BRADFORD is “diverse but not divided”, its Council leader has declared in response to a new national report claiming measures are needed to tackle growing levels of “ethnic segregation” in some areas of the UK.

Following a year-long study, Dame Louise Casey said she found there were areas struggling to cope with the pace and scale of changes faced as a result of immigration, highlighting large social and economic gaps between different ethnic groups.

One of the findings of the review, which was commissioned by former Prime Minister David Cameron amid concerns hundreds of radicalised young Britons were joining Islamic State, was that children should be taught “British values” of tolerance, democracy and respect to help bind communities together.

She said: “Social integration is about closing the gaps that exist between people and communities. We need more effort to be put into integration policies to help communities cope with the pace and scale of immigration and population change in recent years.”

In response, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, the leader of Bradford Council, said: “Dame Casey’s report is an interesting contribution to the debate as we make progress towards integration, opportunity and shared common values, all things that we are committed to.

“Bradford is vibrant, diverse, and globally connected, the youngest and one of the most dynamic places in the UK.

“We have extraordinary assets and also significant challenges.

“In this large city there can be are underlying tensions between some members of different communities particularly in a climate of austerity where they perceive themselves to be competing for scarce resources, services or opportunities.

“International events can be played out on our streets.

“Free speech, British values, and perceptions of fairness, identity and integration are open to very different interpretations and sometimes contested.

“We have had some examples of Islamophobia, Islamic extremism, anti-Semitism, right wing activism, and sectarianism.

“Most people speak good English, but for others poor English limits their ability to integrate.

“Some neighbourhoods are largely mono-cultural with poor quality housing. Some schools don’t reflect all our diversity because many children quite naturally attend the nearest one.

“We don’t turn a blind eye or consign these issues to the “too hard” box. Our people and organisations work relentlessly on them and Bradford can demonstrate lots of good work.

“We support dialogue across our communities and tackle conflict. We challenge and respond to unacceptable or criminal behaviour, including hate crime, and work hard to protect vulnerable people from extremism.

“We promote English language skills, active, responsible citizenship and shared values, placing equal emphasis on rights and responsibilities.

“Three times in the last six years we’ve seen far right extremists demonstrating here and every time, local people from all communities have shown their dignity, integrity and unity by working together and emphatically rejecting divisive messages of hate.

“It’s no coincidence that Bradford has the first synagogue in the world to have a Muslim council member, or that during devastating flooding in December 2015 many different communities, including those not affected worked tirelessly together to deliver relief.

“Our major employers have increasingly diverse workforces so more and more people are meeting, mixing and sharing experiences at work.

“Public spaces such as the Broadway shopping centre and City Park are some of the most diverse in the country in terms of the people enjoying them.

“The national Schools Linking Project began in Bradford and is still based here. Our Get Bradford Working partnership is connecting people to the economy and linking students to employers.

“We’ve have had some successes but we aren’t complacent. We are active and vigilant. Bradford’s long-term resilience depends on ensuring that our youth and global connections represent strengths not liabilities and that inequality is addressed effectively.

“Realising the potential of our citizens, particularly our young people, is a key challenge, to improve educational achievement, strengthen our economy and deliver a better quality of life for everyone.

“We will need to ensure that all women have the chance to participate fully in society and in the economy.

“Addressing inequality and delivering truly inclusive economic growth offering opportunities to everyone is critical. This means investing in social as well as physical infrastructure.

“We will stay at the forefront of national good practice. We want to host a national conference to share experiences and know-how because none of these challenges are unique to Bradford, they are national issues, indeed, while 2011 saw rioting in other major cities Bradford remained calm.

“Others can learn from us just as we can learn from them.

“Diverse but not divided, Bradford is a young, growing, and modern district with all the complexities and opportunities that brings.”

Dr Mohammed Iqbal, founder of Bradford Matters, a culturally diverse lobbying group set up with the aim of making Bradford a cosmopolitan and economically successful city, said he welcomed what could prove a “very important report.”

“The focus on integration rather than counter-extremism is welcome,” he said.

“Previous strategies have focused on extremism and this has disengaged and alienated a lot of people.

“More important is community cohesion, and we need to be brave and honest about how we go forward together.

“We are beginning to address these issues proactively and while Bradford has challenges, there is no denying that, we are better placed than many cities in many respects.

“As well as Government putting their money where their mouth is, we need communities to come together to show what they can do for their city. Citizens need to take ownership of this issue.”