Agenda item - Progress Report on the Workforce Equalities Action Plan

Report of the Executive Director for Finance & Resources (copy attached).

            That the Committee:-

1)           Note the progress made against the Year 3 Action Plan, as summarised in paragraph 3.7 and set out in more detail in Appendix 1.

2)           Approve the areas of focus that will inform the Year 4 Workforce Equalities Action Plan.

3)           Gives the Executive Director of Finance & Resources delegated authority to sign off the Action Plan once it has been developed in conjunction with the Workforce Equalities Group.

8.1         The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director for Finance & Resources in relation to Progress Report on the Workforce Equalities Action Plan. The focus of the report was to update on how the Council was performing against its Workforce Equalities Action Plan.

8.2         In response to Councillor Sykes it was explained that a significant amount of work had been undertaken in the last two years to improve the quality of the data, this had included the production of regular monitoring reports; however, to consider this information more frequently then annually, as requested by the Joint Workers’ Forum, was not practical. The organisation was however, getting a much better picture of equalities as linked to individual groups.

8.3         In response to questions from Councillor Mac Cafferty the following was explained. A number of barriers to protected groups outside of the organisation had been identified, and work now needed to be undertaken to identify any barriers for existing employees in the recruitment process. The Global HPO report had put forward around 70 recommendations; current analysis showed that around 80% of these had been achieved and the view was that managing detailed recommendations would not enact some of the ‘shift change’ that was required. Discussions with the Joint Workers’ Forum had agreed to move the focus to be outcome driven.

8.4         Councillor A. Norman thanked Officers for this work and welcomed the implementation of the recommendations in the Global HPO report; however, she advised caution that any shift change in the organisation would take time to come to fruition.

8.5         Councillor Daniel welcomed the report, and she noted the concerns raised by the Joint Workers’ Forum as well as the necessity to work with them on these matters. She went on to note that the Neighbourhoods, Communities & Equalities Committee would be considering a report at the July meeting in relation to how the Council worked with BME communities with the aim of providing a strategy and better guidance. However, she highlighted that very real progress had been made in this area.

8.6         Councillor Janio noted he was fully supportive of the report, and it was vital to foster a culture where all staff felt part of the collective workforce.

8.7         The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote:

8.8         RESOLVED:

              That the Committee:-

1)        Note the progress made against the Year 3 Action Plan, as summarised in paragraph 3.7 and set out in more detail in Appendix 1.

2)        Approve the areas of focus that will inform the Year 4 Workforce Equalities Action Plan.

3)        Gives the Executive Director of Finance & Resources delegated authority to sign off the Action Plan once it has been developed in conjunction with the Workforce Equalities Group.