Decision details

The Principal Community Development Officer presented the report of the Executive Manager – Communities that provided the Group with an overview of Diversity of Rushcliffe and its impact on service delivery. It was noted that the Equality Act 2010 had challenged Local Government organisations to know how age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage, civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion/belief, sex and sexual orientation influenced local communities both individually and collectively. It was also was noted that the Equality Framework for Local Government comprised of five performance areas:

·       Knowing your communities

·       Leadership, partnership and organisation commitment

·       Involving your communities

·       Responsive services and customer care

·       A skilled and committed workforce

The Health Development Officer delivered a presentation to the Group which focused on the ‘knowing your communities’ section of the equality framework. The presentation also highlighted the Council’s actions to address health inequalities within the Borough. The presentation covered:

·       Knowing your communities data

·       Mosaic Groups in Rushcliffe

·       Indices of Multiple Deprivation

·       Child Poverty

·       Health Determinants

·       Health Profile

·       Lifestyle Behaviour

·       Health inequalities

·       Health Priorities

·       Health Ambitions

·       Dementia

·       Recommendations

Following the presentation the Group raised suggestions of subjects for further investigation such as child obesity, dementia and mental health. It was noted that although the diversity of the Council’s workforce was scrutinised at Performance Management Board the Group wanted to know about the Borough’s local communities and how the Council could engage with isolated communities. The Principal Community Development Officer advised the Group to visit the Nottinghamshire Insight website which helped the Council identify the communities most in need. The Executive Manager – Communities noted that funding was disappearing for small community groups and the Group suggested that they could use funds from their community support scheme grant to support minority groups within the Borough. The Group also asked several specific questions regarding the Rushcliffe Respectful Relations document.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    the report of the Executive Manager – Communities be noted.

b)    the Group be provided with a further report covering dementia and mental health.