Issue - meetings

The Strategic Equality Plan was accepted and adopted for it to be implemented over the next four years.

The report was submitted by Cllr. Nia Jeffreys 

DECISION

The Strategic Equality Plan was accepted and adopted for it to be implemented over the next four years.

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted, and the Cabinet Member was thanked for her guidance in the field.  It was explained that it was a statutory requirement to create an Equality Plan through the Equality Act (Wales) 2010, and it was added that updating objectives was a part of this requirement. It was expressed that two public consultations had been held when creating an Equality Plan and it had been discussed at a Scrutiny Committee. It was explained that after receiving observations in the public consultations that amendments had been made to the objectives and to the plan to make it much easier to read.

It was emphasised that equality was vital to the Council as there was no way to maintain services without ensuring fairness for all.

The Equality Advisor added that engagement had ensured that the plan was suitable for the people of Gwynedd. ⁠ It was expressed that the Plan reflected the needs of the people of the County and attention was drawn to the 5 objectives, namely employment, information - i.e., data about people with protected characteristics, the Council's internal arrangements, Services - i.e. ensuring equality within everyday work, and improving equality within the education field. It was explained that these 5 objectives were at the root of the Equality Plan. 

Observations arising from the discussion:

·         The plan was welcomed by noting pride that further education had been included as one of the 5 objectives.  It was added that highlighting the true emotional and financial cost of attending school for the children of Gwynedd was vital. It was noted that the support of teachers to encourage children to the school was needed.

·         It was noted that there was a tendency to think that plans of this kind were created and left on the shelf but that the steps noted in the report highlighted that this was not true about this report. It was noted that although the role of the service was to lead on this work,  it was highlighted that equality was vital for everyone within the Council. It was emphasised that the work plan was created cross-departmentally over the first year before moving forward to implement the objectives following this. 

·         It was noted that this Plan set the right direction and set definitive guidance for the Council.