This report has been referred to all overview and scrutiny committees.

 Further to minute 56 (Scrutiny Programme Board – 2/3/2011) Jacqui Cross, Corporate Equality and Cohesion Manager, gave a presentation on the Equality Duty 2010 to ensure that Members were fully equipped to provide effective scrutiny in the areas identified as being necessary for Excellent accreditation by the summer of 2012.

Jacqui Cross outlined the requirements of the new Equality Duty and highlighted the general and specific duties contained within it. She set out the Fairness Agenda contained within the Government’s Equality Strategy 2010 and referred in particular to the role of scrutiny to demonstrate that the Council had met its general and specific duties and was able to demonstrate improvements and outcomes as a result of its equality objectives. She also reported that the Council’s ‘Equality Watch Scheme 2009 – 2012’ was due to be refreshed, to take into consideration the Equality Act 2010 and, consultation would take place across the Council, with partner agencies and among members of the Council’s equality watch scheme.

Jacqui Cross responded to questions form members regarding the proposed timetable for reaching ‘Excellent’ status and key milestone dates within the proposed Action Plan, initiatives to more actively engage with staff and increase the declaration rate workforce equality profiling requirements, and liaison with the private and voluntary sector to encourage them to produce this information.

Resolved – That Jacqui Cross be thanked for her presentation on progress made to date with regard to the Equality Framework for Local Government and Equality Duty 2010.

At its meeting held on 4 March 2010 (minute 43 refers), the Scrutiny Programme Board considered a report ‘Equality and Diversity – Council Progress’ and agreed to further develop the scrutiny function to incorporate the criteria of the Equality Framework for Local Government. The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon the Council’s achievements in being awarded Level 3 of the Equality Standard in November 2009 and highlighted the role for scrutiny to ensure that the Council reached ‘Excellent’ status of the new Equality Framework by November 2011.

An Action Plan for reaching ‘Excellent’ status, developed by the Corporate Equality and Diversity Team, was currently being refreshed and the Council’s Corporate Equality and Cohesion Manager gave a detailed presentation upon the measures that were required. She outlined the requirements of the new Equality Framework and highlighted the general and specific duties contained within it. She set out the Fairness Agenda contained within the Government’s Equality Strategy and referred in particular to the role of scrutiny to demonstrate that the Council had met its general and specific duties and was able to demonstrate improvements and outcomes as a result of its equality objectives. She commented also that the Council’s ‘Equality Watch Scheme 2009 – 2012’ was due to be refreshed, to take into consideration the Equality Act 2010 and, consultation would take place across the Council, with partner agencies and among members of the Council’s equality watch scheme.

In response to comments from Members with regard to the new standard report format, the Council’s Democratic Services Manager indicated that the template had been agreed by the Executive Team and that all reports should now be prepared in the revised format.

Resolved –

(1)  That the progress made to date with regard to the Equality Standard for Local Government be noted.

(2)  That each of the five themed Overview and Scrutiny Committees be requested to receive the presentation by the Corporate Equality and Cohesion Manager, to assist them in further developing the Council’s scrutiny function so that the Council is on course to achieve Excellent status of the new Equality Framework for Local Government in November 2011.

(3)  That the presentation be forwarded to Scrutiny Programme Board Members.

(4)  That the Board places on record its dissatisfaction with the new report template, in that the recommendations appear at the beginning of the report rather than at the end, and recommends that it be further revised following consultation with Members.