Issue - meetings

To select appropriate items from the Cabinet (Finance) Sub Committee (Cabinet Finance Sub Committee reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members)

Meeting: 27/03/2024 - Cabinet Scrutiny Committee (Item 4)

Pre-decision Scrutiny

·        To select appropriate items from the Cabinet agenda for pre-decision scrutiny (cabinet reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members)

Decision:

Strategic Equality Plan Annual Report 2022-2023

 

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to

Cabinet.

 

Minutes:

Strategic Equality Plan Annual Report 2022-2023

 

Officers advised members of the following typing errors contained in the report: paragraph 20 should read 2022-2023 and not 2021-2022 as stated, paragraph 21, should reference Cabinet and not Cabinet Policy & Resources Sub-committee, as stated.

 

Members referred to Action 4.5.4.50 on page 55 of the report contained within the agenda pack and requested a progress update on physical access to committee facilities improvements at Neath Civic Centre.

 

Officers did not have the requested information to hand; information will be circulated to members outside of the meeting.

 

Members questioned whether the offer of a guaranteed interview to any person affected by the TATA Steel Plant closure compromised equality.

 

The Director of Environment and Regeneration advised members that the guaranteed interview offer was for TATA employees or those who worked in the supply chain who met all of the essential criteria linked to a vacancy.

 

Members questioned whether the Citizens Panel was diverse and representative of all protected characteristics in the community?

 

Officers confirmed that following recent consultations, work is planned to ensure the Citizens Panel is representative of all communities in the county borough. Where gaps are identified, recruitment to the panel will be targeted accordingly.  Officers will circulate the current representation of the panel to members, with further information provided once available.

 

Members enquired whether data was held in relation to the number of staff members learning Welsh and whether this figure was increasing or decreasing, compared to previous years.

 

Officers will circulate this information to members outside of the meeting.

 

Members referenced page 13 paragraph 17 of the report, and were pleased that Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Impacts was included in the report. 

 

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet.