Resolved:

1.                  That subject to (a) below the Diversity and Equality Action Plan 2008/09, attached at Appendix 1 to the report (CAB 035/089), be approved; and

(a)    Inclusion of the new local performance indicator “The percentage of the top paid 5% of staff who are of Bangladeshi origin”

2.         That a review of the Authority’s performance against targets set out in the 2008/09 Diversity and Equality Action Plan be undertaken 3 months after implementation and the outcome of the review reported to Cabinet for consideration.

Action by

ACTING ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE (M. KEATING)

Diversity and Equality Coordinator, Scrutiny and Equalities, Chief Executive’s (F. Jones)

Mr Keating, Acting Chief Executive, at the request of the Chair in introducing the report, briefly summarised the salient points contained therein:

·                    Commenting that the report encompassed a wide range of activities undertaken by the Authority, relating to all the equality strands and the themes of the Community Plan driving the delivery of “One Tower Hamlets”, and concluding that the Action Plan reflected the aspiration of the Administration to maintain the achievement of Level 5 of the Equality Standard.

·                    Drawing the attention of members of the Cabinet to an error in Appendix 1, page 77, to the report: advising that due to a change in the functions undertaken directly by the Authority, as a consequence of the establishment of Tower Hamlets Homes (Arms Length Management Organisation [ALMO]), the total number of Equality Impact Assessments (EQIA) to be delivered in 2008/09 was now 128 and not 141 as detailed.

Mr Keating, Acting Chief Executive, at the request of the Chair, responded to requests for clarification/ assurance, in relation to the following:-

·                    Consideration that additional detail was required particularly in relation to population demographics within the Borough.

·                    Consideration that there was disparity between celebration of the Authority’s achievement of Level 5 of the Equality Standard, on the one hand and resident perceptions regarding the Authority’s practical achievement of the required level of equality in undertaking its activities.

Councillor O. Ahmed, Lead Member Regeneration, Localisation and Community Partnerships, commented that the performance indicators detailed in the Diversity and Equality Action Plan did not include the local performance indicator: “Percentage of the top paid 5% of staff who are of Bangladeshi origin”, and he considered it appropriate that it should do so. Accordingly Councillor O. Ahmed proposed the following amendment to the recommendation contained in paragraph 2.1 of the report, for the consideration of members of the Cabinet:-

“That the Diversity and Equality Action Plan attached at Appendix 1 to the report be approved subject to the Inclusion of the new local performance indicator: “The percentage of the top paid 5% of staff who are of Bangladeshi origin.”

The Chair commented that diversity and equality was a top priority for the Administration, a guiding principle that underpinned all the Authority’s activities and the Authority’s achievements in this regard had been widely recognise. However he considered it appropriate that the Authority’s progress in relation to the Diversity and Equality Action Plan should be closely monitored.  Accordingly the Chair Moved the recommendations, contained in the report (taking account of the proposed amendments from Councillor O. Ahmed), together with an additional recommendation for the consideration of members of the Cabinet as follows:

“That a review of the Authority’s performance against targets set out in the 2008/09 Diversity and Equality Action Plan be undertaken 3 months after implementation and the outcome of the review reported to Cabinet for consideration.”

and it was: -

Resolved:

1.                  That subject to (a) below the Diversity and Equality Action Plan 2008/09, attached at Appendix 1 to the report (CAB 035/089), be approved; and

(a)    Inclusion of the new local performance indicator “The percentage of the top paid 5% of staff who are of Bangladeshi origin”

2.         That a review of the Authority’s performance against targets set out in the 2008/09 Diversity and Equality Action Plan be undertaken 3 months after implementation and the outcome of the review reported to Cabinet for consideration.