Runmed March 2001 Bulletin

No. 335 SEPTEMBER Bulletin 2003 RUNNYMEDE’S QUARTERLY Celebrating Jim Rose’s Life and Legacy In 1968, when Jim Rose and Anthony Lester co-founded the Runnymede Trust, it was ‘to counter racist propaganda and to develop programmes for an increasingly diverse society’. From then until his death in 1999, Jim Rose’s contribution and devotion to those objectives was unwavering and unbroken. The tributes paid to him at that Racial Equality Studies it will be a time – by Nicholas Deakin, Sir lasting tribute to his energy and Adrian Cadbury, Dipak Nandy dedication to the shared ideals of (Runnymede’s first Director), Lord equality and diversity. Parekh, and Lord Lester (who Professor Heidi Safia Mirza’s gives the keynote address on 15 department at Middlesex October at the Jim Rose Lecture University is ‘committed to hosted by the British Council) – developing as a centre of focus on his clear-headedness and excellence in the field of British ‘gift for resolving differences of race relations’, and the view’; his ability to combine Runnymede Collection ‘shrewdly conducted business and ‘complements other historical and sheer enjoyment’; to be not just a uniquely specialist collections held demonstrating progress made so Eliot Joseph Benn ‘distinguished people manager’, a by Middlesex University’.The far in the preservation, promotion (Jim) Rose, CBE ‘true liberal in the tradition of Centre has taken on this task of and use of the Collection, and (1909–1999), John Stuart Mill’ and a ‘gentle restoring order and accessibility presenting plans for its future as photographed in enlightened man’ but also a to the contents of the gateway to a range of other 1963 by Jane Bown ‘uniquely generous human being’. Runnymede Library – an archive academic collections on themes We will be remembering and of books, periodicals, reports and relevant to researching racism in celebrating all these attributes and press cuttings in excess of 6000 all its social and political more at the Jim Rose Lecture on items – with generous support manifestations. 15 October. from Middlesex University, the This year’s Jim Rose Lecture The Runnymede library Heritage Lotteries Fund and the celebrates not only the life of benefited enormously from Jim Pilgrim Trust. Runnymede’s founder, but Rose’s personal generosity as he At the Jim Rose Lecture provides an opportunity to donated many of his own books evening the Runnymede sample what the Middlesex to its shelves. In its new home at Collection at Middlesex University University collections will soon be Middlesex University’s Centre for will be launching its website, able to offer. ❑ ISSN: 1476-363X RUNNYMEDE’S QUARTERLY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER 2003 1 and encourage individuals to take Regulation, inspection responsibility at all levels in an organisation. Successfully and race equality implemented reviews of this type are far from form-filling and lip- service – and form-filling and lip- RRAA 2000 In October, Runnymede publishes a collection of service are simply unacceptable in perspectives on regulation and inspection for race equality meeting the challenging agenda for race equality that is necessary for as part of its Guardians of Race Equality project. Here Rob the long-term health of a successful Berkeley reflects on the role of regulators and inspectors, multi-ethnic society. and some of the opportunities and challenges they Intelligent Accountability encounter in ensuring public authorities fulfil their duty to Onora O’Neill argues in a different promote race equality. context for ‘intelligent accountability’ rather than an accountability that The quest for a major challenges and opportunities deprofessionalises, and destroys the successful multi-ethnic that face inspectors and regulators confidence of, and in, practitioners. society is defined by our are discussed ability to understand what If we want greater changes we need to make in Self Regulation accountability without damaging Rob Berkeley order to create a society in which all ‘Race’ and racisms are very powerful professional performance we citizens can share a sense of social constructs, the result of need intelligent accountability. belonging, in which an effective complex histories, constantly Intelligent accountability, I balance between cohesion, equality reproduced and redefined and vital suspect, requires more attention and difference can be struck. to our understanding of late to good governance and fewer Our public authorities are key modern societies. Any response to fantasies about total control. actors in supporting the creation of building trust in public institutions Good governance is possible a sense of belonging. Building trust around race equality needs to only if institutions are allowed in these authorities therefore recognise the embeddedness of some margin for self- becomes a significant act in ‘race’ and its complexity.To this end, governance of a form developing the kind of society for an approach to race equality that appropriate to their particular which we strive, a society ‘at ease does not lead to fundamental tasks, within a framework