Agenda and minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest to report.

There were no questions from members of the public or the press.

Further to Minute No. 65 of the meeting of the Democratic Renewal Scrutiny Panel held on 21st February, 2008, consideration was given to a report presented by the Director of Inclusion, which highlighted how the School and Inspections Act, 2006 introduced a duty for schools to promote Community Cohesion. This duty came into force in September, 2007 and was to be inspected by Ofsted from September, 2008.

The duty of schools to promote community cohesion was subsequently placed as an item on the agenda of all Governing Bodies in the summer term, 2008. The implications of the duty were set before the Governors who were then asked to formulate a policy and action plan for the implementation of the duty.

To assist in this task a template (was offered to Governors, which showed how they could set out a policy, describe what they were doing at present and lay out their plans for further action.

Governing Bodies, having discussed the guidance, were taking action to fulfil their duties either through the full Governing Body or by appropriate sub-committee.

In some instances, schools within a particular area have combined together to reach a common policy, which may be appropriate when the schools of an area considered the core offer of extended services which needed to be in place by 2010.

The report also included an example of a draft policy and action plan which the cluster of schools in Brinsworth and Catcliffe area have formulated. It was drawn up using the offered template, setting out the local context and actions being taken at present.

It was also suggested that a copy of the guidance issued by OFSTED be made available to Members to show how community cohesion in schools was evaluated.

A discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were raised, discussed and clarified:-

·              How the aims and objectives set down in the Community Cohesion Action Plans would be carried out.

·              Identity of specific groups of pupils affected by community cohesion and racism and examples identified.

·              Approval of the Brinsworth and Catcliffe Schools Community Cohesion Action Plan by the Brinsworth cluster of schools.

·              Statistical information and attainment levels of particular ethnic groups.

·              Mechanisms to promote cohesion as part of the school agenda.

·              Scrutiny Review of the use of school premises by the community and whether extended school use would bring communities closer together.

·              Measurement of the action plan points by OFSTED.

·              Reporting of racial incidents and the evidenced actions to improve.

·              Involvement of Area Assemblies, Children’s Board and the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel and their engagement in the community cohesion action plan.

·              Community cohesion activities for young people being arranged in some underused community centres.

·              Development and promotion of the Community Cohesion Action Plan by all schools.

·              Enforcement of statements set down in the Action Plan.

·              Ethnic demographics of communities and the duty to promote community cohesion by all schools, not just secondary schools.

·              Demonstration of community cohesion in the wider context with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 114.

The BME Young People’s Forum was set up in 2004 for British Asian Muslims to come together and discuss issues that affected them as young Muslim people.  The first conference was organised in 2005 to inspire young people to become involved in the decision making process.  The first conference was very successful with around sixty young attendees.  Two subsequent conferences were arranged, with the latest in January, 2008, which was again very well attended.

Representatives from the BME Young People’s Forum attended today to give a presentation on issues arising from the conferences and other issues forwarded by the BME Schools Council.

The presentation, using powerpoint, drew specific attention to issues being faced by young British Asian Muslims in school from a variety of sources:-

·              The Issues:-

¨            Islam-phobia and racism.

¨            Inappropriate comments by teachers.

¨            Less praise and encouragement.

¨            Stereotyping by teachers.

¨            Less tolerance and behaviour.

¨            Unfair exclusions.

¨            Less support in lessons.

·              The Affects:-

¨            Poor behaviour.

¨            Lower GCSE achievements by BME students.

¨            Group division.

¨            Depression/anger/confusion.

¨            Exclusions.

¨            Low self esteem.

·              Suggestions:-

¨            Named equalities representative in each school with responsibility for the reporting of racist incidents.

¨            Awareness raising with teachers.

¨            Multi-cultural events and promotion of diversity.

¨            Development and implementation of an equalities and diversity policy within schools.

¨            Monitoring of the exclusion process.

¨            Development of equality representatives from each school department.

¨            Governors to take responsibility.

