The Partnerships and Community Safety Manager presented the annual report on the work of the Welsh Government Funded Community Cohesion Officer and the community cohesion work of Bridgend Community Safety Partnership.

She informed the Committee that funding had been allocated for Regional Community Cohesion Coordinators to each region across Wales, with Bridgend being part of the Western Bay Community Cohesion Region.  She stated that the Council appointed a Community Cohesion Officer in September 2019, with extensions in funding made by the Welsh Government until March 2022.  She outlined the role of the Community Cohesion Officer, who works closely with Bridgend Community Safety Partnership partners to avoid duplication and ensure collaboration across all aspects of community safety and cohesion. 

She informed the Committee that the last 18 months has seen unprecedented changes locally, nationally, and internationally, making it difficult to understand the underlying causes of community tensions.  She outlined tables which illustrated hate crime during this calendar year had been reported at a similar level to last year, with race related incidents being the most common.  She informed the Committee that it was known that there is an under-reporting of hate crime, due to fear of repercussions, crime not being reported and people not being aware they are victims.  Areas of tension and hotspots are monitored.      

The Partnerships and Community Safety Manager reported that a key element to the work of the Community Cohesion Officer had been the effect of Brexit, engaging with individuals and communities to ensure maximum uptake of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS), monitoring tension within local communities, regular engagement and support.  To date, 4 schools in Bridgend County have received sessions from Show Racism the Red Card via face-to-face delivery or webinars.  The Community Cohesion Officer continued to provide the secretariat to the Prevent Channel Panel.  The Partnerships and Community Safety Manager informed the Committee that the Community Cohesion Programme is funded by Welsh Government until 31 March 202, with a decision on funding yet to be made.  A rapid review of the Community Cohesion programme was due soon which will shape the future delivery of the programme from April 2022 onwards.

The Regional Community Cohesion Coordinator presented an update on the EU Settlement Scheme, which the UK Government had estimated that 4 million would go through the programme, however applications exceeded 5.42 million as at 30 April 2021.  By the deadline for applications of 30 June 2021, 6 million applications were received, with 72,230 applications received from people residing in Wales.  He highlighted the top five nationalities received in each UK country.  In Bridgend, the Welsh Government had estimated that 1,000 applications would be received, with funding being based on that number, but 2,290 applications had been concluded, the majority being of working age.  The top five nationalities for applications in Bridgend being Polish, Romanian, Lithuanian, Italian and Portuguese. He stated that the data, when available would be used for the planning of services and decision-making.  Data on diversity within wards from the recent census will be available in 2022. 

The Chairperson asked whether there has been any indication from the Welsh Government on funding post March 2022 and how could the Council influence the Welsh Government’s thinking.  The Regional Community Cohesion Coordinator informed the Committee that the Community Cohesion programme was in each of the 22 local authorities in Wales, which had benefitted the 3 Councils making up the Western Bay region immensely.  He believed that the Community Cohesion programme needs to be funded by the Welsh Government for a period of 3 years going forward.   

The Chairperson also asked what the impact in funding was due to the under prediction of applications received to the EU Settlement Scheme being 50% higher.  The Regional Community Cohesion Coordinator confirmed there had been an under prediction of applications received, although some funding had been available from the Community Cohesion programme and that no additional funding had been required of local authorities.  He stated that there would be financial implications affecting future direction if the correct data was not received and that informed decisions could have been made had there been better data as to the numbers of European citizens living in the region been known.  He stated that a rapid review of the Community Cohesion programme and Race Equality Plan would commence shortly.      

The Cabinet Member Communities stated that he and his ward colleague were aware of the under representation of the figures for EU citizens, particularly in town centre wards, which resulted in a lack of registrations on the electoral register, with EU citizens not aware of their entitlement to vote in the UK.             

RESOLVED:           That the Cabinet Committee Equalities noted the content of the and accompanying Appendix 1.