Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

The Council’s Single Equality Scheme (SES) was approved by the Executive Councillor for Communities at the Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee on 4 October 2018. The SES sets out how the organisation will challenge discrimination and promote equal opportunity in all aspects of its work over a three year period (2018 – 2021).

The Officer’s report provided an update on progress in delivering key actions set out in the SES for 2018/19. It also proposes some new actions for delivery during 2019/20.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Communities

     i.        Noted the progress in delivering equalities actions during 2018/19.

    ii.        Approved the actions proposed in SES for delivery during 2019/20.

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 & Anti-Poverty Officer.

The Strategic Director, Head of Community Services, Strategy and Partnerships Manager plus Equality & Anti-Poverty Officer said the following in response to Members’ questions:

     i.        The Children & Young People's Services Manager could give an update after the meeting on the period poverty campaign. She was leading on the working group that liaised with other public sector, schools and private organisations.

    ii.        Free sanitary products had been rolled out to all council owned buildings. These were funded by a number of sources at no cost to the council. The Council’s role was to provide sanitary products and ensure people could access them.

   iii.        The Council was looking at data it held on communities so Community Officers could better work with residents and respond to their needs.

  iv.        The Council had an action plan on how to support disabled and BME job applicants in order to ensure that the Council’s employment and procurement policies/practices were non-discriminatory, and to work towards a more representative workforce within the Council. The action plan was due for renewal in November 2019. It was periodically reviewed to ensure there were no issues (none found to date).

   v.        The Council monitored who applied for jobs. There were challenges in overcoming stereotypes and perceptions that people held about working for the Council.

  vi.        The Council did a lot of work to help lonely people, through its community centres and by working with other organisations.

 vii.        Objective 1 of the Single Equality Scheme was being reviewed so the Council could better support people who hoarded, but still remove their hoarded items. Work would be undertaken with partners such as the Fire Service.

viii.        Contrary to rumours, there was no change in council toilet policy, particularly any that affected the LGBT community.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.