Subject:

Appointment of a Standing Invitee to the TECC Committee

Date of Meeting:

24 September 2020

Report of:

Executive Lead Officer, Strategy, Governance & Law

Contact Officer:

Name:

Abraham Ghebre-Ghiorghis

Tel:

01273 291500

 

Email:

Abraham.ghebre-ghiorghis@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Ward(s) affected:

All

 

FOR GENERAL RELEASE

 

 

1.         PURPOSE OF REPORT AND POLICY CONTEXT

 

1.1         The purpose of the report is to propose the appointment of Stephanie Prior as a standing invitee to the TECC Committee

 

2.         RECOMMENDATIONS:

           

2.1         That Stephanie Prior be appointed as the Standing Invitee to the TECC Committee

 

3.            CONTEXT/ BACKGROUND INFORMATION

 

3.1         The Council has been reviewing the representation of people from BME background in its committees and sub-committees. As part of the initiative to address the disproportionate under-representation, the Policy & Resources Committee decided in December 2019 to introduce a standing invitee to the committee with full speaking rights. The Black Lives Matter movement and the support it generated from across society gave this an added urgency.

 

3.2         The Council received applications from a number of high calibre candidates from business, academia, public service and social activists. Unfortunately, there was only one vacancy.  Given the quality of the candidates, the interviewing panel that had representatives from the BME Community, alongside the Leaders of the three political groups in the Council, decided to recommend the appointment of one candidate as a standing invitee to the P&R Committee and a second one to the TECC Committee.

 

3.3         The person the Panel recommended for appointment to the TECC Committee is Stephanie Prior. Currently, she works as a Business Development & Marketing Manager for an international law firm based in Brighton. She achieved a distinction in politics, policy and globalisation and went on to study anthropology at London Goldsmith University

 

3.4         Stephanie has been instrumental in creating a platform for women in business to build their professional network, learn from experts and start/develop businesses. She has appeared in TV and radio programmes, including radio 5 live and Latest TV.

 

3.5         She has represented the BME Community in the beauty industry and challenged the commercial ideology of beauty that does not embrace diversity. She made history by becoming the first woman of colour to win the title of Miss Sussex and compete in the 2014 Miss England competition. She is passionate about equalities and social justice and has the unique ability of combining that passion with highly developed business and marketing skills. The selection panel was very impressed by her performance and felt her passion, energy and ability to connect with the BME Community, especially the younger ones, would make a useful contribution to the Council’s anti-racist strategy and, more specifically, the work of the TECC committee.

 

3.6         Under the Council’s constitution, the TECC Committee has the power to appoint people to become standing invitees to the committee and the Panel recommended that the committee uses this power to appoint Stephanie Prior to that position.

 

4.            ANALYSIS & CONSIDERATION OF ANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

 

4.1         There is no mandatory obligation to appoint additional standing invitees to the Committee. However, the selection panel felt that not to do so would be a wasted opportunity and making the appointment would enable the person to work in collaboration with and alongside the standing invitee to the P&R Committee

 

5.            COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & CONSULTATION

 

5.1         The proposal to appoint a standing invitee to the P&R Committee was the subject of consultation with the Racial harassment Forum and the BMECP. The selection panel has two representatives one each from those organisations.

 

6.            CONCLUSION

 

6.1         The proposal will make a positive contribution to the Council’s efforts to tackle racism and increase BME representation in the committees of the Council. This was the unanimous recommendation of the selection panel.

 

7.         FINANCIAL & OTHER IMPLICATIONS:

 

Financial Implications:

 

7.1         There are no financial implications arising from this report and any expenses in the form of disbursements can be covered within the Members’ Allowances budget held by Democratic Services.

 

            Finance Officer Consulted:     Nigel Manvell                                Date: 16/09/20

 

 

Legal Implications:

 

7.2         The proposals will contribute to the discharge of the Councils functions under the Equality Act 2010 to promote equalities and good relations between people of different racial background.

                                                                   

            Lawyer Consulted:                   Abraham Ghebre-Ghiorghis Date: 15/09/20

 

            Equalities Implications:

 

7.3         As stated, in the body of this report, the appointment will help the Council to advance its anti-racism strategy and increase the effectiveness of the engagement with the local BME Community. This is only one strand of the anti-racist strategy which includes, among other things, the proposed diversity leadership academy

 

            Sustainability Implications:

 

7.4         There are no sustainability implications arising directly from this report

 

Brexit Implications:

 

7.5         There are no direct Brexit implications arising from this report

 

           

 

 

 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Appendices:

None

 

Background Documents

None