The Inquiry has invited comments on Local Issues, Government Policies, Guidelines and Interventions, with the opportunity to provide evidence of good practice and how it might be encouraged and disseminated. This response from the Rotherham M.B.C. takes into account the views of parties as expressed at various meetings on Community Cohesion, and has been compiled under the following headings:

  Section 1:  Background information about Rotherham, and the implications of this.

  Section 2:  Recent tensions and actions taken.

  Section 3:  Examples of good practice in Rotherham.

  Section 4:  Implications for Government Policy at regional and national level.

  Section 5:  Concluding summary.

SECTION 1:  BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT ROTHERHAM AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS

  Rotherham has a population of just under 250,000 people and a detailed analysis of data from the 2001 census shows that Rotherham's Ethnic Minority Communities now comprise 3.1% of the total population. This is a 50% increase since the last census. Of these, 0.5% described themselves as "Mixed" in the new category introduced in the 2001 census and 2.23% described themselves as Asian/Asian British. The numbers of Chinese and other groups was 512, approximately half of whom were Chinese, and the numbers of Black/Black British were 400. This gives a make up of BME communities in Rotherham that is mainly Muslim—Pakistani, particularly from the rural areas of Mirpur and Kashmir. There is a significant Yemeni group not directly recorded in the census data as "Yemeni" was not a category. This group has mainly in and around the town centre. The Chinese community tends to be scattered through the Borough, and the Black community, many of whom are French speaking Black African refugees or Asylum Seekers live in and around the town centre. Thus many areas of Rotherham are predominantly White.

  The implications of these are:

  1.  High numbers of Muslims in Rotherham result in concerns about Islamophobia and increased tension when Muslim issues are in the news.

  2.  The recent arrivals particularly from Black African French speaking communities, do not identify closely with the Muslim groups or the local White community.

  3.  The situation articulated in the Cantle Report of "Parallel Lives" where the BME communities and the White communities in many cases lead separate lives, is evident in Rotherham.

SECTION 2:  RECENT TENSIONS AND ACTIONS TAKEN

  Rotherham last had major racial problems in 1994 when trouble erupted in the Eastwood area of the town and there were several days of tension and street rioting, resulting in national media coverage. Since then, much has been done, but tensions still occasionally surface.

  Recent tensions centred on the aftermath of the New York World Trade Centre destruction on 11 September 2001, when there was an increase in racist incidents and violence in Rotherham, including the burning down of a local fish and chip shop owned by Muslims. During this time, a multi-agency community task group met weekly (more regularly if necessary) to monitor the situation and respond appropriately. We believe that engaging all partners in a multi-agency approach, with the local Muslim community fully involved, is the best way to tackle potential problems of this nature.

  More recently, the Iraqi War posed us here in Rotherham with, potentially more problems associated with Islamaphobia. We established the Community Task Group again, Chaired by the Chief Executive of R.M.B.C. with the District Police Commander a key figure only with other agencies and community leaders. The group met regularly and took some immediate and initial precautions such as CCTV installation outside local Mosques, police monitoring of known activitists and higher visibility police patrols in some areas. The measures which were taken helped reduce the number of racist incidents. We have also had a number of incidents outside schools, usually at the end of the day when pupils are leaving and often perpetrated by members of the community not directly related to the school. A recent example (June 2003) occurred at a school where the intake is 12% B.M.E., virtually all of whom are bussed to the school from "across the boarder" in Sheffield. The school they attend is in an area of Rotherham that is almost 100% White. This inevitably leads to tensions from time to time. This is dealt with by a rapid multi-agency response to tackle the problem on all levels: securing evidence and arresting known perpetrators, ensuring appropriate police presence to avoid further trouble and by providing support to those involved.

  Community Cohesion is often perceived to be associated only with White racism and tension associated with B.M.E. communities. However, whilst this is a focus in Rotherham there are other issues on the Community Cohesion agenda. These include:

—  Young People, with "youth nuisance" perceived to be a problem in many areas.

—  Drug users . . . where there has been some tension associated with local pharmacies providing a support service to drug users.

SECTION 3:  EXAMPLES OF GOOD PRACTICE IN ROTHERHAM

  Following the problems in Northern Towns, Rotherham M.B.C. identified the similarities between Oldham, Burnley and Bradford and the make up of the population here . . . all these towns have a significant Muslim population concentrated in some areas and almost wholly White population in other areas. In order to respond to this, some of the actions taken in Rotherham, which we believe demonstrates good practice are:

  1.  The establishment of a Community Cohesion Strategy Group with key players involved in all Community Cohesion issues. The membership is:

  Mohammed Arshad—R.E.C.

