Issue - meetings

Cabinet RECOMMENDS TO COUNCIL that the updated Race Equality Scheme for 2005-2008, including the additions and amendments made by Cabinet, be approved.

Council RESOLVED that the Race Equality Scheme be adopted.

Councillor SM Edwards, Resources, Staffing, Information & Customer Services Portfolio Holder, hoped that the extensive Cabinet discussion of the Race Equality Scheme highlighted its importance to Council, as it had an effect across all bodies and services, and members had an obligation to promote it actively.  He commended the amount of work officers had done on the scheme, which he saw as a key building block to future policies, such as the Council’s strategic approach to Traveller issues.  He confirmed that he would be setting up a Race Equality Scheme Member Working Group and encouraged members to read and promote the scheme.

Council RESOLVED that the Race Equality Scheme be adopted.

Recommendation to Council. 

The Race Equality Scheme is enclosed separately with this agenda and is available for download from the Council’s website. 

Cabinet RECOMMENDS TO COUNCIL that the updated Race Equality Scheme for 2005-2008, including the additions and amendments made by Cabinet, be approved. 

The Resources, Staffing, Information & Customer Services Portfolio Holder commended to Cabinet the updated Race Equality Scheme (RES), which took into account progress made implementing the action plan, consultation responses and recommended practice from the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE).  He pointed out, that in addition to the consultation replies from parish councils in Appendix A of the report, Bar Hill Parish Council had also responded to the consultation and supported the RES.

In view of the CRE’s “Common Ground” report, the portfolio holder also proposed the establishment of a small RES Member Working Group of two or three members to consider its implications in more detail. The Council needed to work towards an over-arching strategy document for its approach to Traveller issues, albeit that the completed Strategy would not be published until after the adoption of the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document. At the same time, he considered that it was important that the Race Equality Scheme did not focus on any particular minority group. Members’ attention was drawn to the relatively high levels of ethnic minorities working as taxi drivers and in local hotel and agricultural industries. He undertook to add cultural awareness training for all members to the Member Training Advisory Group work programme.

The following amendments were made to the Race Equality Scheme:

·                      Paragraph 1.3.2: “This updated version has now been produced in the light of…(b) new ODPM Circular 1/2006 on 'Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan sites' (February 2006). This circular aims to ensure that Traveller site provision is increased, Traveller needs are dealt with fairly and effectively, and that the traditional travelling way of life of Gypsies and Travellers is recognised, protected and facilitated";

·                      Paragraph 1.4.2 (also paragraph 10 of the Cabinet report be amended to highlight the role of all portfolio holders for promoting race equality and good race relations, through all Council services, particularly those for which they have responsibility”;

·                      Paragraph 2.1.4: “The travelling community, including travelling showmen, has been a traditional part of rural life in South Cambridgeshire…”;

·                      Paragraph 2.3.5 (Promoting good race relations): To include the Council’s response to the Tsunami disaster during the 2004 Christmas break, when the Council offices were opened up as a collection point for donations and aid supplies, and both councillors and officers interrupted their holidays to help out.  This initiative involved close liaison with the local Sri Lankan community;

·                      Action plan - section B.1 (Developing policies and strategies relevant to race equality): "Highlight to the Cabinet and the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document Member Reference Group findings and recommendations from ODPM Circular 1/2006 and the CRE's 'Common Ground' report which may be appropriate to the Council's strategic approach to Traveller issues and the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document. This will include consideration of how to strengthen the Council's practices on recognising, protecting and facilitating the traditional travelling way of life of Gypsies and Travellers, whilst respecting the interests of the settled community."  This action should be actioned by the RES Member Working  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3

Following Council approval last month of our new Race Equality Scheme as a draft for public consultation, we are now inviting partners and special interest groups to give us their comments on the draft by Friday 7 April 2006. Letters about the consultation exercise will be sent by the end of this week to all parish councils in the district, LSP Board members, the Commission for Racial Equality, the Ormiston Trust and others. SCDC staff will also be consulted.

In the context of SCDC's financial constraints and service cutbacks, we are making consultees aware that the Race Equality Scheme can be found on our website, instead of posting the 27-page document to all of them. Please click on the following link for details:

http://www.scambs.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/equality.htm

We are asking consultees to let us know whether there are any aspects of the draft Scheme that they particularly like or dislike (quoting the particular page and paragraph numbers to which your comments relate) and any specific amendments that they would suggest. Comments on the draft Scheme should be made in writing to Tim Wetherfield (Head of Policy and Communication) at the Cambourne offices or by e-mail to RES@scambs.gov.uk.

The consultation makes clear that, whilst financial constraints facing the Council mean that there are no additional resources available for new initiatives, we would welcome views on how the Council could develop or adapt its approach in order to treat everyone fairly and justly. The consultation findings will be reported to the Council’s Cabinet later this spring, so that the details of the Race Equality Scheme can then by finalised by the full Council.

Contact: Tim Wetherfield, Head of Policy and Communications. Tel: (01954) 713200. 

Cabinet RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the Race Equality Scheme 2005-08 as presented to Cabinet be approved as a consultation draft for subsequent public consultation.

Council

Council

Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that the Race Equality Scheme 2005-08 be approved as a consultation draft for subsequent public consultation.

The Council had a statutory duty to promote race equality.  The ‘Race Equality Scheme 2005 – 2008’ document, which was put forward as a draft for public consultation, followed a review of the 2002 scheme and took account of guidance from the Commission for Racial Equality.  Councillor JD Batchelor, as lead Member for overseeing the Scheme, commended the updated version to Cabinet.

The Head of Policy and Communication clarified that the heading “non-white respondents” in the table at paragraph 2.3.1 of the document referred to people from “black and minority ethnic” groups.

Members referred to the 10 January 2006 meeting in Cottenham with Traveller groups and the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), amongst others.  The Leader was congratulated for his defence of the Council’s position, particularly in explaining how the Council’s planning policies were applied firmly, fairly and consistently.

Members were disappointed that the CRE had stated that it did not comment on draft versions of race equality schemes before they were agreed.  The Head of Policy and Communication clarified that he had already had initial discussions with contacts at the CRE about the progress made by the Council in promoting race equality, and the Council’s future action plan.  The CRE would be invited to comment on the Race Equality Scheme once Council had approved the document as a consultation draft.

Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that the Race Equality Scheme 2005-08 be approved as a consultation draft for subsequent public consultation.