Agenda and minutes

Agreed as an accurate record.

To confirm the items of business marked Part I will be considered in public and that the items marked Part II will be considered in private.

It was agreed that all items of business would be considered in public.

For this witness session, the Committee heard from a community representative from a Women’s Group in the Borough and from the Chair of Hillingdon’s Inter Faith Network.

Duncan Struthers, Chair of Hillingdon’s Inter Faith Network provided the review with details of the organisation’s work in relation to community cohesion, together with the aims of the Network

·        To hold regular inter faith network meetings, with faith leaders and community representatives where common issues could be discussed

·        To develop a programme of inter faith activities and events

·        To work together, supported by the police and the local authority, to develop strategies to address misunderstanding and local tensions

·        Acting as a resource for information on different faiths in the Borough

·        Participate in consultation activities and events with statutory and voluntary services to influence service development and delivery

·        To provide support to different faith communities in Hillingdon for the furtherance of the Network’s aims

There were 110 faith buildings in the Borough. Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Jain, Muslim and Sikh faith buildings were documented in the database.

An audit which had taken place highlighted that 48% of the activities were run for the wider community in comparison to 52% that have a religious emphasis. This was broken down to well over 1,000 different activities which ranged from activities for religious services, for community groups, for groups specifically for older people, youth groups, children’s groups, pre-school groups, activities where food and drink were sold or provided and self-support groups. This indicated the wide ranging community groups and activities which took place around the Borough.

Reference was made to the inter faith work which took place where people from different religions learnt about other faiths and religions and often went to observe others at worship. This integrated people from different religions and gave an opportunity to learn more about other people and their religions.

Members were informed of some of the work of the Network which included:

• Regular themed network meetings bringing faith groups together with common concerns i.e benefits, housing, crime and safety, planning, young people
• Work with schools and young people including faith in schools programme with volunteers from different faiths running workshops in local schools on social issues. A regular inter faith workshop in partnership with Swakeleys school that brought students from secondary schools from across the Borough together to discuss matters relating to building inter faith understanding and dialogue. Involvement in a research project with Brunel University in relation to young people and religion and creating a DVD with sixth form students
• Bringing faith leaders together from across the Borough to act as a resource for guidance and dialogue in times of difficulty or tensions in the Borough and to work in partnership with LBH and the Police as necessary

Reference was made to the excellent work which the Strong and Active Communities Partnership carried out and special thanks was paid to Fiona Gibbs, Stronger Communities Officer, who drove many of the initiatives forward.

KhalidaObeida from the Afghan Women's Group who  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

The Committee noted a report which provided Members with details of the work which had been carried out on the generator for the Civic Centre since its installation in January 2011.

Noted.Members were informed that at their next meeting consideration would be given to the Committee’s next review topic. A suggestion was made that the Committee could look at an aspect of Safer Neighbourhood Policing.

Noted.