Agenda item

To submit a report by the Head of Democratic Services.

The report of the Head of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer incorporating the Strategic Equality Plan for the period 2020-2024 was presented for the Executive’s consideration and comment.

The Director of Social Services as Lead Officer reported that all local authorities are statutorily required to publish a Strategic Equality Plan comprising of equality objectives for each of the protected characteristics – age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, race, religion/belief, marriage and civil partnerships. The Plan and its objectives must be reviewed at least every four years. The Authority’s current Plan covering the period from 2016 to 2020 comes to an end on 31 March, 2020 by which time a new plan for the period 2020-2024 must be published. The Purpose of the Plan is to set out the steps the Council is taking to fulfil its specific equality duties.

The Policy and Strategy Manager elaborated on the objectives of the Plan which are based on the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s report Is Wales Fairer? 2018. This report recognises the challenges that need to be addressed on an all Wales basis and defines the long-term ambition which the Council will work towards fulfilling. During 2011/12, the North Wales Public Sector Equality Network developed a set of shared regional objectives which were reviewed to coincide with the preparation of Strategic Equality Plans for 2016-20; work on meeting these objectives is ongoing. In addition, local objectives have been developed with the support of Medrwn Mon’s Well-being Engagement Network. Although there are numerous objectives, they are based on identified needs and have been apportioned to services in a balanced way meaning that everyone including Elected Members, has a contribution to make to ensure they are realised. The aim ultimately is to make sure that equality is mainstreamed into the Council’s day to day work and is not seen as something separate whilst ensuring also that the Council complies with its duty not to discriminate.   An annual report on progress in meeting the priorities/objectives will be prepared with a view to its being scrutinised by the relevant Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor G.O.Jones, Chair of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee reported from the Committee’s 4 February, 2020 meeting to which the Strategic Equality Plan had been presented. In considering the report the Committee had noted the statutory expectations on the Council in terms of publishing equality objectives and how it was proposed these would be met in the next 4 year Strategic Plan. The Committee was advised of and noted the three elements on which the Plan is based - the “Is Wales Fairer?” report; a set of regional objectives, and local objectives, and that draft priorities have been identified under each objective based on local needs which are also aligned with the Council’s Corporate Plan. The Committee was also apprised of the Council’s procedures for educating staff to ensure they do not discriminate. The Committee had further noted that as they are based on population needs equality plans will vary from county to county. Reference was made during the course of the Committee’s discussion to the processes for meeting any new needs that are identified. Having discussed the matter, the Committee had resolved to recommend the Equality Strategic Plan for 2020/24 for the Executive’s approval and had also recommended that arrangements are put in place to enable the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee to monitor progress on equality annually.

The Chair thanked Scrutiny for its feedback.

It was resolved to recommend to the County Council -

•           That the draft Strategic Equality Plan for 2020-2024 be approved and to authorise Officers in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to complete and publish the Plan by 31 March, 2020.

•           That arrangements are put in place for the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee to monitor progress on equality on an annual basis as a matter of course.