Decision details

Purpose of Report: This report seeks to reaffirm City of York Council’s (CYC) commitment to being a Human Rights City and to move forward the relationship between CYC and the York Human Rights City Network (YHRCN).

The Executive Member will be asked to:
- Re-commit to the declaration made in 2017 of working towards being a Human Rights City, and putting those rights at the heart of decision making.
- Commit to moving forward in agreement with YHRCN with options for a refreshed structure for the Human Rights and Equalities Board produced by a joint task group.

Resolved: That it be agreed to:

·        Re-commit to the declaration made in 2017 to become a Human Rights City, recognising that this marked an ambition and was a significant step on a journey, and putting those rights at the heart of decision making;

·        Commit to moving forward in agreement with York Human Rights City Network (YHRCN) with a refreshed structure for the Human Rights and Equalities Board produced by a joint task group;

·        Facilitate in partnership an annual or bi-annual national Human Rights City conference;

·        Implement the Council’s responsibilities within the Action Plan (Annex A to the report) and any agreed priority items in the annual indicator report including:

o   Work with the YHRCN and the University of York to develop and deliver Human Rights training to City of York Council’s (CYC) leadership team, managers and staff.

o   Commit to planned meetings between the YHRCN Executive, senior members, and officers to discuss progress with the human rights agenda.

o   Agree to work alongside YHRCN to review the ‘Community Voices’ project to ensure that it meets its original objective to work with the most marginalised.

      and

·        Regular public reporting back through the Executive Member Decision Sessions.

Reason: To reaffirm City of York Council’s commitment to being a Human Rights City.