Agenda item

Regarding the Motions referred to it from Full Council, Cabinet

1.    Noted the Motion from Councillor Sarah Cheung Johnson about domestic violence and the White Ribbon Campaign, and asked officers to present a report to a future meeting on the implications for South Cambridgeshire District Council.

2.    Noted the Motion from Councillor Alex Malyon about single-use plastics and plastic pollution and requested the Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licensing and the Waste Policy, Change and Innovation Manager to take forward work to promote the Plastic Free Communities scheme to parishes and community groups in the District.

3.    Noted the Motion from Councillor Nick Wright and:

a.    Agreed, in principle, that the Council should embrace, as far as possible, a pragmatic approach to a transition to paperless meetings:

b.    Requested officers to present a report to a future meeting on the options and cost implications; and

c.     Supported the proposal for Cabinet to pilot the concept with a view to providing leadership and identifying any issues.

4.    Noted the  Motion from Councillor Gavin Clayton about Safe Spaces, the further comments from Councillor Clayton tabled at the meeting, and agreed that officers be requested:

a.    Tto present a report to Cabinet on an annual basis on the Council’s work in respect of equality and diversity.

b.    To investigate the concerns and issues that the LGBT+ community experiences in South Cambridgeshire by engaging with representatives of the community and any actions the Council could undertake to address those issues both within the organisation and within the wider community.

c.      To explore how the Council can promote equality and diversity policies through working with partners and engaging with our communities, including encouraging community groups to consider equality and diversity issues when applying to the District Council for grant aid.

Cabinet considered four Motions referred to it by Full Council at its meeting held on 18 July 2019. Cabinet received two further documents relating to the Motion about safe spaces from Councillor Gavin Clayton.

Discussion focussed on two of the Motions.

Regarding the Motion from Councillor Nick Wright (paperless meetings), Councillor Dr. Aidan Van de Weyer (Deputy Leader (Statutory)) said that there was significant support in principle for the idea of reducing paper use. He asked officers to produce a high-level report into the implications involved and agreed with the idea that Cabinet should show leadership by piloting a scheme of meetings conducted electronically.  Councillor Philippa Hart was in support but asked the Deputy Leader (Statutory) to explore whether there was a need for new equipment. However, Councillor Anna Bradnam took a contrary view and made an impassioned plea that the electronic conduct of meetings should require individual Members to opt in and be supported by extensive Member training. Councillor Brian Milnes highlighted the need for effective technical support. Councillor Jose Hales suggested that the Council should consider adopting carbon-offset measures to mitigate its use of paper.

Regarding the Motion from Councillor Gavin Clayton (safe spaces), the Corporate Programme Manager explained that, while South Cambridgeshire District Council did not have a specific Equality and Diversity Officer, he was confident that the Policy and Performance team would have enough capacity to meet the Council’s statutory obligations in this regard. Every Council policy was subject to an Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) and statistics were published annually with the Equalities Strategy being reviewed every four years. The Interim Corporate Programme Manager agreed that more could be done to increase awareness, through various communication channels, of how seriously the Council viewed the subject, but pointed out that many instances of so-called hate crime related to factors other than equality. He cautioned against duplicating the work of partner organisations. Expanding on this, the Interim Chief Executive suggested that the most effective course of action would be for the Council to approach the issue of safe spaces through its involvement with the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership. The Interim Chief Executive emphasised that all available evidence suggested that South Cambridgeshire remained a safe district in which to live.

Other points raised included

·         The possible inclusion of equality statements on agendas and reports

·         Recognition that equality is embedded in the Council’s culture

·         The existence of a Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub at Cambridgeshire County Council

·         The changing demographic of South Cambridgeshire

·         Safe places should be an opt-in facility

·         The potential cost of being ‘badged’ as a safe spaces Authority could be spent more effectively by providing appropriate training

Regarding the Motions referred to it from Full Council, Cabinet

1.    Noted the Motion from Councillor Sarah Cheung Johnson about domestic violence and the White Ribbon Campaign, and asked officers to present a report to a future meeting on the implications for South Cambridgeshire District Council.

2.    Noted the Motion from Councillor Alex Malyon about single-use plastics and plastic pollution and requested the Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licensing and the Waste Policy, Change and Innovation Manager to take forward work to promote the Plastic Free Communities scheme to parishes and community groups in the District.

3.    Noted the Motion from Councillor Nick Wright and:

a.    Agreed, in principle, that the Council should embrace, as far as possible, a pragmatic approach to a transition to paperless meetings:

b.    Requested officers to present a report to a future meeting on the options and cost implications; and

c.     Supported the proposal for Cabinet to pilot the concept with a view to providing leadership and identifying any issues.

4.    Noted the Motion from Councillor Gavin Clayton about Safe Spaces, the further comments from Councillor Clayton tabled at the meeting, and agreed that officers be requested:

a.    To present a report to Cabinet on an annual basis on the Council’s work in respect of equality and diversity.

b.    To investigate the concerns and issues that the LGBT+ community experiences in South Cambridgeshire by engaging with representatives of the community and any actions the Council could undertake to address those issues both within the organisation and within the wider community.

c.     To explore how the Council can promote equality and diversity policies through working with partners and engaging with our communities, including encouraging community groups to consider equality and diversity issues when applying to the District Council for grant aid.