Issue - items at meetings - Race Equality of Employment and Skills in Brighton & Hove

Report of the Acting Director of Public Health, Executive Director, Families, Children and Learning and the Executive Director, Economy, Environment and Culture (copy attached)

39.1    The Committee considered a report of the Acting Director of Public Health, Executive Director, Families Children and Learning, Executive Director Economy, Environment and Culture reporting on the work of the Brighton & Hove BME Needs Assessment Steering Group in relation to BME people in the City.

39.2    The Head of Communities and Equality, Emma McDermott accompanied by Gino Fox who carried out research on behalf of the Council gave a presentation highlighting the headlines which had been identified by this piece of work The purpose of the report had been to provide an accessible  overview of statistics about Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) people living, working or studying in Brighton & Hove. The ultimate aim of the report being to create a shared sense of priorities.

39.3    The snapshot report showed that the number of residents identifying as BME had increased across all ethnicities between 2001 to 2011. The BME population in Brighton & Hove had grown from 12% in 2001 to 19.5% in 2011, which is higher than the average in the South East. Further scrutiny of the snapshot report had resulted in the BME Needs Assessment Steering group deciding to focus on the variation between different ethnic groups in terms of economic activity and to look at the variation between the genders. Whilst as a whole unemployment and employment rates for BME people were comparable with the white British population a more detailed analysis had shown barriers to accessing and maintaining employment appeared to be a significant issue for specific individuals from specific BME communities. On 20 October Full Council had approved the CESP. Four action groups had been established to deliver the CESP Strategic Map and the Learning, Employment and Skills Partnership would have overall responsibility for the CESP along with the City Management Board. The full research report completed by the appointed consultant Ottaway Strategic Management Ltd on addressing barriers to work for BME people in Brighton and Hove including the recommended actions was set out in appendix 1 to the report.

39.4    Councillor Bell stated that the report was very interesting and enlightening in serving to highlight areas where there was still further work to be done. The Chair, Councillor Daniel concurred, welcoming the report and explaining that it would be beneficial in her view if members could identify action points which they would like to see pursued going forward.

39.5    Councillor Littman agreed, welcoming the report which indicated that although the situation had improved the Council was itself still playing “catch up” in some areas. Councillors Moonan and Hill concurred and Councillor Moonan  said that this piece of work represented a timely wake up call which provided a tool to enable priorities to be set for the medium and longer term. There was an under representation of those from BME backgrounds amongst councillors themselves, that also needed to be addressed.

39.6    Councillor Moonan stated that going forward it was important to have appropriate mechanisms and internal processes in place to monitor activity so that it would be possible to measure whether or not those mechanisms were effective and to take action if they were not. It was important for Members to be involved in the process and for those in senior leadership positions to be pro-actively involved too. Effective governance would be key to success.

39.7    Councillor Simson considered  that proposals to ensure involvement of all stakeholders was important considering that it would be beneficial for an initial meeting to take place before proceeding to the next  stage, Councillor Miller also supported that view.

39.8    In responding to the points that had been made The Head of Communities and Equalities confirmed that a further report would be brought back to the Committee in 12 months.

39.9    RESOLVED – (1) That the committee welcomes the research and its findings and agrees the recommendations;

(2)That committee refers the research report to the Children, Young People and Skills Committee and the Economic Development and Culture Committee for information;

(3) That committee refers the research report to the Learning and Skills & Employment Partnership and the City Management Board for consideration as part of their responsibility for overseeing the delivery of the CESP action plan;

(4) That committee requests that the work plans of the appropriate CESP action groups be reported back to committee for consideration of how the research findings and recommendations have been incorporated; and

(5) That committee instructs officers to bring a report back in 12 months detailing how the research recommendations have been progressed.