Agenda item

Council received the report of the Head of Corporate Strategy and Democratic Services re the Revised Strategic Equality Plan for 2015-19. Members then raised the following points:

·                    The low number of responses to the consultation was noted, however this was due in part to consultees, such as the Youth Council, Older Persons Forum and the BME Forum etc., being part of the process throughout;

·                    Members asked if there was perhaps a better way of undertaking consultation in order to increase the number of responses received.  Members were advised that the Plan was also available on the Authority’s consultation portal, however officers would ask the various Groups for suggestions as to how the consultation process could be improved with a view to increasing the number of responses received;

·                    In relation to the protected characteristics outlined in the circulated report, Members asked whether some were missing but were advised that the list was complete and that characteristics such as Welsh Language, class and income were not included in the Equality Act 2010;

·                    In addition Members asked whether reference to the WESP should also have been included within the report. Members were advised that this was covered by different legislation, the Strategic Equality Plan was required to focus on duties arising from the Equality Act 2010;

·                    In relation to the Welsh Language, Members noted that the Welsh Language Standards were on the agenda for discussion at the Policy and Resources Cabinet Board on 15^th October 2015;

·                    Members noted that the Authority’s website was currently being updated to be fully bilingual, although there were issues where it interfaced with outside bodies which would mean that some functions would be available in English only.  Payments being an example of this.

Following the discussion, Councillor A.N.Woolcock, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, then summed up and commended the report to Council for adoption.

RESOLVED:          That, having given due regard to the Equality Impact Assessment enclosed at Appendix 3 to the circulated report, and the consultation report attached at Appendix 2, thereto, the Strategic Equality Plan for 2015/19, be adopted.