SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL QUARTERLY EQUALITIES UPDATE (Q3)

Transcription

1 SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL REPORT TO: Housing Portfolio Holder 19 January 2011 AUTHOR/S: Chief Executive / Corporate Manager, Community & Customer Services Purpose QUARTERLY EQUALITIES UPDATE (Q3) 1. To provide the Housing Portfolio Holder with a quarterly update on equalities from September to December This is not a key decision because the quarterly update is for information only and was first published in the January 2010 Forward Plan. Recommendations 3. The Housing Portfolio Holder is requested to note the contents of this report; in particular the outcome of the Council s Diversity Challenge and an update on the Council s Equality Impact Assessment Programme for 2010/2011 (attached). Reasons for Recommendations 4. The contents of this report is for information only. Background 5. As an authority we are committed to eliminating discrimination and prejudice, and developing a culture which values difference, both in employment and service delivery, which is reflected in the updated version of the Council s Comprehensive Equalities Policy Following a positive peer review, Cabinet self-declared on 2 July 2009 that the Council was at Level 2 of the Equality Standard for Local Government (which equates to Developing in the new Equality Framework for Local Government). 7. Equality is an important element of our Strategic Aim to deliver first class services accessible to all and our Value of Mutual Respect. In 2009/10 we had a challenging work programme to embed equality and diversity within the Council and to build networks with external communities around equalities issues. 8. The Council was subject to a Diversity Peer Challenge on 13 and 14 October 2010 and successfully attained Achieving status on the Equalities Framework for Local Government. The Council will now focus on equality mapping, which will help us to develop an understanding of our community, including the extent of inequality and disadvantage across the district. We will continue to use Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs) to review all major corporate and service changes in policy and service delivery. 9. The Equality Act 2010 came into effect on 01 October 2010 and brings together, harmonises and extends current equality law. The existing anti-discrimination laws have been consolidated into a single Act, which has been introduced to strengthen the laws preventing discrimination and the inequalities that still exist in society today.

2 The Council will now prepare, consult on and adopt a Single Equalities Scheme in response to the new Equality Act. Considerations Comprehensive Equalities Policy (CEP) 10. An essential part of the Equalities Framework for Local Government is for the authority to express its commitment to equality and diversity through the development of a CEP. The Housing Portfolio Holder endorsed an updated version of the CEP at his meeting on 21 July 2010 to take account of changes in terminology, up-to-date statistical information, reference to the new Equality Act 2010 and new commitments for the CEP, including the development of a Single Equality Scheme in 2011/12. Equalities Implementation Action Plan 11. The Equalities Implementation Action Plan was established in early 2009 to address the most important things, which must be delivered in the next months, focusing particularly on compliance with statutory requirements. The Equalities Implementation Action Plan has now been replaced with a Corporate Equalities Action Plan for 2010/11, which includes all headline targets for the year. Equality Framework for Local Government 12. The Council was subject to a Diversity Peer Challenge on 13 and 14 October Following a packed programme of interviews and focus groups with staff, Members, partners, tenants and local community representatives, the Diversity Peer Challenge team confirmed that the Council had successfully met the criteria for an Achieving authority as set out in the Equality Framework for Local Government. 13. This is a very important accreditation for the Council. It means the council has been formally recognised for its commitment to equality and diversity in its employment of staff, how it delivers its services, and for being a community leader. Residents can expect that we will treat them fairly and improve our understanding of what matters to them. We'll do this through community mapping, developing our engagement activities and measuring how well we do this. We'll target our consultations appropriately, communicate our successes and have a clear commitment to customer care. 14. Getting here was not easy and the journey to this point was some 12 months in the making. It is always important to take a step back and that is what the peer challenge helped the Council to do. As an authority it is nice to have things you are doing well highlighted, but equally you need that input to show where things can be improved. A full report on the outcome of the Diversity Peer Challenge including strengths and areas for consideration will be presented to the Housing Portfolio Holder in due course. Equality and Diversity Steering Group 15. All service areas are now represented on the Equality and Diversity Steering Group. There is more senior representation at meetings and there are now clear reporting links to EMT, the relevant Portfolio Holder and other relevant groups. 16. Following the positive outcome of the Diversity Peer Challenge, the Equality and Diversity Steering Group has decided to review its current working arrangements and are considering the following four themes:

