Issue - items at meetings - Response to Trans Scrutiny Panel Recommendations

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (copy attached).

(1)               That the excellent process undertaken by the scrutiny team, assisted by the communities and equality team, to produce the Trans Equality Scrutiny Report be noted;

(2)               That the scrutiny report be welcomed and the significance of its findings be noted;

(3)               That the recommendations relevant to the city council be accepted and the responses to the individual recommendations as detailed in appendix 1 to the report be agreed;

(4)               That those recommendations that are for either other or all public sector organisations or third sector partners be noted, and it be agreed that the council would work in partnership to implement these recommendations; and

(5)               That the Trans Equality Report and the committee report be shared with the Local Government Association and other appropriate local government peer groups/forums.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND: That the Council be recommended to note the response to the Trans Scrutiny Panel’s recommendations.

187.1          The Assistant Chief Executive introduced the report which detailed the Executive’s response to the Scrutiny Panel’s recommendations following its review of the challenges and inequalities faced by transgender people in the city.  She noted that there had been a thorough review and the Panel’s report had been published in January.  She stated that the response to the recommendations which cut across all areas both within and outside of the council, was to accept all the recommendations in principal and she noted that a number had already been taken forward, whilst others required discussions with partner organisations.

187.2          The Executive Director for Finance & Resources stated that she had been designated as the Equalities Champion for the Leadership Team and would be responsible for championing aspects of the recommendations and supporting the trans community.

187.3          Councillor Mac Cafferty as Chair of the Scrutiny Panel stated that he wished to thank his fellow Panel Members for their support and receiving all the evidence that was submitted, some of which was heart-breaking.  He believed that the Panel’s recommendations would go a long way to improving the understanding of the trans community and their needs and he hoped would see an impact in the delivery of services to that community.  He also hoped that all other agencies would take on board their responsibilities and that this would lead to improved relations.  He also hoped that further reports would be made to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on how matters had been taken forward and what changes had been made.

187.4          Councillor A. Norman welcomed the report and stated that the review was a clear example of how well the scrutiny process worked.  She hoped that the recommendations would be taken forward and that the trans community would be able to see a change in the delivery of services.

187.5          Councillor Mitchell stated that it was an excellent piece of work and that she wished to pay tribute to the Scrutiny Panel and to those that came to give evidence, as well as the Scrutiny Team who supported the review.  She also welcomed the involvement of the Executive Director which she felt was important and hoped that update reports would be brought to the scrutiny committee in due course.

187.6          The Chair noted the comments and stated that he wished to thank the Scrutiny Panel and that the report would be shared with the Local Government Association so that other authorities could learn from it and take action as necessary.  He then put the recommendations to the vote.

187.7          RESOLVED:

(1)         That the excellent process undertaken by the scrutiny team, assisted by the communities and equality team, to produce the Trans Equality Scrutiny Report be noted;

(2)         That the scrutiny report be welcomed and the significance of its findings be noted;

(3)         That the recommendations relevant to the city council be accepted and the responses to the individual recommendations as detailed in appendix 1 to the report be agreed;

(4)         That those recommendations that are for either other or all public sector organisations or third sector partners be noted, and it be agreed that the council would work in partnership to implement these recommendations; and

(5)         That the Trans Equality Report and the committee report be shared with the Local Government Association and other appropriate local government peer groups/forums.

187.8          RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND: That the Council be recommended to note the response to the Trans Scrutiny Panel’s recommendations.