Issue - meetings

Report of Councillor J Barry, Portfolio Holder for Growth and Assets.

RESOLVED –

(1)            That Cabinet approved and adopted the Equality Plan and objectives for 2023-2027.

(2)            That Cabinet noted the achievements and progress made under the last two years of the previous plan (2019-2023).

REASONS FOR DECISION – To put into place the proposed Equality Plan and objectives 2023-2027, which will provide the framework for implementing the Council’s obligations regarding the general and specific equality duties. The proposed Equality Plan and objectives have received broad support.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – Not applicable as the Council is required under the Public Sector Equality Duty to set equality objectives every four years.

Please note that this was not a Key Decision so can be implemented by officers with immediate effect.

Cabinet considered proposals to adopt the draft Equality Plan 2023-2027 and to note the achievements and progress made under the last two years of the previous plan (2019-2023). Appendix 2 to the report included a review of the previous plan and set out the specific objectives which had been achieved.

Members heard that the Council was required under the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) to set equality objectives every four years. The new objectives had been set following extensive consultation with Members of the Council, the Citizens’ Panel and the public. Email subscriber groups, the British Deaf Association (BDA) and other stakeholders had also been consulted.

Cabinet discussed the report. Members felt that the Council had made significant progress towards achieving its Equality Objectives in recent years. There was a consensus that the proposed new plan would build further on this success and that it should be supported.

RESOLVED –

(1)            That Cabinet approved and adopted the Equality Plan and objectives for 2023-2027.

(2)            That Cabinet noted the achievements and progress made under the last two years of the previous plan (2019-2023).

REASONS FOR DECISION – To put into place the proposed Equality Plan and objectives 2023-2027, which will provide the framework for implementing the Council’s obligations regarding the general and specific equality duties. The proposed Equality Plan and objectives have received broad support.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – Not applicable as the Council is required under the Public Sector Equality Duty to set equality objectives every four years.