Issue - meetings

Members had been provided with a detailed report and a copy of the Council’s final Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2025 for consideration following consultation.

Members were also asked to explore additional opportunities to be further involved in the development of key priorities as set out in the Strategy and identify workstream activities over the forthcoming period.

Wes Downes, Policy Manager invited John Cowings,  Senior Policy officer to give a verbal update to the committee to compliment the report on  Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2025, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting.

The final draft Strategy recognised that the Council had worked hard on equality and diversity issues and that this work has resulted in significant changes to services, employment practices and approach. However, there was a recognition that more work needs to take place, particularly in the context of key demographic and economic challenges and wider societal events and issues including the coronavirus pandemic, increased focus on race equality, the increasing violence against women and girls and social mobility amongst many other issues.

The final draft Strategy set out the Council’s vision and values for equality, diversity and inclusion and five key priorities to direct activity over the forthcoming three-year period as follows: Create a diverse and confident workforce; Ensure fair access to employment;  skills and business support; Engaged communities able to influence decisions; Healthy and supported people; and Safe and inclusive places for everyone.

The Strategy has been structured around 5 workstreams or main themes. One of these, “Engaged communities able to influence decisions” includes a focus on improving participation by under-represented groups and communities in consultation and participation in public life, and would seek to support Elected Members to champion equality, diversity and inclusion across Derbyshire, growing links with diverse groups and populations

By working with the  Committee, it was hoped that the knowledge, existing experience and skills of Elected Members could be harnessed to help progress such work, and in the process, provide more support to those Members to reach and engage with communities that they may not have close links with at present.

Members made a number of comments around some of the narrative in the document and made observation and asked questions on the Strategy which were duly noted or answered by the officers and would be taken into account as part of the continued work process moving forward.

The Chairman thanked the officers for their update.

RESOLVED (1) to note the final draft Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2025 which would be considered for approval by Cabinet at its meeting on 10 March 2022; and

(2) that the Members Development Working Group be asked to explore how Elected Members can further support the development of key actions set out in the Strategy including work to improve community participation and participation in public life and report back to this committee