3 Developing the role of the Steering Group Terms of Reference Review Member Involvement Role of Champions 17. A task and finish sub-group has been established to look at these issues in greater detail and report back to the main Equality and Diversity Steering Group with recommendations for the future. Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs) EQIAs were completed across the Council during 2009/10, which is an enormous achievement in such a short space of time. However, the corporate commitment of completing all High and Medium risk EQIAs by March 2010 was not achieved. These outstanding EQIAs have been carried over to the new EQIA programme for 2010/2011 (attached), which was endorsed by EMT on 28 July During 2010/11 a total of 22 EQIAs have been completed to date. There is still one High risk EQIA and 11 Medium risk EQIAs outstanding as per the programme. Equalities Project Officer 20. The Equalities Project Officer post has been vacant since 30 July Tara Crabtree will take up the post on a short-term contract basis from 10 January 2011 until 04 March Single Equality Scheme 21. Previously, the Housing Portfolio Holder has endorsed Disability, Gender and Race Equality Schemes for the Council. A new draft Single Equality Scheme has been developed in response to new legislation, namely the Equality Act 2010 and would supersede all previously endorsed Equality Schemes; and brings together our objectives across the nine protected characteristics and the characteristic unique to South Cambridgeshire Rurality. 22. The Housing Portfolio Holder will be presented with a draft Single Equality Scheme at his meeting on 19 January 2011 with a request to comment on, endorse and recommend the draft Single Equality Scheme for a 12-week consultation period with internal and external stakeholders. This will ensure that the Council is fully compliant with the statutory duty set out in Equality Act Stonewall Equality Index The Council has entered the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index for the second time with the aim of improving on its placing from last year. Results will be announced in January Implications 24. Financial Within existing budgets. Unfortunately, the Council is no longer being supported and sponsored by the Improvement East project Achieving on the Equality Journey. This follows the decision by the Coalition Government to withdraw CLG funding from the East of England Local Government Association.

4 Legal Staffing Risk Management Equality and Diversity Equality Impact Assessment completed Climate Change The Council has a public responsibility to ensure that it adheres to legislative requirements in relation to equalities, which ensure that our services are open to, and, accessible by all our residents and reflect the diversity of our rural district. The Equality and Diversity Officer is responsible for mainstreaming equalities into the Council with the support of the Equality and Diversity Steering Group and Equalities Consultative Forum. The Council could be successfully challenged over not complying with general equalities legislation or legislation specific to public and local authority bodies, leading to financial compensation payments and penalties, possible Equality and Human Rights Commission inspection, resulting in reduction in reserves available to support balanced MTFS, adverse publicity and effect on reputation. The Council is committed to eliminating discrimination and prejudice, and developing a culture which values difference, both in employment and service delivery. Our commitment to equalities is based on the idea of equal life chances. This helps local authorities to develop an equal society for the community, which it serves. A Single Equality Scheme sets out our plans for making equality happen for people living in South Cambridgeshire. No An EQIA is not required as this report is for information only. None specific. Effect on Strategic Aims 25. Equality is an important element of our Strategic Aim to deliver first class services accessible to all and our Value of Mutual Respect. Conclusions / Summary 26. The Housing Portfolio Holder is requested to note the contents of this report; in particular the outcome of the Council s Diversity Challenge and an update on the Council s Equality Impact Assessment Programme for 2010/2011 (attached). 27. The highlight of the quarter is the acknowledgement that the Council has successfully attained Achieving status on the Equalities Framework for Local Government. Background Papers: the following background papers were used in the preparation of this report: Comprehensive Equalities Policy (Version 2) Contact Officer: Paul Williams Equality and Diversity Officer Telephone: (01954) paul.williams@scambs.gov.uk

