Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

The report provided an update on progress in delivering key actions set out in the Single Equality Scheme (SES) for 2016/17. It also proposed some new actions for delivery during 2017/18.

The Council’s SES was originally approved by the Executive Councillor for Strategy and Transformation at the Strategy and Resources Committee on 13 July 2015. The SES set out how the organisation would challenge discrimination and promote equal opportunity in all aspects of its work over a three year period (2015-2018).

Decision of Executive Councillor for Strategy and transformation

     i.        Noted the progress in delivering equalities actions during 2016/17.

    ii.        Approved the actions proposed in the SES for delivery during

2017/18.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Equality and Anti-Poverty Officer.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

     i.        Thanked officers for their hard work, the report highlighted how many services were being delivered by the council.

    ii.        Queried what impact the equal access programmes had made and what they had been used for?

   iii.        Asked if the Leader shared the national scepticism on the Prevent Strategy?

  iv.        Praised the work with ethnic minority groups, continued engagement had made a noticeable improvement in relations between the communities.

The Equality and Anti-Poverty Officer and Executive Councillor for Strategy and Transformation said the following in response to Members’ questions:

   v.        The equal access programmes had given recipients lots of new skills. The future plan was to expand these services and ensure recipients were involved in decision making.

  vi.        At present faith groups did not have a structured community response so undertaking a study to assess the demand for a Council of Faiths and increase involvement was a priority.

 vii.        Confirmed that the Prevent Strategy covered a range of issues not singularly radicalisation. The programme involved representatives from a range of backgrounds and had a positive impact in Cambridge. If a national review of the programme was undertaken the council would happily take part. 

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.