Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Senior Policy Officer on the achievement of the Council’s Single Equality Scheme Action Plan.

Noted the progress made to date on delivery of actions and targets set out in the Council’s Single Equality Scheme Action Plan, the findings from Equality Impact Assessments conducted in 2010/2011 and the undertaking of an external review  (Diversity Peer Challenge) of the Plan on 28th and 29th February 2012.

By way of a report by the Senior Policy Officer (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were updated on the progress made to date on delivery of actions and targets set out in the Council’s Single Equality Scheme Action Plan.

Having considered the information contained in the report, the findings from Equality Impact Assessments conducted in 2010/2011, the role of Members in a required external assessment (Diversity Peer Challenge) of the Plan 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 Single Equality Scheme Action Plan be noted;

  (b)  that the findings from the Equality Impact Assessment conducted in 2010/2011 and summarised in the Appendices to the report be noted; and

  (c)  that the undertaking of an external review (Diversity Peer Challenge) on 28th and 29th February 2012 be noted.

To receive the Annual Equality Progress Report from the Senior Policy Officer.

20 Minutes.

With the aid of a report prepared by the Senior Policy Officer (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) Members were acquainted with progress towards the achievement of the Council’s Single Equality Scheme and its associated action plan. In introducing the report, the Senior Policy Officer reported on the legislative background to the Single Equality Scheme, which had been introduced by The Equality Act 2010. Members’ attention was drawn to the achievements made against the Action Plan. Of the 51 actions contained within the Plan, 47 had been completed or were ongoing. Of the 19 Equality Impact Assessments undertaken over the course of the 2010/11 financial year, 5 had been prompted by proposed budgetary cuts to some of the Council’s services.

Members were reminded of the provisions of the Equality Framework for Local Government and informed that an external assessment of the Council’s equalities arrangements would be undertaken in February 2012. The assessment would seek to validate the Council’s current status as an “Achieving” Council and representatives of the Panel would be requested to take part in the assessment.

In response to a question by Councillor R J West, it was reported that training on equality matters had previously been delivered to Members and that a further programme would be rolled out in due course.

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended to

(a)  note progress with the Single Equality Scheme Action Plan and the findings from the Equality Impact Assessments conducted during 2010/11; and

(b)  note that an external review (Diversity Peer Challenge) will take place on the 28^th and 29^th February 2012 and be aware of the role of Members during the review.