Agenda item

It was agreed to release the consultation document on the Equality Objectives 2024-28 for public consultation in accordance with the report.

The report was submitted by Cllr Menna Trenholme.

DECISION

It was agreed to release the consultation document on the Equality Objectives 2024-28 for public consultation in accordance with the report.

DISCUSSION

Members were reminded that this document was presented to the Cabinet every four years, in accordance with statutory requirements to review equality objectives under the Equality Act 2010. It was confirmed that engagement with the public had been carried out between April and August 2023 where approximately 600 responses to a questionnaire were received. It was explained that the purpose of the consultation was to confirm whether the public believed that the objectives used between 2024-28 needed to continue for 2024-28 or whether they needed to be amended.

It was noted that officers had been visiting several groups and events to ensure that this consultation included the voice of the young, people from the LGBT+ community and disabled people. It was explained that officers had held discussions with managers within the areas that had arisen, in order to receive help to prepare the objectives. The information received from respondents with life experience of protected characteristics was used to create the draft revised objectives.

It was reported that data gathered by the Council's research and information team was used for a document commissioned by the North Wales Public Sector Equality Network to ensure an understanding of the information on a local scale. It was confirmed that consideration had been given to the Government's operational duties in the areas of Anti-racism and LGBT+ when drawing up draft objectives.

It was emphasised that draft objectives had been set out in the document and that these may be amended following further consultation with the public. It was assured that the Equality Impact Assessment submitted with the document was a draft version, and that it would be amended as necessary when further feedback had been obtained.

It was confirmed that the four draft objectives before further consultation were:

1.    Improving the diversity of our workforce and reducing pay gaps

2.    Improving our data about people with equality characteristics

3.    Ensuring that the Council is an anti-discriminatory organisation, by improving our internal systems to provide better services for all

4.    Improving equality within education

The officers were thanked for drawing up honed objectives by combining some previous objectives. It was noted that this enabled consideration of equality within the field of education as a new objective. This was felt to be crucial as it corresponded with the Curriculum for Wales and relationships and sexuality education.

It was highlighted that the capacity and commitment of the Council's staff and elected members in the field of equality, as well as relevant training, had not been included in this document, although it was an objective in the past. The Equality Advisor was assured that training was a point of action under a pledge to make the Council anti-discriminatory. It was emphasised that a lot of work had already been carried out in this field and therefore it had been included as a point of action rather than an objective. It was noted that this would be highlighted in the document.

It was reported that Welsh language issues had not been identified as an objective within the document. This, it was confirmed, was because the language was not a race issue as it was possible for anyone to learn it. It was emphasised, however, that the language was an issue that affected equality and was protected under the Welsh Language Act 1993. It was noted that promoting the importance of the language within the Council had been identified as a point of action within the document.

It was explained that socio-economic issues were not identified as a cohort that had been consulted so far when drawing up objectives. The Equality Advisor confirmed that a socio-economic duty had been adopted in Wales since 2021 and was therefore an important consideration when drawing up objectives. Assurance was given that there would be a specific question within the next consultation about socio-economic issues. It was explained that there was a close relationship between equality and socio-economic issues and that it was a very important consideration.

It was explained that the 2024-28 Equality Plan would be drawn up with the final objectives following this consultation and it would be presented to the Cabinet when timely.