Agenda item

Report from the Assistant Chief Executive.

Recommendations

1.    Note the progress made over the past 12 months towards the equalities agenda. 

2.    Note the next steps outlined within the Equalities Annual Report.

Consideration was given to the report which was part of the Council’s Public Sector Equality Duty. The report highlighted the progress made over the past 12 months towards the equalities agenda as well as outlining the next steps.

The COVID-19 pandemic had exacerbated existing inequalities, with the most disadvantaged communities being hit the hardest. It had also uncovered latent vulnerabilities within Rotherham communities. Equalities had remained an important priority for the Council throughout the pandemic and would continue to be a priority as the Borough moves into recovery.

The report was structured around 4 themes: understanding and working with communities; leadership and organisational commitment; responsive services and customer care; and diverse and engaged workforce. As part of the Equality for All Strategy, the Council had made a commitment to reach “Excellent” within the LGA’s Equality Framework by 2022.

Councillor Alam outlined some of the positives in the Equalities Annual Report which included the peer review recommendation being implemented; the imbedding of equalities rather than adding equalities at the end of a process and the building of equalities into the Town Centre Masterplan.

Priorities moving forward were to work more closely and more consistently with communities; develop the Rotherham Heroes volunteer programme; refresh the equalities objectives through working with Scrutiny Members; develop customer care and develop the social value work to build equalities into procurement processes. Training was also being developed and reviewed.

The report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board as part of the pre-decision scrutiny process. The Board was fully supportive of the recommendations and thanked officers for the presentation at the meeting. It was requested that Overview and Scrutiny Management Board Members be provided with the training and information to enable them to provide effective scrutiny and oversight of the equalities agenda at the Council in order to ensure the best equalities outcomes are obtained for both residents and Council employees.

Resolved: -

(1)  That Cabinet note the progress made over the past 12 months towards the equalities agenda.

(2)  That Cabinet note the next steps outlined in the Equalities Annual Report.

(3)  That Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board be provided with the training and information to enable them to provide effective scrutiny and oversight of the equalities agenda at the Council in order to ensure the best equalities outcomes are obtained for both residents and Council employees.