Issue - meetings

The report of the Director Development and Economic Growth is attached.

It was RESOLVED that the Equality Scheme 2021-2025 and supporting Action Plan for 2021/22 be approved.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Community and the Environment, Councillor Brennan presented the report of the Director of Development and Economic Growth outlining the Rushcliffe Equality Scheme for 2021 to 2025.

Cllr Brennan advised that she was delighted to present the updated Rushcliffe Equality Scheme for 2021-25, which had been refreshed to reflect current circumstances and new actions required.  Cabinet noted that the document had kept its focus at a strategic level, with equality and diversity issues embedded in the Council’s mainstream and daily activities.  The importance of ensuring that all residents in the Borough could access services equally was emphasised, with any potential barriers being identified and performance monitoring undertaken to reduce those barriers.  Cabinet was advised that the Scheme had been considered twice by the Communities Scrutiny Group and undergone a public consultation.  Councillor Brennan advised that the Scheme had a broader focus than before and included progress on inclusion, to enable everyone to access services in the most appropriate way.  Details of the aims and commitments of the Scheme were highlighted in the report and it was noted that the Scheme set out high level objectives and the actions referred to in the Appendix to the report would form the basis of Action Plans, which would be annually reviewed.  In conclusion, Councillor Brennan advised that the Action Plans would be embedded across all of the Council’s Annual Service Plans and details of the Action Plan for 2021/22, highlighted in the Appendix to the report were noted. 

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Inglis reiterated the importance of this essential document, which had been developed following public consultation and scrutiny by the Communities Scrutiny Group, to ensure inclusion and accessibility for everyone and that no one in the Borough would be disadvantaged when accessing Council services and that all employees were respected and treated fairly.  Cabinet noted that this was a live document, which would continue to be developed and enhanced.

Councillor Upton concurred with the previous comments and reiterated the importance of this live document, which would be reviewed regularly through the annual review of the Action Plans.

Councillor Robinson referred to the importance of this document in identifying the challenges for both the public and Council employees, and recognised the need for it to be a working, live document, that would be updated to reflect the environment that the Council worked in and the challenges that would bring.   

It was RESOLVED that the Equality Scheme 2021-2025 and supporting Action Plan for 2021/22 be approved.