Strategic Migration Partnership NILGA Conference 19 th April 2012 Derek Mitchell

Strategic Migration PartnershipNILGA Conference

19th April 2012

Derek Mitchell

Strategic Migration Partnership

Role of COSLA

• Political lobbying organisation for local government in Scotland

• The representative voice of Scotland’s 32 local authorities

• Promotes local governance and the perspective of local authorities


• Policy focus on migration issues• Supporting local authorities to develop a

strategic response to migration• Supporting local authorities to better

understand their migrant populations and their rights and entitlements

• Supporting local politicians’ roles in shaping public attitudes towards migration

• Working with different spheres of Government (Scottish and UK)

Role of Strategic Migration Partnership within COSLA


Partnership’s Vision

To work across the spheres of government in Scotland and with other key stakeholders to ensure that Scotland is a welcoming place for new migrants, and to support cohesive and inclusive communities.


Overview

• Policy Toolkit– Why ?

• Policy Context

– Background and aims– Structure and focus– Implementation

• Engagement

• Where/what next


‘Policy Toolkit’ – Why?

• Policy Environment– Local/national/UK– Scottish Government’s economic strategy– Historical trends and extrapolations in a

Scottish context– Need for strategic, long term planning


Policy Context

• UK context– Migration ‘problem’– Emphasis tends to be on negatives– Resultant policies

• Scottish context– Economics and demographics– Emphasis tends to be on positives– Broad political consensus– Resultant policies


‘Policy Toolkit’ Background• 2008 Conference: Public Sector Dialogue on Migration - need

for strategic approach to migration acknowledged• CSMP developed toolkit and first published in May 2010• Subsequently received funding from Scottish Government to

work with local authorities and Community Planning Partnerships to implement the toolkit

• Toolkit piloted in 2010/11• Work carried out last year to revise the toolkit in light of

political changes implemented after initial publication. Version 2.0 of the toolkit was launched at the CSMP Board meeting in September 2011.

• Currently engaging with a number of councils who have an interest in utilising the toolkit going forward


‘Policy Toolkit’ Aims

1. Help local authorities to understand:• Their demographic needs• Their migrant populations

2. Support them to develop a strategy suited to their needs to:

• Attract migrants into their areas• Retain existing migrants• Integrate migrants so they become long-term

residents


‘Policy Toolkit’ Structure

• Clustering – locating local authorities into clusters facing similar

demographic challenges;

• Data collection– creating an evidence base in which local authorities

can access relevant migration data; and

• Policy areas– which cover a breadth of policy options that will

support Community Planning Partners to attract, retain and integrate migrants in their area.


Clusters – What are they and why?Cluster 1Characteristics:-The total population of the area is increasing-The working age population is increasing as a proportion of the total population

Prognosis:This is probably the best situation for a local authority to be in. The increasing total population may lead to increasing demand on services, but this demand is supported by a significant working age population (as long as worklessness can be kept low).

Cluster 2Characteristics-The total population of the area is decreasing-The working age population is increasing as a proportion of the total population

Prognosis:This is a reasonably good situation for a local authority to be in. Demands on social care services are likely to be manageable because the working age population is increasing as a proportion of the total population (although worklessness may still be an issue). The biggest risk for these local authorities could be depopulation.

Cluster 3Characteristics:-The total population of the area is increasing-The working age population is decreasing as a proportion of the total population

Prognosis:This is a potentially difficulty situation for a local authority to be in. The total population is increasing, but the working age population as a proportion of the whole is shrinking. This will lead to increased demand on social care service and a smaller workforce to provide these and other services.

Cluster 4Characteristics:-The total population of the area is decreasing-The working age population is decreasing as a proportion of the total population

Prognosis:This is possibly the worst situation for a local authority because of the likelihood of depopulation leading to decreased viability for some services, coupled with a growing non-working aged population and linked demand for social care services with fewer working aged people to work in this sector.


‘Policy Toolkit’ Focus • Focus on integration and community cohesion

• Manage community relations– Manage resources effectively– Local politicians as opinion formers– Promote positive messages about migration

• Welcome packs in relevant languages– Many local authority examples

• Co-ordination across council services/departments

• Partnerships with other agencies through community planning


‘Policy Toolkit’ Focus• Ensuring services are accessible:

– Housing– Schools– English for Speakers of Other Languages tuition– Employment advice– Skills transfer

• Advertising skills shortages and marketing your area:– Communicating with Migration Advisory Committee– Potential for co-ordinated responses– Promoting the particular attractions of areas e.g. lifestyle,

location, scenery.


‘Policy Toolkit’ Format


Policy Toolkit Key Themes

• Community cohesion:– Civic leadership from local politicians– Supporting frontline staff– Policing and community safety

• Growing your population:– Skills shortages– Marketing and promoting the local area

• Employment– Employers’ responsibilities


Policy Toolkit Key Themes

• Education (children and adults)– English as an Additional Language (EAL)

• Health and Social Care– Overseas Disclosure checks– Health services for migrants

• Housing and Homelessness

• Humanitarian Programmes– Asylum dispersal


Use of the Toolkit to Date

• Piloted with:–Shetland Islands Council–Glasgow City Council

• Utilised by Dumfries & Galloway Council• Ongoing discussions with various

councils and clusters of councils


Engagement

• Formal CSMP Support Programme:– Development of proposal– Engagement with senior council staff and politicians– Agreed timescales and goals

• Stand alone use of toolkit– Utilise as part of wider work programme– May only use certain elements of the toolkit– Ability to tap in to expertise of CSMP staff as and

when required


Key Questions for LAs to Consider

• Do you want to grow or maintain your population and why?• What are your ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors?• What are you doing already and can you identify particular

strengths and weaknesses? • What more could be done?• What do other agencies need to do?• How is migration incorporated into your strategic plans /

SOAs?• What outcomes would a more strategic response to

migration focus upon?• Would it be useful to work together with neighbouring LAs

in considering a strategic approach to migration?


Where/What Next

• Currently involved in discussions with a number of individual councils

• Potential for multi-authority approach

• Regional engagement

• Seminars

• National conference on migration


My contact details:

Derek MitchellE: [email protected]: 0131 474 9242

COSLA Strategic Migration PartnershipCadell House, Suite 2/327 Waterloo StreetGlasgow G2 6BZ

http://www.migrationscotland.org.uk

Documents

Strategic Migration Partnership NILGA Conference 19 th April 2012 Derek Mitchell