Agenda item - Equalities & Inclusion Policy - For Decision

Extract from the proceedings of the Cabinet meeting held on the 18 September 2008, together with a report of the Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached).

22.1         Councillor Mears formerly moved the report of the Cabinet, which recommended the adoption of a new Equalities & Inclusion Policy.

22.2         Councillor McCaffery welcomed the report and stated that she had intended to move some minor amendments; however she would raise these within the scrutiny process and with officers separately.

22.3         Councillor Elgood welcomed the revised policy and stated that he felt it was heading in broadly the right direction and was pleased to see the corporate-wide approach that had been taken.  He also welcomed the opportunity for the Overview & Scrutiny Organisation Commission to have considered the policy and put forward views to the Cabinet.  With the policy in mind, he hoped that a Dignity in Employment policy would be forthcoming to complement the Equalities & Inclusion Policy and that Members would have the opportunity to feed into the process.

22.4         Councillor Simson stated that it was a key policy for the council and its partner organisations, which would be reviewed regularly by the City Inclusion Partnership.  She hoped that further improvements would be made over the next year and noted that a working group had just begun to look at the development of a Dignity at Work Policy, with a view to having a draft policy drawn up for consultation.

22.5         Councillor Mitchell welcomed the policy and stated that its success would depend on well it was implemented with the council and by partner organisations.

22.6         Councillor Wakefield-Jarrett stated that it was a very important document and particularly welcomed the reference to domestic violence.  She was however, concerned as to how the public and Members would be able to raise any matters in respect of the policy following the ending of the Equalities Forum and the City Inclusion Partnership not being open to the public or having cross-party representation.

22.7         Councillor Randall welcomed the report and stated that it was a very important document; however, he was concerned that it left a gap in not taking into account the discrimination and prejudice suffered by older people.  He hoped that in any review this issue could be looked at and incorporated.

22.8         Councillor Mears thanked the Members for their positive comments and stated that she was happy to give consideration to addressing the concerns around older people, although she noted that there was reference to age within the policy document.  She stated that she expected her Cabinet Members to lead on the issue in their respective areas and noted that the council had been nominated by Stonewall as the second best local employer.

22.9         The Mayor offered his congratulations to Councillor Wakefield-Jarrett on her maiden speech, and noted that recommendations of the report had been moved and sought confirmation from the council.

22.10    The motion was carried.