Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report gave an annual update on the Council’s Single Equality Scheme, which covered the period from 2021 to 2024 and set five objectives to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion. The report provided an update on the delivery of key actions during 2023/24 set against the objectives. It also set out the activities that were new for 2024/25 and details of how larger ongoing projects would progress in 2024/25.

Additionally, the report included a recommendation to extend the end date for the current Single Equality Scheme for a further year, to March 2025.

Decision of Leader

      i.          Noted the progress in actions promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion during 2023/24.

     ii.          Approved new actions proposed for delivery during 2024/25.

   iii.          Agreed to extend the end date of the existing Single Equality Scheme from March 2024 to March 2025.

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 Equality & Anti-Poverty Officer said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.          Equality Impact Assessments were undertaken on parks and open spaces. Offered to liaise with Councillor Hauk after committee regarding concerns that vegetation over growing paths and open spaces could be an obstruction.

     ii.          The Equality in Employment Report going to Equalities Panel 2 July set out statistics on BME members in the City Council workforce. The Equality & Anti-Poverty Officer suggested interested parties could attend to ask for further details there. Circa 20% of the city population were BME so the City Council aimed to recruit 20% of its work force from the same community in future to reflect this.

   iii.          Training had been commissioned for school staff to engage young people on their needs. Officers would engage with schools and the community/voluntary sector who engage with schools.

   iv.          Equality Impact Assessments were undertaken by departments/services. They sought advice from the Equality & Anti-Poverty Officer as required. She would liaise with City Services to ask if they had undertaken an Equality Impact Assessment on Voi Scooters and the process for approval of location sites; also if Local Councillors had been consulted.

The Executive Councillor for Community Safety, Homelessness and Wellbeing agreed with concerns that Voi Scooters could sometime block the pavement when parked. People could contact Voi to request removal of scooters. Responsibility for the Equality Impact Assessment may rest with the Combined Authority as they provided the scooters.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Leader approved the recommendations.

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Leader.