Issue - meetings

The Assistant Director, Communities & Culture to present a report which provides an update on the council’s progress towards its equality objectives and sets out proposals to strengthen the approach to equalities in key areas.

Resolved:  (i)      That the progress made against the council’s equality objectives be noted and agreement given for the current objectives to remain in place.

                   (ii)      That the action plan set out in Annex A to the report be approved.

                   (iii)     That the key elements of York’s equalities system, as set out in paragraph 31 of the report, be endorsed.

                   (iv)    That the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism set out in Annex B be adopted.

Reason:     To strengthen the council’s approach to equalities.

The Assistant Director, Communities & Culture presented a report which provided an update on the council’s progress towards its equality objectives and set out proposals to strengthen the approach to equalities in key areas.

Under the Equality Act, the council was required to publish equality objectives every 4 years and information to demonstrate compliance with its Equality Duty every year.  Recent progress against the five current objectives, set in October 2017, was summarised in Annex A to the report along with a revised action plan.  No changes to the objectives were proposed.  Key development areas in the action plan were highlighted in report paragraphs 10-30. 

With reference to the council’s commitment to its leadership role in events promoting inclusion, Members were advised of a request by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government for local authorities to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism. This was attached as Annex B to the report.

Resolved:  (i)      That the progress made against the council’s equality objectives be noted and agreement given for the current objectives to remain in place.

                   (ii)      That the action plan set out in Annex A to the report be approved.

                   (iii)     That the key elements of York’s equalities system, as set out in paragraph 31 of the report, be endorsed.

                   (iv)    That the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism set out in Annex B be adopted.

Reason:     To strengthen the council’s approach to equalities.