Issue - meetings

Gender-Neutral Language

At the Council meeting on 5 January 2021 the following motion was moved by Councillor L-J Evans and seconded by Councillor Lisa Lewis:

“That Council resolves to use gender-neutral language in all reports and formal communications, both verbal and written, in accordance with its commitment to uphold the 9 protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and in combating prejudice and discrimination.”

The Council on 5 January 2021 agreed – That the motion be referred to the Audit and Governance Committee for it to be considered through the Constitution Review Working Group.

Audit and Governance Committee considered the Motion at a meeting on 11 March 2021 and resolved to recommend that in considering the Motion, Council has due regard to the following issues, namely to:-

(a)  Note that there is inconsistent use of gender terms in BCP Council’s constitution, policies and communications.

(b)  Eliminate discrimination and advance equality of opportunity

(c)  Remove gender specific determination when describing roles within BCP, unless there is a genuine occupational requirement for them to remain.  This to include the review of the Council Constitution, Policies and communications and replace written references with gender neutral terms, such as the role of the Chair.

(d)  Communicate these changes to all departments and members of staff within BCP Council.

(e)  Continue to use pronouns when the sex of an individual is known, or when an expressed request has been made from an individual to be referred to by a specific gender.

(f)    Note the adoption of the Audit and Governance recommendations at Council on 5 January 2021 which stated that no change be made to current practice relating to the form of address for the person presiding at meetings and that this be left as a matter of choice for each individual person presiding.  Democratic Services should ascertain, in each case, the preference of individual Councillors as they are appointed.

In light of the views expressed at the Audit and Governance Committee, the proposer and seconder of the original Motion gave notice to request that the Motion be altered to read as follows (text shown in italics are the additional words to be added):-

“That Council resolves to use gender-neutral language in all reports and formal communications, both verbal and written, in accordance with its commitment to uphold the 9 protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and in combating prejudice and discrimination.

In doing so, Council endeavours to:

1.        Remove male universals, such as ‘Chairman’, from the constitution, policies and all written and verbal communications and to replace them with gender neutral terms, such as ‘Chair’.

2.       Use gender-neutral language where an individual’s sex or social gender are not relevant or not known.

3.       Respect an individual’s right to be addressed as they wish, and identify this where appropriate.”

Since the original Motion has already been proposed and seconded, the consent of Council to alter the Motion is required. There should be no discussion on whether consent should or should not be given.  ...  view the full agenda text for item 86

Members were reminded that at the Council meeting on 5 January 2021 the following motion was moved by Councillor L-J Evans and seconded by Councillor Lisa Lewis:

“That Council resolves to use gender-neutral language in all reports and formal communications, both verbal and written, in accordance with its commitment to uphold the 9 protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and in combating prejudice and discrimination.”

 The Council on 5 January 2021 agreed – That the motion be referred to the Audit and Governance Committee for it to be considered through the Constitution Review Working Group.

Councillors were informed that the Audit and Governance Committee had considered the Motion at a meeting on 11 March 2021 and resolved to recommend that in considering the Motion, Council has due regard to the following issues, namely to:-

(a)    Note that there is inconsistent use of gender terms in BCP Council’s constitution, policies and communications.

(b)    Eliminate discrimination and advance equality of opportunity

(c)    Remove gender specific determination when describing roles within BCP, unless there is a genuine occupational requirement for them to remain.  This to include the review of the Council Constitution, Policies and communications and replace written references with gender neutral terms, such as the role of the Chair.

(d)  Communicate these changes to all departments and members of staff within BCP Council.

(e)  Continue to use pronouns when the sex of an individual is known, or when an expressed request has been made from an individual to be referred to by a specific gender.

(f)    Note the adoption of the Audit and Governance recommendations at Council on 5 January 2021 which stated that no change be made to current practice relating to the form of address for the person presiding at meetings and that this be left as a matter of choice for each individual person presiding.  Democratic Services should ascertain, in each case, the preference of individual Councillors as they are appointed.

In light of the views expressed at the Audit and Governance Committee, the proposer and seconder of the original Motion gave notice to request that the Motion be altered to read as follows (text shown in italics are the additional words to be added):-

“That Council resolves to use gender-neutral language in all reports and formal communications, both verbal and written, in accordance with its commitment to uphold the 9 protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and in combating prejudice and discrimination.

In doing so, Council endeavours to:

1.        Remove male universals, such as ‘Chairman’, from the constitution, policies and all written and verbal communications and to replace them with gender neutral terms, such as ‘Chair’.

2.       Use gender-neutral language where an individual’s sex or social gender are not relevant or not known.

3.       Respect an individual’s right to be addressed as they wish, and identify this where appropriate.”

Since the original Motion has already been proposed and seconded, the consent of Council to alter the Motion was required. There should be no discussion on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86

The report references the Notice of Motion referred by Council to the Audit and Governance Committee for consideration. The Motion relates to the adoption of gender-neutral language.

The committee is asked to consider the Motion and to consider making representations to Council. The proposer and seconder of the Motion have been invited to attend the meeting.

The Head of Democratic Services presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee was reminded that following initial debate at Council on 5 January 2021 a formal Motion relating to use of gender-neutral language had been referred to the Audit and Government Committee to be considered by the Constitution Review Working Group. The terms of the Motion were “That Council resolves to use gender-neutral language in all reports and formal communications, both verbal and written, in accordance with its commitment to uphold the nine protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and in combating prejudice and discrimination”.

Discussion at the Working Group was described although no specific recommendations had been made. The scope and effect and potential cost implications of changes were set out and there was also reference to previous recent Council decisions relating to the mode of address for persons presiding at meetings. There was some evidence of the approach being taken by other Councils across the country but this was limited and it was evident that practice varied considerably. The BCP Council’s Equalities Officer provided advice generally on the issue and confirmed that the way forward was a matter of choice for the Council and was not legally prescribed.

The proposer and seconder of the original Motion at Council, Councillors L-J Evans and Lisa Lewis both addressed the meeting. The lead member for Equalities, Councillor Bobbie Dove and the Leader of Council also both addressed the meeting and there was broad support for the aims and ambitions encompassed within the Motion.

After a full and comprehensive discussion within the Committee it was

RESOLVED that in considering the Motion, Council should have due regard to the following issues, namely to:-

(a) Note that there is inconsistent use of gender terms in BCP Council’s constitution, policies and communications;

(b) Eliminate discrimination and advance equality of opportunity(c) Remove gender specific determination when describing roles within BCP, unless there is a genuine occupational requirement for them to remain. This to include the review of the Council Constitution, Policies and communications and replace written references with gender neutral terms, such as the role of the Chair;

(d) Communicate these changes to all departments and members of staff within BCP Council;

(e) Continue to use pronouns when the sex of an individual is known, or when an expressed request has been made from an individual to be referred to by a specific gender;

(f) Note the adoption of the Audit and Governance recommendations at Council on 5 January 2021 which stated that no change be made to current practice relating to the form of address for the person presiding at meetings and that this be left as a matter of choice for each individual person presiding. Democratic Services should ascertain, in each case, the preference of individual Councillors as they are appointed.

Voting: For 6; Against 3; Abstain 0