Issue - items at meetings - Equalities Update

Report of the Strategic Director Communities

74.1 The Strategic Director Communities introduced the report as the Commissioner Communities and Equalities was indisposed. He noted the good news that the Council was one of only three authorities that had achieved the top ‘Excellent’ in the national Equality Standard for Local Government, and reassured the Commission of the commitment to continuing progress within the business plan for 2011-2012.

74.2 He referred to section 5 of the report explaining that the Single Equality Scheme and the Equality and Inclusion Policy were now being drawn together into one action plan that would make a real difference for people.

74.3 Regarding the request for scrutiny at Item 72 on the agenda the Strategic Director said the Council was proud of the Community Engagement Framework but was aware that more was needed to ensure it is firmly embedded. Work on rolling out the CEF is in progress in the Equalities team; requests for opinions had to be accompanied by clear information about what was being asked, why and how feedback would be used.

74.4 The Strategic Director replied to a query on the Pride street party. No formal request had been received by the Council and recent reports in local publications needed clarifying. The Council was supportive but proposals had to be developed further before any budget allocation could be made.

74.5 All the Members asked that special thanks be passed on to the Commissioner for the exemplary work undertaken by her team since June 2010, and wished the her well.

74.6  RESOLVED 1) that the progress made so far against the objectives set out in the Single Equality Scheme Action Plan be noted

2) that the plan for reviewing the Scheme and concurrently, the Council’s Equality and Inclusion Policy, be noted

3) that OSC’s involvement in this consultation on the Scheme and Policy be noted.