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Agenda item

Equality Annual Report

Officer: Jo Negrini and Jacqueline Harris Baker

Key decision: no

Decision:

The Leader of the Council delegated authority to the Cabinet to make the following decisions:

 

RESOLVED: To

 

1.    Note the Equality and Inclusion Annual Report for 2019

 

2.    Note the Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG) Report 2019

 

3.    Note the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index (WEI) Report 2019

 

4.    Note the reports will be published on the Council’s website

 

5.    Note the work to develop an Equality Strategy

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Safer Croydon & Communities began introducing the report by noting that the papers had been published before the recent murder of George Floyd. In light of the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and the published impact of covid-19 on BAME communities, the report had increased in importance. It was stated that it was important that everyone played their part in tackling the inequalities that were experienced by residents and that the council reset its equalities agenda to tackle any inequalities present.

 

The Cabinet Member stated that the administration stood in solidarity with the black community and its staff. It was important that the council showed and did not merely state that Black Lives Matter. This was the opposite of the government’s stance, it was stated, who had published a report that outlined the disproportionate impact of covid-19 on the BAME population but had not made any recommendations.

 

It was noted that the Local Government Association Equality Peer review report had been included in the papers and rated the council as “Achieving” and included recommendations for the council to improve further. Recommendations included improving data collection, which the council would work on in the coming weeks and months ahead. It was the intention of the council to work towards being awarded the status of “Excellent”. Furthermore, the Cabinet Member informed Cabinet that there had been an informal discussion with Scrutiny & Overview Committee members in relation to the report and recommendations of members would be taken forward.

 

The Cabinet Member thanked the Equalities Manager for their work and dedication to tackling inequalities.

 

The Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Board noted that the beginning of the meeting had been paused to reflect upon recent events and the death of George Floyd. It was stated that there was understanding of people protesting and stating that enough was enough. Institutionalised racism was abundant and it was not sufficient to hear of policies changing while real change was not being delivered. It was hoped that the coming weeks and months would see real change, including to the school curriculum to include the full story of colonialism, and work to tackle the issue of school exclusions of black boys.

 

Health inequalities were further raised as an area requiring real commitment to change. It was noted that the council needed to work with its partners and communities to implement a strategy that ensured people had a better start in life.

 

Members thanked the Cabinet Member for their passion for leading this piece of work. It was noted that objectives needed to be refreshed and that equality needed to be placed at the heart of all the council’s work to make real changes to the lives of residents.

 

Concerns were raised that the report suggested that of the 31 targets in the 2016-20 Plan, only three had been met. Members suggested that data on performance against targets should be published and that meaningful targets should be developed.

 

In response, the Cabinet Member stated that the annual report was a calendar year report on progress made that year and was not a plotted trajectory. It was recognised that data collection had been highlighted within the peer review report and the council would work upon this going forward to ensure data collection was accurate.

 

The Cabinet Member noted that the report included emerging ideas on the new Equality Strategy, however consultation would take place to fully develop the targets and Strategy.

 

The Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Learning welcomed the pause for 8 minutes and 46 seconds as an opportunity to reflect. It was noted that black people across the world had felt real pain and this needed to be addressed. It was a real opportunity to tackle the issue of inequality in every aspect of life including employment and education. The Cabinet Member stressed the importance of empowering and supporting young people and part of this included learning about who they are and their heritage. It was noted that it had been 40 years since Bob Marley sang Redemption Song at Crystal Palace and still inequality was experienced by so many. It was stressed that it was vital that this inequality was tackled in every part of life.

 

In response, the Cabinet Member for Safer Croydon & Communities stated that the report was central to all aspects of council activity. It was agreed that the current curriculum did not reflect all of our communities and should be reviewed. The Cabinet Member expressed frustration that after 40 years, the same differentials in experience were still present and that it was imperative that this time real change was made. Whilst it was recognised that there deeply entrenched inequalities which were decades and centuries old, the Cabinet Member was committed to tackle them.

 

The Leader concluded by noting that equalities would run through the heart of all the council’s activities including building an economic and sustainable agenda.

 

The Leader of the Council delegated authority to the Cabinet to make the following decisions:

 

RESOLVED: To

 

1.     Note the Equality and Inclusion Annual Report for 2019

 

2.     Note the Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG) Report 2019

 

3.     Note the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index (WEI) Report 2019

 

4.     Note the reports will be published on the Council’s website

 

5.     Note the work to develop an Equality Strategy

Supporting documents: