Agenda and minutes

There were no Declarations of Interest to record.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet Member for Community Development, Equality and Young People’s Issues held on Monday 16^th January, 2012, were considered. 

With reference to Minute E45 (Localism Bill), it was noted that the Localism Bill had been incepted into statute and was now the Localism Act.  Further communications and training sessions were being provided for Elected Members in relation to the Act’s impact on Local Authority responsibilities.  

Resolved: - That the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.   

Gail Wilcock, Hate Crime Officer, Resources Directorate, to report. 

The Cabinet Member welcomed Gail Wilcock, Hate Crime Officer, Zafar Saleem, Community Engagement Manager, and Lorna Kelly, Performance Officer, all of the Resources Directorate, to the meeting to provide an update on ongoing work in relation to tackling, preventing and recording hate crime and hate incidents across the borough.  

It was noted that the Racist Incident Policy had been updated to include hate crimes and incidents relating to five additional characteristics.  These were: religion, sexuality, disability, gender identity and race.   

Reports of hate crimes and incidents were coordinated by the ‘Single Point of Contact’ Officer who received referrals from Council Directorates, Schools and Third Party Reporting Centres.  The postholder received, coordinated and collated referrals, and facilitated relationships with partner organisations.  This role would work within the One Town One Community initiative to tackle tensions within local communities as a preventative measure.

Purchase and implementation of a new database was being explored; the proposed database (E-CINS) was a cloud-based recording and case management system that enabled appropriate sharing of information between organisations and could collect information in relation to hate crimes, anti-social behaviour and domestic violence.  The application could be used with minimal training and could be used by one Authority or county-wide for the same cost, enabling information sharing and a common approach to be adopted. 

The database was data protection compliant and compliant with Rotherham’s IT policy.  A meeting had been arranged with the suppliers of the database for Rotherham MBC and Partner organisations, including South Yorkshire Police, to further explore it’s potential.  Discussion ensued in relation to the Council’s requirements from the proposed database, which included the need to provide added-value in relation to the statistical reports and data produced.  

Other issues included:

• Work was underway to refresh the multi-agency partnership that existed in relation to hate crime.  The partnership met following complex issues that could not be solved on a case-by-case basis and required a coordinated approach;
• Third Party Reporting Centres had been set-up as neutral and confidential venues where members of the community could report hate crimes and incidents and receive support.  Rotherham’s existing Third Party Reporting Centres were noted.  It had been a recommendation of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry that these facilities be provided to enable the reporting of hate crimes and incidents; 
• Awareness of hate crime and incidents, how to report and what to expect following reporting was also provided to service-users following referral.  This was achieved through the promotion of reporting and the adoption of a zero tolerance approach to hate crimes and incidents.  This work needed to be an ongoing activity to ensure that a consistent message was provided.  

Hate crimes and incidents were measured under the Council’s Corporate Plan Outcome 22: ‘People from different backgrounds get on well together’.  This outcome was currently red rated in the RAG system. 

• The rating was based primarily on seven performance measures, updates from the One Town One Community projects and national policy. 
• Data was gathered from the ‘Your Voice Counts’ survey, the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

Janet Spurling, Community Engagement Officer, Resources Directorate, to report.

The Cabinet Member for Community Development, Equality and Young People’s Issues welcomed Janet Spurling, Community Engagement Officer, Resources Directorate, to the meeting to provide an update in relation to the work of the  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGB&T) Interagency Group. 

The interagency Action Plan for 2011-14, along with the Interagency Group’s 2011 update, had been submitted to the meeting for information. 

The LGB&T Action Plan had recently been updated to include progress measures, milestones and indicators, and one additional action.  The Action Plan was formed to support the achievement of five strategic objectives.  These were:

1. Raise the profile of LGB&T people and communities in Rotherham.
2. Tackle the discrimination, stereotyping and hate crime experienced by LGB&T people.
3. Enhance the capacity of service providers to be inclusive of LGB&T people’s needs.
4. Be service providers and employers of choice for LGB&T people.
5. Develop support networks for LGB&T people in Rotherham. 

There were nine broad actions within the plan that aimed to achieve the strategic objectives.  Action 5 had been added to the plan and related to: ‘supporting LGB&T groups and networks in Rotherham’.  This new action involved the creation of a LGB network, a young people’s Trans group and the continued organisation of the Trans Support group.   

A LGB&T Interagency Group had been set-up and was developing well.  Membership of the group included both local health authorities, RDASH and South Yorkshire Police. 

The LGB&T 2011 update provided a list of the activities that the Interagency Group had organised and participated in during the previous year. 

Resolved: - (1)  The Cabinet Member for Community Development, Equality and Young People’s Issues approved the updated action plan.

(2)  That the positive progress of the LGB&T Interagency Group be noted.

Monday 12^th March, 2012, to start at 11.30 pm in the Rotherham Town Hall. 

Resolved: - That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Community Development, Equality and Young People’s Issues be held on Monday 12^th March, 2012, to start at 11.30 am in the Rotherham Town Hall.