a radical change in town hall attitudes to race. But the commission said its inspectors found this was being resisted by council employees. They said: "Many staff are defensive and lack confidence, which is understandable given the turbulence of the past 18 months. There is a need for stronger direction and leadership."

Particular criticism is reserved for the council's equal opportunities policy. This, says the report, "addresses race issues in very negative terms and fails to address gender and disability issues at all."

It adds: "(It) is a matter of particular concern, given that the council's record of employing black and minority ethnic staff is poor and fails to reflect the population, with only one black and minority ethnic member of staff at third tier level. The council has ambitious targets but collection of data on ethnic origin is patchy and there is no evidence of any strategy, either corporately or at departmental level, to bring about real change."

The report attacks recruitment policy. It says too many vacant posts are advertised only within the authority and that the commitment to recruiting ethnic minority staff in externally advertised jobs is "bland and formulaic."

In a response to the criticisms Oldham's chief executive Andrew Kilburn said many improvements had been made since the inspectors carried out their work last July.

He said: "No-one should under-estimate the challenge which lies ahead to tackle the huge problems of social and economic deprivation, racial tension and community cohesion in the borough."