Issue details

The Council adopted a Gender Equality Scheme in 2009, but is now required to review it in light of further guidance from the EHRC. The revised draft incorporates key improvements, which will address the concerns of the EHRC and ensure that the revised scheme complies with the Council’s statutory duty and leads to positive and specific improvements in gender equality for the Council and wider community under the following headings:

• Gender Equality in Service Delivery;
• Gender Equality in Employment;
• Addressing Violence in our Community.

The revised scheme will be informed by a targeted consultation with key internal and external stakeholders, including:

• Meetings with key Council officers in relevant services e.g. Community and Customer Services (Community Safety), Affordable Housing (homelessness and domestic violence) and Planning and New Communities (participation in physical activity be gender)
• An internal workshop, using the existing Gender Equality Steering Group;
• Discussions with neighbouring authorities;
• Discussions with relevant public, private and voluntary organisations e.g Women’s Aid.
• Public consultation via the Council’s website.

Given the short timescale for adoption of the scheme, the Portfolio Holder is asked to approve a 3-week consultation, which is below the 12-week period set out in the Cambridgeshire Compact but nevertheless an adequate period within which to carry out meaningful consultation with the groups identified above. Any further gaps in the Council’s knowledge and understanding of Gender Equality priorities as an employer and service provider can be addressed through actions within the scheme itself.

The draft scheme was considered by the Senior Management Team (SMT) at its meeting on 17 March 2010, and some amendments to the consultation draft are likely to be required in light of SMT’s comments. Consequently the Portfolio Holder is recommended to approve the scheme for consultation in principle at this stage, and to delegate authority to the Executive Director (Operational Services) to approve a final consultation draft incorporating SMT’s comments, and any additional feedback the Portfolio Holder may wish to make.