Agenda item

Councillor D. Jones, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Equality introduced the report.

Members were please with the work that Officers had undertaken in developing the action plan to ensure the Council meets the equality objectives.

Following on, Members raised the following:

·        Within the report it states that zero hour contracts would be replaced by casual or temporary contracts.  Could officers confirm that Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council does not employ staff on zero hour contracts.  Confirmation was received that the authority does not employ any of staff on zero hour contracts.

·        What plans were in place to ensure the authority was giving equal opportunities to the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities in regard to employment?  It was explained that the Council has committed to develop a BAME Equality and Diversity Action Plan as it was recognised that more work was needed.  Discussions had taken place with staff and the Equality and Cohesion Group. Currently, a BAME employee forum was being organised to assist with the development of the action plan. 

·        How has the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic been measured in regard to Domestic Abuse?  In response, officers explained that a community impact assessment had been undertaken to measure the impact of the pandemic on the different parts of communities.  The assessment has shown that there had been a disproportionate effect on some people more than others. The assessment was continually being updated and was currently being used to inform the current priorities while in response to the pandemic and as the situation evolves and more information is gained on how communities are being affected by the pandemic the action plan would continue to be updated and brought back to members in due course.

·        Are the Gypsy and Traveller communities represented as an ethnic group in the BAME groups? Also, was there any provision for accommodating Gypsy and Travellers on arrival in Neath Port Talbot?  Members were assured that there was a variety of ways that officers engage with the Gypsy and Traveller communities and when the Strategic Equalities Plan was being developed, officers who had links with those communities were involved.  Members heard, that there were no Gypsy and Traveller transit sites within Neath Port Talbot although, some neighbouring authorities did have them.  Neath Port Talbot has two authorised sites where accommodation was available.  Both sites are included in the Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs assessment which requires the authority to project the future needs and make the appropriate provision and identify in the Local Development Plan and submit to the Welsh Government.