Issue - meetings

To consider the report.

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive agreed:

a.     The Action Plan in response to the LGA Peer Challenge Report.

b.    The 4 Equality Objectives that will take effect from April 2024, noting that further work will need to be undertaken to develop the actions to deliver the objectives from April 2024 and that a further report will be made to Executive when the actions have been developed and agreed by relevant services.

c.     To note the progress that has been made on the Race Audit.

d.     To note that the Disability Confident Leader assessment will be completed by the end of January 2024 with external validation being completed by April 2024.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Bill Revans, expressed his support for the people impacted by the recent vandalism to the rainbow path in Taunton and the racist graffiti in Taunton and Yeovil. The Leader of the Council invited the Executive Director – Strategy, Workforce and Localities, Alyn Jones to introduce the report.

The Executive Director – Strategy, Workforce and Localities, Alyn Jones, proceeded to introduce the report, highlighting: that the report provided an update on the findings and the planned actions in response to the LGA Peer Challenge report, including the equality framework for local government peer challenge and an update on the Disability Confident Leader Assessment and  Internal Race Audit; the work will support the Council’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion delivery work for residents, communities and staff by developing and improving areas identified as requiring further development. 

The Equalities and Risk Manager, Angela Farmer, highlighted: the summarised the current position of three specifics pieces of work: Disability Confident Leader Assessment, Internal Race Audit and Equality Framework for Local Government Peer Challenge; that the Council has taken the opportunity to develop a new set of Equality Objectives to meet requirements under the Equality Act 2010. summarised the draft objectives and the limited consultation response; the initial 6 objectives and to that to reflect the transition and transformation that will occur over the next two years for the Council a new set of objectives to be created every 2 years instead of 4 years; that 6 initial objectives were created for consultation, based on data, research, and past objectives, that the consultation had been undertaken at a challenging limited response;  the learning taken from this consultation to develop more creative approaches when the next set of objectives need to be created in 2025; summarised the recommended 4 objectives, noting that further work will need to be undertaken to develop the actions to deliver the objectives from April 2024 and that a further report will be made to Executive when the actions have been developed and agreed by relevant services.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Bill Revans, invited comments from other Members present, questions and points raised included: the size and capacity of the team; support for the report; the consultation feedback, including the timing and planned work with VCFSE colleagues to improve feedback; equality impact assessments and the work of the assurance group to ensure the savings options being considered are deliverable.

The Executive proceeded to vote on the recommendations, which were agreed unanimously.???

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion, the Executive:????

a.        The Action Plan in response to the LGA Peer Challenge Report.

b.        The 4 Equality Objectives that will take effect from April 2024, noting that further work will need to be undertaken to develop the actions to deliver the objectives from April 2024 and that a further report will be made to Executive when the actions have been developed and agreed by relevant services.

c.        To note the progress that has been made  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94