5 Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs) Programme (Q3 Update) The Council will carry out the following Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs) in 2010/2011: Service Area Identified Impact Assessment Date of EqIA Initial Meeting Partial QA EqIA Full EqIA EqIA Panel Draft in Required Published Review Process Health & Environmental Services Medium Priority - Health Improvement / Inequalities 08/01/2010 Low Priority - Health and Safety 13/01/2010 Low Priority - HMO / Housing Regulation 02/02/2010 Low Priority - Environmental Control Complaints 08/02/2010 Low Priority - Out of Hours Service 13/01/2010 Part 2A Cost Recovery Policy for Class B Owner Occupiers of Residential Dwellings 02/12/2010 Enforcement Policy Pest Control Street Cleansing and Fly Tipping Emergency Planning 20/09/2010 Awarded Watercourses Introduction of the Blue Bin for dry recyclables 26/01/2010 Sex Establishment Policy 13/12/2010 Scores on the doors Elite scheme Private Water supplies (incl. Fees and charges) Planning & New Communities High Priority - Sports Development 23/11/2010 High Priority - Economic Development 09/11/2010 High Priority - Climate Change Action Plan Medium Priority - Sustainability Medium Priority - Community Grants Low Priority - Play Facilities

6 Service Area Identified Impact Assessment Date of EqIA Initial Meeting Low Priority - Open Space Partial QA EqIA Full EqIA EqIA Panel Draft in Required Published Review Process Low Priority - Young People's Plan 05/02/2010 Low Priority - Building Control Low Priority - Enforcement Low Priority - Conservation Foodstore Provision in NW Cambridge 23/06/2010 Papworth Everard W Central Supplementary Planning Document Orchard Park Supplementary Planning Document 16/06/2010 Fen Drayton Land Settlement Association Supplementary Planning Document 14/09/2010 Health Impact Assessment Supplementary Planning Document 15/09/2010 Affordable Homes Medium Priority - Housing Strategy / Development Medium Priority - Resident Involvement 09/02/2010 Medium Priority - Housing Management Policies & Procedures 31/03/2010 Response Repairs 31/03/2010 Corporate Services *Finance Medium Priority - Web & Intranet Medium Priority Discretionary Rate Relief Policy 03/08/2010 Medium Priority - Concessionary Fares Low Priority - Anti Theft Fraud Prevention Low Priority - Accountancy / MTFS / Capital & Revenue Estimates Low Priority - Audit Low Priority - ICT Benefit Fraud and Prosecution Policy The Write Off of Irrecoverable Debts 03/08/2010 Closure of the Cash Office 13/08/2010 Billing and Enforcement Recovery 25/03/2010

7 Service Area Identified Impact Assessment Date of EqIA Initial Meeting Payment of Council Bills by Credit Card 13/08/2010 The Removal of Discretionary Discounts on Long Term Empty Domestic Properties 09/11/2010 * Human Resources Medium Priority - Grievance Procedure Medium Priority - Disciplinary Procedure Low Priority - Redundancy and Reorganisation Procedure 28/09/2010 Low Priority - Capability Policy Workforce Plan (Update) Sickness Absence Policy and Procedure (Update) 12/11/2010 Harassment and Bullying Policy 29/11/2010 Default Retirement Age Partial QA EqIA Full EqIA EqIA Panel Draft in Required Published Review Process * Legal Medium Priority - Democratic Services 03/03/2010 Low Priority - Legal Services Low Priority - Land Charges Low Priority - Whistle Blowing Policy Schedule of Council Meetings 2011/12 04/11/2010 Community & Customer Services Medium Priority - Community Safety Medium Priority - Partnership Framework Medium Priority - Communications Medium Priority - Reception Service Low Priority - Elections and Electoral Registration Low Priority - Performance Management Review 12/10/2010 Staff Recognition Scheme 02/12/2010 Organisation Wide Policies Council Aims, Approaches and Actions for /09/2010 Please note that the EQIA programme is subject to change throughout the reporting period.