Issue - meetings

To consider the recommendations from the meeting(s) of the Cabinet held on 13^th September 2023 and 18^th October 2023.

The outstanding recommendation from 13^th September 2023 meeting is due to be considered at this meeting of Council. The other recommendation made at the meeting in respect of the Governance Systems Task Group was considered at the Extraordinary meeting of Council held on 20^th September 2023.

Any recommendations from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 18^th October 2023 will follow in a Supplementary Papers pack.

The Chairman advised that there was one recommendation from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 13^th September 2023 and seven recommendations from the meeting on 18^th October, which were presented for the Council’s consideration.

Equality Annual Report 2022

The Portfolio holder presented the Equalities Annual report 2022 and highlighted a number of areas of work which had been carried out.  Covid 19 had impacted the work on Equalities, but several community events and activities had been delivered, some for the first time since the pandemic.  The Equalities small grants scheme had also awarded grants to 10 community organisations.

During consideration of the report, the following areas were discussed:

·       Using the demographic profile of the District from the 2021 census data to analyse whether this was reflected in the Council’s workforce and service users.  The portfolio holder agreed that this would be worked on.

·       The report didn’t appear to indicate staff progression.  Emphasis would be placed on staff having a progression path through the organisation consistently.

·       How many young people attended holiday activities and had received meals from the food programme referred to in the report.  The portfolio holder undertook to share this information with councillors outside the meeting.

·       Asset based community development – attempts to develop committed were welcome but should be grounded in local knowledge, which local councillors should be involved in.  A councillor reported that residents had to be referred to some services via a church which was not inclusive.  The portfolio holder responded that he would check what was happening in this regard.

·       Members expressed concerns that where wards abutted adjacent local authorities, residents attempted to get resources from New Starts in South Birmingham.  The funding was intended for Worcestershire councils so the community development team should consult people embedded in the community, such as local councillors, about how the money should be applied.  Councillor S. Webb reported that the community builders worked for WCC Public Health, and the initiative was still being developed.  The Leader highlighted addressing disparities in public health – preventative action was shown to improve health outcomes.  The Council was the first District to introduce the community builder initiative, it would develop and it was intended to launch one stop shops where a number of services could be hosted and offered. 

·       In response to a query about the availability and take-up of community transport, Cllr. Webb responded that there was one BERT bus in the District and she would obtain details of the data for Councillor Bailes outside the meeting. 

·       Cllr Robinson thanked the Council for the support being offered to the vulnerable in the District, and asked whether there was resistance to this support in the community.  Cllr Webb responded that this had been picked up as a potential barrier and efforts were being made to address this.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor C. Hotham and seconded by Councillor K. May.

RESOLVED that the Equality Annual Report 2022 be endorsed.

Finance and Performance Quarter 1 Monitoring 2023/24  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54