Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of People, Performance & Partnerships on progress made to date in respect of the Corporate Equality Policy Action Plan.

The views of the Overview and Scrutiny (Social Well Being) Panel on the policy are appended also.

Noted the progress made to date on the delivery of actions and targets set out in the Corporate Equality Policy Action Plan and approved the 2009/2010 action plan and the revised timetable for Equality Impact Assessments.

Further to Minute No. 08/31 and by way of a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were updated on progress made to date on the delivery of actions and targets set out in the Corporate Equality Policy Action Plan.

Having considered the information contained in the report, an updated action plan, the findings from equality impact assessments conducted in 2007/08, a revised assessment timetable for 2009/2010 and the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-being) on the matter, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the progress made with the Corporate Equality Action Plan be noted;

  (b)  that the 2009/2010 action plan as set out in Appendix 2 to the report now submitted be approved;

  (c)  that the findings from the Equality Impact Assessments conducted in 2007/08 summarised in Appendix 3 be noted;  and

  (d)  that the revised timetable for Equality Impact Assessments set out in Appendix 4 to the report now submitted be approved.

To consider a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships on progress made to date in respect of the action plan associated with the Corporate Equality Policy.

20 Minutes.

(Councillor A Hansard, Executive Councillor for Resources and Policy, was in attendance for this Item).

With the aid of a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel were acquainted with the progress made to date in respect of the Council's Corporate Equality Policy Action Plan. In introducing the report, the Executive Councillor for Policy and Resources reported on the achievements under the Plan that had been made by the Council over the previous year, which included the attainment of Level 2 of the Equality Standard for Local Government. He went on to advise Members that the Council would now work towards achieving Level 3 of the Standard, which would require the completion of a series of evidence based Equality Impact Assessments and an external assessment of the Council, which would be undertaken in July 2009. Having regard to the latter, Members noted the importance of the assessment, given that it affected how the Council would be rated under the new Equality Framework, which would replace the Equality Standard.

The Panel were informed that residents’ perceptions of Council services, which included their views on how the Council rated on equalities matters, this year had been sought via the Place Survey. It was intended to repeat the survey at least every two years.

Having regard to the Action Plan to promote equalities relating to race, disability and gender, the Panel suggested that rurality and access to services in rural areas should be regarded as an equality issue and incorporated within the Plan. Members received an assurance that the Council was addressing the particular requirements of customers in rural areas, but they commented that this work should be made more overt by incorporating it within the Action Plan. In addition, the Panel expressed concern at the effect of a 10% reduction in the budget on the Council’s ability to deliver the Action Plan. In response, Members were informed that the budget reduction would not have an adverse effect upon the completion of the Equality Impact Assessments that the Council aims to undertake over the forthcoming year. Having also discussed the identification by managers of practices that were inconsistent with promoting the aims of the Policy and the training provided to employees on equality and diversity matters and the introduction of a new e-learning course, the Panel

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended to

  (a)  note the progress against with the Corporate Equality Policy Action Plan;

  (b)  endorse the new Corporate Equality Action Plan;

  (c)  note the findings of the Equality Impact Assessments conducted during 2008/09;

  (d)  endorse the revised Equality Impact Assessment timetable set out in Appendix 4 to the report now submitted; and

  (e)  take into account the Panel's views on the contents of the report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships.