Issue - meetings

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment

Recommendations:-

1.    That the new Cultural Strategy 2019 – 2026 be considered and endorsed.

Further to Minute No. 149 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 20^th May, 2019 when the report was deferred for an Equalities Impact Assessment, consideration was given to the detail of Rotherham’s new Cultural Strategy which had been produced in collaboration with members of the public and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7

Cabinet Portfolio:                 Cleaner Greener Communities

Strategic Directorate:           Regeneration and Environment

Consideration was given to a report presented for pre-decision scrutiny ahead of the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 10 June 2019 and submitted by the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment in respect of the proposed adoption of the Cultural Strategy 2019-26. This had previously been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board on 15 May 2019, where Members had recommended that the Cabinet not consider the report on 20 May 2019 due to the failure to include an equality impact assessment with the agenda papers (minute 228 refers).

It was noted that the new Cultural Strategy had been produced in collaboration with members of the public and partners from across the cultural, leisure, green spaces and tourism sectors. This was the first Strategy produced by the local Cultural Partnership Board since it was established in 2018. In introducing the report, the Cabinet Member for Cleaner Greener Communities stated that scrutiny Members now had received the equality analysis for the strategy on a couple of occasions and comments thereon would be welcomed. In addition, officers had taken on board Members’ feedback in respect of the lines of accountability for the delivery of the strategy and referred the Board to specific provisions within the report.

Referring to the accountability arrangements, Members felt that a flowchart would have been a better way to summarise the relationship between the various groups and bodies. In response, the Cabinet Member for Cleaner Greener Communities indicated that officers would circulate this to Members outside of the meeting.

Members welcomed the inclusion of the equality analysis and highlighted the conflation of the protected characteristics of gender and sex, reminding those in attendance that gender was not a protected characteristic. In response, it was confirmed that the equality analysis was a live document and would be amended in light of Members’ feedback

Referring to the previous discussion on 15 May 2019, the Chair advised that Members welcomed the new Strategy and that the Board would wish to monitor its implementation after a twelve month period, with a report to be provided back to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board in June 2020.

Resolved:-

1.    That Cabinet be advised that the recommendations be supported.

2.    That the Equality Analysis be amended to reflect the correct protected characteristics prior to consideration by Cabinet.

3.    That a structure chart be developed to outline governance arrangements and lines of accountability and this be circulated to members of Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

4.    That an update be provided in June 2020 to Overview and Scrutiny Management Board on the implementation of the strategy.