Issue - items at meetings - Brighton & Hove Fairness Commission Ways of Working

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (copy attached).

8.1      The Committee received a report of the Assistant Chief Executive in relation to the Establishment of the Brighton & Hove Fairness Commission. The report provided further context to the decision of the Policy & Resources Committee on 11 June 2015 to establish a Fairness Commission, and additional detail on the ways of working with the draft terms of reference.

8.2      Councillor Bell noted his full support for the Fairness Commission; in response to his queries Officers clarified that the Policy & Communities Section was currently holding post vacant and had a small amount of grant money that it used annually to do focused policy work – the Fairness Commission would form the basis of that work this year.

8.3      Councillor Simson also noted her support; in response to her queries it was explained that Officers would ensure there was as little duplication as possible between bodies such as the Equality Partnership; however, the same service within the council supported all three main bodies and would be able to ensure this work linked up properly. In terms of timescales it was hoped that the Commission could report in May 2016 to allow the recommendations to be debated and inform budget planning and the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

8.4      Councillor Littman noted the support for the Commission from the Green Group, and noted that some of the initial work had been undertaken by the previous administration. The previous Green administration had considering setting up a similar Commission, but had decided against it. It was hoped that the whole process would be meaningful; with measurable outcomes and the exercise could take place with constructive working across all political groups. In response to some of the points made by Councillor Littman the Chair stated that some of the data needed pulling together and the independently chaired Commission would allow issues to be considered differently; which was important in a local authority with no overall control. The Head of Policy & Communities also provided reassurance that the Commission would not duplicate work that had already been undertaken, and would look at what other Fairness Commission had produced. The Commission would be centred on considering the impact of the funding gap over the next few years.

8.5      In response to questions from Councillor Mac Cafferty the Head of Policy & Communities clarified that SMART targets would be key to measuring the success of the Fairness Commission, and it was envisaged that the success would be something all residents in the city could share in. In terms of community engagement this was considered fundamental to the work of the Commission and outreach meetings would be held. The Chair added that the voluntary sector in the city had already express a keenness to be involved in the work.

8.6      The representative from Community Works stated she was pleased the voluntary sector would be represented on the Commission, and Officers agreed that there was an opportunity to link up with the local strategic partnership, as well as Brighton & Hove Connected and the City Management Board. It was anticipated that the recommendations would not be Councilcentric and the support of all public services would be fundamental.

8.7      The Chair put the recommendation to the vote.

8.4      RESOLVED:

1)        That Committee recommends to the Acting Chief Executive that the ways of working for the Brighton & Hove Fairness Commission contained within this report are adopted; and,

2)        That the Committee recommends to the Acting Chief Executive that the terms of reference as set out in Appendix 2 are adopted.