  Christine Burbeary—South Yorkshire Police

  Geoff Eagle—Community Relations Adviser, R.M.B.C.

  Tim Hawkins—

  David Hey—Government Office

  John Lewis—

  Chris Mallender—Head of Policy and Partnerships, R.M.B.C.

  Jay Modhwadia—Head of Equalities, R.M.B.C.

  Ernie Opuni—Rotherham Ethnic Minority Alliance (REMA)

  Rebecca Slack—Policy and Partnerships, R.M.B.C.

  Janet Wheatley—Rotherham Partnership

  Sarah Whittle—Rotherham Primary Care Trust

  John Wraw—

  2.  The establishment of regular meetings of Partners and Community Leaders, Chaired by the Chief Executive, at times of particular emergency.

  3.  The rapid response to racial tension issues, ensuring a multi-agency approach to conflict resolution. The idea is to "nip it in the bud" ensuring a minor issue does not become a major one.

  4.  The establishment of two key posts:

  A Community Relations Adviser within the Chief Executive's Office to ensure a Senior and Strategic Level approach and to maintain links with Government at a regional level. A Community Cohesion Co-ordinator post based within the Race Equality Council as a Partnership appointment reporting to the Community Cohesion Strategy Group. Both posts demonstrate the commitment of Rotherham M.B.C. and the Local Strategic Partnership to commit resources to Community Cohesion issues. The Partnership Board has determined that "Connecting Communities" will be a cross cutting key theme.

  5.  The production of a book "Positive Images" showing examples of people from local BME communities who have achieved success and telling their story.

  6.  Engaging young people in the democratic process ensuring they have voice and influence through the Youth Cabinet and local youth groups.

  7.  The establishment of an Equalities and Diversity Unit within the Policy and Partnerships division of the Chief Executive's Office, demonstrating the need to link Equality and Community Cohesion issues as part of the mainstream activity of Rotherham M.B.C.

  8.  The Rotherham M.B.C. has taken the initiative in calling people together and establishing the Inter Faith Forum for Rotherham.

  9.  Rotherham Rugby Club, just promoted to the Premiership, have developed a range of activities to support Partnership working on Community Cohesion. The players, including Internationals and players from Fiji, Canada, Samoa, U.S.A., Italy, they have each spent one afternoon a week teaching and reading in local schools. Each player is allocated to one pupil on a "buddy system" and the results have been remarkable. The The Club also runs an out of hours learning support centre and works closely with the Local Authority on community activities particularly focussing on young people.

SECTION 4:  IMPLICATIONS OF GOVERNMENT POLICY AT REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL

  The emphasis given to Community Cohesion at Regional and National level has been helpful in securing local action, not only by the Local Authority but by other Partners. However, funding remains a problem. Many posts in the work areas associated most directly with Community Cohesion are based on temporary funding. There has been some good work in previous years using summer activities monies, but this only serves to illustrate the problem . . . it is a year round problem, not a "summer holidays" issue. The Community Facilitation Fund provides a small amount of money that is helpful but insufficient to meet the demands.

  Funding systems such as the Race Equality grant scheme "Connecting Communities" from the Home Office provide opportunities for finance, but as 802 of the 877 applications were unsuccessful last time, much time and energy is wasted in competitive bidding. An allocation based on identified need and potential tensions, rather than the ability to compile a good bid, would be welcomed.

  Likewise, with the Pathfinder systems awarded in this region to Kirklees. We are pleased to work with them, and learn from, their experiences, but we also need a similar level of funding to deliver similar services. The Regional Office, GOYH provides good support through its Community Cohesion Unit, with whom we have established good working links. The unit supports our meetings and has organised conferences on Community Cohesion. The last conference significantly focussed on children, young people and schools where there is much work to be done. We welcome and value the support given by Government at both Regional and National level but seek to secure more robust funding streams and for this area of work.

SECTION 5:  CONCLUDING SUMMARY

  Some key points:

—  Rotherham has 3.1% BME population, the vast majority of whom are Muslim.

—  There has been tension in communities but major problems have been avoided by a rapid multi-agency approach both at an operational and strategic level.

—  Rotherham has evidence of some good practice, notably in its community cohesion strategy group, emerging Inter Faith Forum and Multi-Agency approach led by the Rotherham Strategic Partnership.

—  The recently published Community Strategy for Rotherham demonstrates a clear commitment from Partners in Rotherham to Community Cohesion issues.

—  Community Cohesion is not only an issue for B.M.E. communities and concerns about White racism, although in Rotherham this is significant. It is also about other groups, including young people who are often, unfairly perceived to be a problem.

  Rotherham M.B.C. would be pleased to supply more details as further evidence on any of the matters referred to. We look forward to receiving the results of the Inquiry.