Agenda and minutes

Councillor Sangster declared a prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 13 (Rotherham Community Resource Programme Trust Limited) in view of his membership on their Board and left the room during discussion of this item.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meetings held on 18^th and 21^st September, 2006 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Catherine Dale, Research and Statistics Officer, on the main findings of a report commissioned by the Research and Policy team in Rotherham MBC to examine the Indian population in Rotherham.

The report represented a wider approach adopted by the Research and Policy Team to help to develop a greater understanding of the needs and priorities of the many communities in Rotherham based on the community of interest groups identified in the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.  The findings will have implications for policy and service delivery.

The report is the sixth in a series of ten reports which will be produced by the Research and Policy Team over the next twelve months on the main (and diverse) communities of interest in the Borough. To date, five other reports have been completed;  Older people, Irish community, Women, Chinese and the Pakistani community.

The report set out:-

·        Introduction and National Context

·        Summary

·        Demographic Characteristics

·        Ethnicity and Religious Characteristics

·        Crime

·        Family and Living Characteristics

·        Education

·        Household Characteristics

·        Health Characteristics

·        Economic Characteristics

Research so far had highlighted the fact that needs and priorities between the various communities are very different.

The results of the survey reflect the National findings.  Generally, with some exceptions, the Indian and Chinese communities are the most educated and affluent groups.

The information will be used not only to influence the development of Area Plans, but to inform the next round of Service Planning at which time key partner agencies will be asked to refer to profiling work.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the findings of the report be received and taken into account by Programme Areas in developing policies and services.

(2)   That the key findings of the report be disseminated to Programme Areas and interested partner agencies.

(3)  That it be noted that this is the sixth in a series of reports to be developed by the Policy and Research Team looking at the needs and priorities of the main (and diverse) communities of interest in the Borough.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Catherine Dale, Research and Statistics Officer which summarised, Reaching Out:  An Action Plan on Social Exclusion. 

The Action Plan set out the Government’s renewed drive to improve the life changes and opportunities of the most disadvantaged and hard-to-reach in society throughout the life-cycle.  In addition, the Plan examines the reasons why, despite the huge progress being made, there are still individuals and families who are cut off from society and shows that through early identification, support and preventative action, positive change is possible.

Finally, the report briefly outlined how RMBC is working with its partners to address the issues highlighted in Reaching Out.

The Action Plan opened the next chapter in the Government’s attack on entrenched exclusion, setting out:-

• Five key guiding principles which will inform the Government’s approach and actions to tackle deep social exclusion
• A series of immediate changes and pilots built around a lifetime approach to tackling exclusion

The Plan concentrates on some of the most excluded groups, targeting deep exclusion as well as wide exclusion, and proposes more support for the following groups including actions built around a lifetime approach to tackling exclusion:-

-                       Very young children born into vulnerable circumstances

-                       Children and teenagers (those particularly at risk including children in care, teenage parents and those with the lowest educational achievement)

-                       Adults living chaotic lives

The Government will complement the Action Plan through further policy implementation and will continue a programme of active stakeholder engagement and discussion to inform the actions. 

As a result of the initiative, Action Plans will be localised to suit the needs of Rotherham families.

Clearly, the Government recognises that in order to reach the most excluded, it requires a step change in the way in which central and local government – as well as the community and voluntary sector – address social exclusion.  It means focusing on deep exclusion as well as wide exclusion.  Additionally, the Government recognises that more needs to be done to promote multi-agency working to address multiple problems ensuring that services are incentivised to work around the individual, as opposed to individuals working around the service.

Comments are welcomed on the principles and actions within the plan and the Government would welcome any innovative examples or radical proposals for provision around those most at risk which could be used in taking forward the Action Plan.

Resolved:-  (1) That the report and its findings be noted.

(2)         That the findings of the report and focus should be a key input into the Council’s emerging Social Inclusion Framework.

(3)  That Andrew Towlerton, Research and Policy Manager, send a copy of the report to all Elected Members.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Zafar Saleem, Manager, Equalities, Community Cohesion & Inclusion which gave details of the new Disability Discrimination Act 2005 which places a general duty on public bodies to actively promote equality of opportunity for disabled persons. 

The report informs of the actions taken jointly by Rotherham MBC, Rotherham PCT, and Rotherham Hospital Trust to adopt an innovative approach to comply with the new Disability Equality Duty, including the production of a Disability Equality Scheme.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 has been amended by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 so that it now places a duty on all public authorities, when carrying out their function, to have due regard to the need to:-

-                       Promote equality of opportunity between disabled persons and other persons;

-                       Eliminate discrimination that is unlawful under the Act;

-                       Eliminate harassment of disabled persons that is related to their disabilities;

-                       Promote positive attitudes towards disabled person;

-                       Encourage participation by disabled persons in public life; and

-                       Take steps to take account of disabled person’s disabilities, even where that involves treating disabled person more favourably than other person

The overarching goal of the general duty is to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people.  A Steering Group has been set up to undertake a range of activities and initiatives in preparation for implementing the duty by December 2006.

