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How do councils keep an eye on equalities during such tough economic times? Barry Quirk looks at the latest suggestions from Capital Ambition. Striving for equality of outcomes and fairness in all we do is at the heart of public service. But as the economic pressures of recession grow and new efficiency targets are set, then real challenges face us all if we are to avoid severely compromising the progress made toward greater access to services and enhanced life opportunities for so many. It is timely then that Capital Ambition, London's regional improvement and efficiency partnership, has published a collection of case studies outlining some of the major benefits of a clear focus on equality and fairness at this most difficult time. The challenge is to maintain fair and equitable services and support for vulnerable communities while meeting renewed efficiency targets and savings. The scale of the challenge ahead is only too clear. The Single Equalities Bill and the work of the Equality and Human Rights Commission underline the progress still to be made in so many different areas of our business. Furthermore, the work of the Joseph Rowntree Trust has outlined the pernicious nature of recession on communities and its discriminating impact on those who, by experience of poverty, prejudice or discrimination, have had their life opportunities diminished. The waste of human potential in successive recessions is a salutary reminder of the potential for long-term damage – not just damage to the nation's productive capacity, but the social costs of dislocated and disconnected communities and the exacting toll on the wellbeing of society as a whole. We face major challenges to avoid losing a generation to the ‘want' for work and opportunity. The Capital Ambition case studies provide an insight into the power of innovation in service delivery. They highlight some excellent examples of working smarter to enhance equity while generating savings. Bexley LBC developed an accessible transport scheme providing affordable, accessible and safe transport for community and voluntary groups. It started in 2004 with just three buses, and today operates a fleet of 12 vehicles with more than 30 staff and volunteers. The project also manages the council's social services fleet and has generated savings of around £100,000 in the first year. The scheme has already reduced the level of council funding it receives by 84% and there is scope for it to develop further income streams. The service also promotes healthy eating through links with nutritionists at Bexley Care Trust, a local fruit and vegetable project, local farm shops, markets and garden centres. Elsewhere, Redbridge LBC focused its efforts on an outreach project to increase recycling in black and minority ethnic communities. This included workshops, links to community groups and access to an officer able to speak four Asian languages. In my own borough of Lewisham, we have saved significant sums on the translation and interpreting service, while extending the range of people reached by the service. Re-organisation of the service and better monitoring of take-up has led to better targeting of resources and helped identify the needs of newly-emerging communities in the borough. As a result of these and other examples of equalities work underway, councils are able to show positive outcomes for their communities, a key element of our Local Area Agreements and the new the Equality Framework for Local Government, as well as ensuring more cost-effective delivery. Nothing in the challenges ahead will be easy, but an equality focus can, and should, be sustained. Capital Ambition has highlighted just some of the successes of local authorities focusing on equality and efficiency to deliver better, more cost-effective services. Barry Quirk is Capital Ambition equalities champion and Lewisham LBC chief executive

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WHITEHALL

Ambitious plans for equalities

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