of with itself’. A key means of building change and shifting of world-views financial and other reporting. trust in public authorities with will not be strong enough. Change Such reporting, I believe, is not minority ethnic communities is to cannot be merely cosmetic.To improved by being wholly respond to institutional racism by reduce the opportunity that the standardised or relentlessly working to eliminate it, and also to RRAA presents to that of a ‘tick- detailed, and since much that work to actively promote equality of box’ exercise would be a terrible has to be accounted for is not opportunity and good relations waste. Regulation and inspection easily measured it cannot be between different ethnic groups.The need to be developed in such a boiled down to a set of stock public also needs to know that this manner as to offer support to performance indicators.Those work is happening and that public authorities to engage with the who are called to account organisations are employing their elimination of institutional racism in should give an account of what best efforts to ensure that they play more than a cursory fashion. they have done and of their their full role in this field. The report of the Commission successes or failures to others For this reason, the Race on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain who have sufficient time and Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 is presented a model which started experience to assess the powerful, innovative, and crucial with organisational self-review at its evidence and report on it. Real ‘To reduce the legislation.The successful base and built a regulatory accountability provides opportunity implementation of the legislation is framework which supported and substantive and knowledgeable that the now the key challenge.With the developed this approach (see p.269 independent judgement of an RRAA imperative of building trust in public para 19.6).This is important for institution’s or professional’s presents to authorities for citizens from minority more than just administrative work.1 that of a ethnic communities, regulators and convenience. Successful models of “tick-box” inspectorates need to consider their review can engage professionals and This may appear to be a reductive exercise activities in the light of how to best practitioners as the experts, involve vision of accountability.The would be a respond to their enhanced the whole organisation, build temptation for inspectorates and terrible waste’ responsibilities. Below some of the internal capacity and understandings, regulators may be to respond to 2 RUNNYMEDE’S QUARTERLY BULLETIN SEPTEMBER 2003 such a vision by arguing that their • Type 1 inspections give the contribution inspectors concern for the public interest assurance on whether the make to high standards of makes standardisation, detail, and processes being followed by the service. Inspection in the public ease of measurement essential.Yet service provider are reliable and sector is good at providing in terms of race equality at least, a meet basic standards. assurance but it can do more, drive for standardisation may serve Inspectors may also provide and it can communicate its to disengage practitioners, leading to complex information as part of findings more effectively. RRAA 2000 race equality becoming another their assessment work. (OPSR p. 2) concept imposed from the ‘over- • In type 2 inspections, further controlling centre’, rather than about development of performance In considering how to ‘Trust is not the professionalism of their practice. indicators has been used to communicate more effectively with better A model of self-review, internally identify the relative the public, inspectorates and developed developed targets, regular reporting achievement of individual regulatory bodies should give through and honest dialogue with regulatory providers, and a greater attention to how they can learn to claiming to and inspecting bodies, with an specificity of information.Type 2 better communicate with people know all of underpinning of minimum standards, inspection is more concerned from minority ethnic communities. the answers, is likely to yield more enduring with accountability and There are a number of ways in but rather change. presents a challenge to the which this can be achieved: through through an As ever, there is a balance to be providers to improve. media targeted specifically at honesty and struck.Trust is not better developed • In type 3 inspections, minority ethnic communities, transparency through claiming to know all of the inspectors are playing a more through existing networks such as in coming to answers, but rather through an active part in securing the voluntary sector, through terms with honesty and transparency in coming improvement, while retaining statutory networks such as Race the to terms with the challenges. As the their independence. Less Equality Councils, or through challenges’ MORI/Audit Commission research emphasis is placed on checking developing networks of noted: compliance, and more on the practitioners and professionals in user perspective.

Load more