It is the intention to present the final scheme to a meeting of the Cabinet in December, 2006.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the content of the report be noted.

(2)         That the draft Disability Equality Scheme be received for comment at the Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion to be held on 27^th November, 2006.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Zafar Saleem, Manager, Equalities, Community Cohesion and Inclusion which set out initial feedback from Auditors from the Centre for Local Policy Studies following an external validation of the Council’s achievement of level 3 of the Equality Standard for Local Government carried out between May and August 2006.

The Equality Standard for Local Government (ESLG) was developed as a tool to enable local authorities to mainstream disability, gender and race equality into council policy and practice at all levels.  It recognises the importance of fair treatment and equal access to Council services and employment.  The Equality Standard has been adopted by the Audit Commission as a Best Value performance indicator (BV2a).

Progress through the levels of the Equality Standard is measured through self-assessment.  Councils are required to produce a documentation covering all service areas to demonstrate achievement at each level claimed.  External audit is required at levels 3 and 5.  The audit is designed to build in external validation of the self assessment, support benchmarking and provide guidance for improvement.

The external auditors have to be accredited to carry out audits of the Equality Standard.  This is to ensure the audit process is rigorous and reliable.  I&DeA in partnership with the Centre for Local Policy Studies, Edge HillUniversity, administer and validate the audit process and provide quality control.

The report set out:-

• Methodology of the Audit
• Auditors’ Findings
• Leadership and Corporate Commitment
• Areas identified for improvement
• Consultation and Community Development and Scrutiny
• Service Delivery and Customer Care
• Employment and Training
• Action required to achieve Level 4
• Next Steps
• Scoring Summary

Resolved:-  (1)  That the auditors’ validation of the Council’s achievement of Level 3, subject to internal moderation by the Improvement and Development Agency (I&DeA), be welcomed.

(2)         That the findings of the audit be noted and the Equalities Team be congratulated on their work.

(3)         To note that CMT have agreed to receive a revised action plan for achieving level 4, to be developed with the involvement and consultation of the Corporate Equality and Diversity Strategy Group, by 31^st October, 2006.

(4)  To note that CMT have recommended that feedback from the external validation is reported to the Cabinet and Democratic Renewal Scrutiny Panel, once formal notification is received from the auditors.

Consideration was given to a proposed programme of events for Local Democracy Week.  This year the event runs from 16^th-23^rd October and Councils and organisations around the country are running events throughout and around the week.  As in previous years, Rotherham is taking part.  Last year more than half of all local authorities across the Country took part.

Local Democracy Week is an annual campaign coordinated by the Local Government Association (LGA).  It aims to:-

• make councils more relevant and useful to young people
• encourage young people to ‘take part take power’
• make Local Democracy Week bigger and better than before
• increase councillor involvement in citizenship teaching in schools
• get councils to devolve power, wherever appropriate, to local people

A small steering Group has been established to help develop and coordinate activities in Rotherham.  This includes representatives from Children and Young People’s Service and Corporate and Neighbourhood Services, together with Rotherham Partnership and the Chief Executive’s Department.

Through this Group, a series of high-profile, inter-active and informative events have developed.

In addition, events aimed at promoting understanding and engagement with parish councils and discussion on the findings and implications of the latest Reachout findings are planned.

Resolved:-  That the proposed programme of events planned for Local Democracy Week 2006 in Rotherham be noted and welcomed.

In order to plan the workload of the Cabinet Member, Community Cohesion, an Annual Plan has been prepared and was provided at the meeting for consideration.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Annual Plan, as submitted, be approved.

(2)  That a revised planned workload be submitted to each meeting.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relates to financial or business affairs).

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

ZafarSaleem, Manager, Equalities, Community Cohesion and Inclusion, presented a report which asked that consideration be given for core funding following a request from Rotherham Community Resource Programme Trust Limited.

The report set out the background on funding issues of the Company, other areas of income and staffing implications.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the content of the report be noted.

(2)   That the Manager, Equalities, Community Cohesion and Inclusion be instructed to inform Rotherham Community Resource Programme Trust Limited that the Council is unable to support their request for core funding.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council)).

Resolved:-  That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion take place on Friday, 27th November, 2006 at 8.30 a.m.