Issue - meetings

This report asks Members to consider the final report of the Inclusive Decision Making Ad Hoc Scrutiny Panel, which makes recommendations about improving the accessibility of the Council’s decision making processes to the local community.

RESOLVED: (i)         That it be noted that some of the recommendations of the Scrutiny Panel have been anticipated by the Council, that a Social Inclusion Executive Members has now been appointed, with the support of a Social Inclusion Working Group, and that a forum for people with disabilities is in the course of being convened.

                        (ii)        That the Social Inclusion Working Group be invited to consider, if it wishes, in the run up to next year’s budget allocations, whether existing financial allocations might be redirected in order to underpin more effectively the work of the Equalities team and community forums.

                        (iii)       That it be agreed that all partnerships should document the roles and responsibilities of the participants, to ensure good governance arrangements are in place.

                        (iv)       That Democratic Services be requested to promote, to all interest groups, the availability of Council agendas and supporting papers, and that any subsequent requests for information be satisfied using the new electronic committee management system wherever practical.

                        (v)        That it be confirmed that the Executive welcomes input into the Council’s decision making process by all faith groups.

                        (vi)       That Officers be requested to bear in mind the comments of the Scrutiny Panel when they consider the training requirements of members of Council committees.

Members considered a report which presented the final report of the Inclusive Decision Making Ad Hoc Scrutiny Panel, which made recommendations about improving the accessibility to the local community of the Council’s decision-making processes.

The Panel’s report, at Annex A, set out the options and alternatives considered for delivering a more accessible process and details of the consultation undertaken during the review.  Financial implications of the Panel’s recommendations were detailed in Annex B.

Members welcomed the report, but expressed disappointment that no members of the Scrutiny Panel had attended to present it to the Executive.

RESOLVED: (i)         That it be noted that some of the recommendations of the Scrutiny Panel have been anticipated by the Council, that a Social Inclusion Executive Member has now been appointed, with the support of a Social Inclusion Working Group, and that a forum for people with disabilities is in the course of being convened.

                        (ii)        That the Social Inclusion Working Group be invited to consider, if it wishes, in the run up to next year’s budget allocations, whether existing financial allocations might be redirected in order to more effectively underpin the work of the Equalities team and community forums.

                        (iii)       That it be agreed that all partnership arrangements should document the roles and responsibilities of the participants to ensure good governance arrangements are in place.

                        (iv)       That Democratic Services be requested to promote, to all interest groups, the availability of Council agendas and supporting papers, and that any subsequent requests for information be satisfied using the new electronic committee management system wherever practical.

                        (v)        That it be confirmed that the Executive welcomes input into the Council’s decision making process by all faith groups in the City.

                        (vi)       That Officers be requested to bear in mind the comments of the Scrutiny Panel when they consider the training requirements of members of Council committees.

REASON:      In order to respond appropriately to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Panel and to highlight areas where action has already been taken to improve accessibility.