Agenda item

To submit a report by the Policy and Strategy Manager.

Submitted – the Equalities Annual Report 2019/20 for consideration by the Committee.

The Leader of the Council said that Welsh Government introduced specific duties to help public bodies in Wales to meet the Equality Act 2010 general duty. These specific duties include a requirement to develop and publish equality objectives and Strategic Equality Plans. She referred to the data within the report and it was encouraging as to the young people that the Authority has employed and the way the Council has also been able to sustain a wide range of age groups as employees of the Council.

The Policy and Strategy Manager gave an overview of the report and as to how the Authority meet it Equalities responsibilities and specific equality duties. She noted that the Equalities Annual Report is statutory documentation to meet the general duty of the Equalities Act. The report covers the period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March, 2020 where it relates to employment data. The remainder of the report includes an outline of developments up to December 2020 so as to provide a more up-to-date focus as well as to complement the Council’s Strategic Equality Plan. The Policy and Strategy Manager said that whilst it has been a challenging year for the Authority dealing with the pandemic there are encouraging examples and a number of activities carried out by the Council and its partners to promote equality and protect the most vulnerable communities as can be seen at Page 16 of the report. The Authority has also adapted to challenges of the pandemic with staff working from home and meetings been convened virtually. Staff have needed to adapt to the challenges of home schooling and child care responsibilities.

The Committee considered the report and made the following main points:-

·           Questions were raised as to what extent the Council successfully achieved the equality objectives. The Policy and Strategy Manager responded that it is considered that the objectives of the Equalities Plan has been addressed by the Council;

·           Reference was made to priority 8.2 within the Annual Report – An effective corporate process is established to ensure the ongoing assessment of impact across services. Questions were raised as to whom assesses the corporate process. The Policy and Strategy Manager responded that assessing for impact on equality is an ongoing process which should be incorporated into the development of proposals.

·           Reference was made as regards to the educational gaps between girls and boys and children receiving schools meals and especially during the pandemic. Questions were raised as to what the Authority’s priorities to address this gap in the future. The Leader of the Council responded that it will be a challenge to identify and evidence the gap especially whilst children have had to receive their education at home and to measure the effect it has had on pupils. She noted that when pupils return to the schools they will need to be assessed to gauge the potential and achievement of pupils and to balance their well-being;

·           Reference was made that 8 priorities have been identified within the report and the purpose of the Equalities Act is to focus on equality and fairness. Questions were raised as to why only 8 priorities have been identified when it is evident that there are many other priorities that needs to be addressed and people may be treated unfairly. The Leader of the Council responded that there has been discussions as regards to these priorities when the Equalities Strategic Plan was submitted to this Committee. The document was also discussed at the full Council thereafter when it was explained the ability of the services of the Authority to achieve identified priorities. She further noted that if the Committee considers that a specific area needs to be prioritised within the Plan then the matter can be addressed.

It was RESOLVED to accept the Annual Equality Report 2019/20.

ACTON : As noted above.