MPA budget equalities submission to GLA

Report: 13
Date: 13 March 2003
By: Clerk

Summary

The Mayor’s office has established a process whereby each member of the GLA group is required to submit a separate equalities budget submission, as part of the overall organisational budget submission. The budget process is now completed, however, it was proposed that members of this Board should be given the opportunity to consider the detailed submission that was submitted to the GLA in October 2002, which has been amended to incorporate some of the suggestions proposed by the GLA.

A. Recommendation

That the report be noted.

B. Supporting information

1. The Chair of the EODB, Clerk, Deputy Treasurer, Head of Human Resources and the Head of Consultation and Diversity met with the Mayors Policy Director, Policing and Equalities and his staff in December to discuss the MPA’s submission. In addition, MPA officers also attended the separate meeting that the Mayor’s Office also held with the MPS to discuss their equalities budget submission.

2. The decision on the budget is now finalised, however, while the submission was submitted and approved by the full Authority members of this Board have not had the opportunity to consider the detail of the submission. The submission incorporated the budgetary effects and growth implications of the work programme agreed by the Board on 26 September 2002. The submission is attached at Appendix 1 for members. It also appears on the MPA website. Copies may be obtained from the Secretariat (020 7202 0181).

3. The GLA has introduced the budget and equalities process for the following reasons

• Promoting equality is a statutory responsibility both of the Mayor and all the organisations that comprise the GLA group. This responsibility fundamentally differentiates the public and private sectors and reinforces existing mayoral priorities.
• The Equalities for All Review commits the Mayor to leading London’s equality agenda in ensuring that the GLA is “an equalities champion and leader in promoting equalities, challenging and eradicating discrimination, providing responsive and accessible services for Londoners and ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse population of London.” By using the budget process the Mayor can help to ensure that equality considerations are integral to all GLA Group plans.
• All the GLA group organisations are attempting to “mainstream equalities.“ The budget and equalities process allows the GLA group to demonstrate how equalities is one of the fundamental determinants of policy and resource allocation.

4. As a result of the process:

• The Mayor will be adequately informed of the main equality issues facing the organisations in the GLA group, their approach to taking these issues forward and of the resources committed by each organisation.
• The Mayor will be in a position to comment authoritatively on the targets set by each organisation in the group and on the level of resources they plan to commit.
• The GLA will be able to build expertise on high level policy approaches to equalities. It will be able to share such expertise and disseminate best practice within the GLA group.

In addition a satisfactory process should make a major contribution towards allowing each organisation in the GLA group to demonstrate that they are fulfilling their statutory obligations.

5. Members will note on page 4 of the proposal that it is proposed that the scrutiny of the MPA expenditure will be one of the key objectives of the EODB. Members may wish to propose ways in which they wish to see this objective progressed.

C. Equality and diversity implications

Securing a dedicated diversity budget will enable the EODB to execute its terms of reference and assist the Authority towards achieving its overall statutory and best practice responsibilities with regard race, equal opportunities and diversity.

D. Financial implications

The budget for 2003/04 been previously agreed. This report does not propose any additional budgetary implications.

E. Background papers

MPA budget submission 2003/04

F. Contact details

Report author: Julia Smith, MPA.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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