The London Borough of Lewisham is classed by CPA as a 4-star council demonstrating strong engagement across diverse local communities.
The 2002 corporate assessment challenged Lewisham's approach to consultation and citizen engagement, as well as diversity and equality. Though it had historically been a strong performer in this field, the corporate assessment alerted the council to the need for a fresh approach. Rated good in CPA 2002, Lewisham Council developed ambitions for excellence, aiming to become a 4-star authority by the time of its next corporate assessment and to reach level 5 of the Equality Standard for Local Government by 2005.
Beyond the initial impetus provided by the 2002 corporate assessment, Lewisham Council used the user focus and diversity key lines of enquiry for self-assessment in preparation for inspection, and for ongoing service improvement. Council strategy and performance officers translate the key lines of enquiry into language that colleagues find more relevant for their own service areas. The council has used the assessment process, alongside other internal tools and processes, to help it raise the importance of diversity and user focus when it comes to service planning and delivery.
A range of activities were undertaken to ensure greater engagement with local communities and a stronger approach to diversity and equality:
- The council used the Audit Commission's Journey to Race Equality self-assessment tool with partners (for example, the primary care trust) to assess how well it was addressing this aspect of equality. This helped highlight achievements and enabled the council to assist partners with their development
- The council set up local area assemblies at ward level to drive local engagement, for instance in trialling participatory budgeting
- The council established a corporate equalities board which ensures that equality and diversity issues are taken into account in all levels of planning, including services and team plans. Other councils have visited Lewisham to learn from this innovative approach.
The 2007 corporate assessment recognised Lewisham Council as a national leader in its work to understand local people's diverse needs and that its consultation, research and community engagement continue to improve. The council became a 4-star CPA council in 2007 and self-assessed at Equality Standard level 5 in 2004/05; this was endorsed by external assessment and accreditation in 2007.