¨            Teacher training days to include equalities.

¨            School Councils to take an active role in raising equality issues.

¨            RE lessons to include BME society in Britain.

·              The Outcomes:-

¨            Young people to feel empowered.

¨            Young people to not feel vulnerable.

¨            Young people to be more included.

¨            Young people to achieve and to make a positive contribution.

¨            To make a difference to ensure “Every Child Matters” throughout the whole community.

A question and answer session ensued and the following issues were raised and clarified:-

·              Citizens courses and the available from sixteen upwards accessible at AS Level only.

·              Involvement in Rotherham’s Youth Cabinet and Youth Parliament.

·              Contradictory information from the presentation and schools’ duty to promote community cohesion.

·              Whether there were effective links between the BME Young People’s Forum and schools.

·              Schools’ duty to have a dedicated teacher to deal with equalities issues.

·              What actions were being taken to address racist incidents.

·              Engagement in the political process and awareness raising about concerns.

·              Unacceptable inappropriate comments by teachers and the need for this to be addressed in the schools raising most concern.

·              Raising concerns with the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel.

·              Promotion and celebration of positive outcomes.

·              Diversity in Rotherham and the need to include other ethnic groups.

·              School Governing Bodies to appoint a nominated Equalities Governor.

·              Rising statutory achievement levels.

·              Rotherfed’s work with BME groups and the invitation to work with the Tenants and Residents Association.

·              Outreach workers and their roles within the community.

It was suggested that the issues arising  ...  view the full minutes text for item 115.

Further to Minute No. 80 of the meeting of the Democratic Renewal Scrutiny Panel held on 3^rd April, 2008, consideration was given to a report presented by the Community Engagement and Cohesion Manager, which provided an update from Rotherham LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Inter-Agency Group on progress to develop an action plan to promote equality for LGBT communities in Rotherham.

The LGBT Inter-Agency Group had begun development of an action plan with contributions from all partners. The action plan would provide a focus for the work of the Inter-Agency Group and provide a mechanism to support the Council and other public bodies to address their legal duties on LGBT equality. 

Proposed changes to equality legislation and recent changes to the Equality Standard for Local Government meant that LGBT equality was increasingly being mainstreamed as a core equality strand.  This brought LGBT equality in line with race, gender, disability, religion and belief and age equality.  The Council’s Equalities and Diversity Unit were currently developing a ‘Single Equality Scheme’ to respond to these developments.  The new scheme would streamline the Council’s current equality strategies and action plans by incorporating them into one high level document.  The LGBT Action Plan would become a key component within the LGBT equality strand of the new Scheme.

It was proposed that the LGBT Action Plan would include objectives to address a range of identified needs arising from research and consultation with LGBT representative groups, which were listed in the report.

It should be noted that some action was already being taken to progress twelve of the fourteen objectives and their inclusion in the action plan would ensure additional support, co-ordination and monitoring of these activities across all partner organisations.

A discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were raised and clarified:-

·              Membership of the LGBT Inter-Agency Group.

·              Social Inclusion Framework, its status and its associated funding and its links to the Single Equality Scheme.

·              Success of the telephone helpline.

·              Gender declaration of tenants.

·              Measurement of support and for this to be included in the final draft of the action plan.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the proposed actions for the LGBT action plan be noted.

(2)  That a further report be received with the detailed final draft plan at the next equalities themed meeting of this panel in six months time.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the Democratic Renewal Scrutiny Panel held on 24^th July, 2008 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

It was also requested that some feedback be provided on some actions recommended by this Scrutiny Panel.

With regard to Minute No. 104 (Area Plans Final Quarter Update) the final report was available for viewing at the Rotherham Show.

Consideration was given to the minutes of a meeting of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Involvement held on 18^th July, 2008.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting of the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee held on 27^th June, 11^th and 25^th July, 2008.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.

The Scrutiny Panel noted the minutes of the meeting of the Members’ Training and Development Panel held on 24^th July, 2008.