Agenda item
Age, Race, Religion/Belief and Sexual Orientation Equality Schemes 2009-2012 (CAB 143/089)
Decision:
Resolved:
That the Age, Race, Religion/Belief and Sexual Orientation Equality Schemes 2009-12, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report (CAB 143/089), be agreed.
Action by:
ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE (L. Ali)
Service Head, Scrutiny and Equalities, Chief Executive’s (M. Keating)
Diversity and Equality Coordinator, Scrutiny and Equalities, Chief Executive’s (F. Jones)
Minutes:
Mr Keating, Service Head Scrutiny and Equalities, at the request of the Chair, in introducing the report, summarised the salient points contained therein, highlighting in particular:
· The proposed equality schemes consolidated a range of work that was already in place but had been ambitiously refreshed to ensure Tower Hamlets remained at the cutting edge of diversity and equality practice in Local Government. The refresh had facilitated an adult debate in spite of some potential challenges such as the relationship between faith and sexual orientation.
· Strong performance in this area was vital to continued excellence in the Comprehensive Area Agreement, as the achievement of One Tower Hamlets was central to the Community Plan
· Table 1 detailed at page 4 of the report which set out the key priorities to address inequality across the equality strands.
· The emphasis on partnership working and workforce to reflect the community articulated in the schemes.
· The articulation within the schemes of how activities meshed with Council priorities and also how to take the work forward in terms of corporate activities.
· Recognition that some information was not as sophisticated as it could be and consequently each scheme had an associated action plan based on Community Plan themes.
A discussion followed, during which the proposed equality schemes were broadly welcomed, and which focused on the following points:-
· How to ensure an effective dress code was in place which could address issues related to dress dictated by faith, for example Muslim women wearing the niqab.
· Negatives, positives and rationale with regard to terminology in the equality schemes being specific in respect of ethnicity, for example Bangladeshi and Somali rather than BME.
Councillor Islam, Deputy Leader of the Council:-
· Formally thanked Mr Keating, Service Head Scrutiny and Equalities and his Officer team for their dedication and hard work in producing the 6 Equality Schemes.
· Commented that equality was a key driver for the Authority and underpinned all its activities and everyone connected with the Authority had a responsibility to strive to achieve this. The proposed Equality Schemes articulated what the Council and its partners needed to deliver to achieve the high aspiration of ‘One Tower Hamlets’, which was about reducing inequalities and poverty, strengthening cohesion and making sure communities in Tower Hamlets continued to live well together.
· Noted that 2009 marked the tenth anniversary of the publication of the Stephen Lawrence report - a significant landmark in the history of how the public sector dealt with issues of equality and the initiation of the Authority’s legal duties to promote equality.
· Commented that the Authority had come a long way since those first duties came in to force both in terms of equality outcomes we achieved across the 6 equality strands, and confidence and capacity to tackle inequality. The next significant landmark would be the Single Equality Bill, which would overhaul and replace current equality legislation and present new challenges.
· Considered that the proposed Equality Schemes would further enhance the Authority’s capacity to respond to the requirements of the Single Equality Bill, and meet the big challenges in terms of inequality that Tower Hamlets continued to face.
The Chair Moved the recommendations as set out in the report and it was: -
Resolved:
That the Age, Race, Religion/Belief and Sexual Orientation Equality Schemes 2009-12, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report (CAB 143/089), be agreed.
Supporting documents:
- Equality Schemes Report, item 10.1 PDF 102 KB
- Equality Schemes Appendix 1, item 10.1 PDF 281 KB
- Equality Schemes Appendix 1a, item 10.1 PDF 336 KB
- Equality Schemes Appendix 1b, item 10.1 PDF 206 KB
- Equality Schemes Appendix 1c, item 10.1 PDF 245 KB