Issue - meetings

BCP Council is required to meet certain responsibilities which are set out in the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010.

A review of activity, process and procedure was undertaken in March ’19 to determine how well the Council was meeting this duty and how performance compared to the Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG).

It was determined that the Council was meeting its legal duty and at the ‘achieving’ level of the framework.

The EFLG has been used to inform the development of a high-level, council wide equality & diversity action plan.

The action plan uses the criteria for achieving the ‘excellence’ level of the EFLG as a benchmark. It shows the Council has made good progress to date and proposes some next steps for action. Some of the headlines include:

·       The Council’s commitments to equality & diversity are embedded in the high-level priorities of the Corporate Strategy. This has been subject to wide stakeholder engagement over the summer.

·       An equality & diversity policy has been drafted and is attached for Member approval.

An internal Equality & Diversity Governance Framework is being implemented.

The Leader of the Council presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'N' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were informed of the requirement for BCP Council to meet certain responsibilities set out in the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act, and in relation to this were requested to consider the draft Corporate Equality & Diversity Policy & Governance for approval, and to note the progress towards the development of a Corporate Equality Action Plan.

In presented the report the Leader advised of an agreed amendment in respect of p.335 Section 2 where it had been agreed to remove the wording ‘regardless of’. In addition Cabinet were advised that it was proposed that in relation to the Strategic Leadership Officer Group that some of the officers had been proposed to be removed as standing officers and would be invited to attend when necessary, and that the group was intended to include the Opposition Lead Member for Equalities.

In addition Cabinet expressed the view that the Council should not limit itself to the nine protected characteristics, and that other characteristics should be considered when appropriate.

RESOLVED that:-

(i)              the draft Corporate Equality & Diversity Policy & Governance Framework be approved; and

(ii)            the progress towards the development of a Corporate Equality Action Plan be noted.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

The Leader of the Council presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'N' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were informed of the requirement for BCP Council to meet certain responsibilities set out in the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act, and in relation to this were requested to consider the draft Corporate Equality & Diversity Policy & Governance for approval, and to note the progress towards the development of a Corporate Equality Action Plan.

In presenting the report the Leader advised of an agreed amendment in respect of p.335 Section 2 where it had been agreed to remove the whole section from ‘Regardless of their…’. In addition Cabinet were advised that it was proposed that in relation to the Strategic Leadership Officer Group that some of the officers had been proposed to be removed as standing officers and would be invited to attend when necessary, and that the group was intended to include the Opposition Lead Member for Equalities.

In addition Cabinet expressed the view that the Council should not limit itself to the nine protected characteristics, and that other characteristics should be considered when appropriate.

RESOLVED that:-

(i)              the draft Corporate Equality & Diversity Policy & Governance Framework be approved; and

(ii)            the progress towards the development of a Corporate Equality Action Plan be noted.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council