Agenda and minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal interests, not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they might have in respect of business on the agenda.

Councillor Jeffries declared a personal, non prejudicial interest in relation to agenda item 4 (Criteria for Achieving Excellence for the Equality Framework for Local Government) as a member of the York Independent Living Network.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 15 July 2013.

Resolved:           That the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 15 July 2013 be approved, and signed by the Chair as a correct record subject to:

                             Minute 8 – Minutes (amendment to Minute 4 of the 24 June 2013 meeting) – The Council’s Journey to Excellence in Equalities – Amend the penultimate paragraph to read:

“Additionally Members were particularly concerned that disabled people continued to be termed “people with disabilities” despite the agreed advice to adopt consistency in terminology in line with the “social model of disability”. Officers agreed to refer this issue to the Officer Leadership Group for attention.”

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered to speak can do so.  The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Friday 6 September 2013.  Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Gwen Swinburn spoke in relation to the briefing paper submitted by the Head of Performance and Innovation to the Committee’s March meeting on the status of the Council’s Innovation Strategy for the city. She questioned when this report would be included in the Committee’s work plan.

Reference was also made to three possible scrutiny topics she had previously put forward for consideration, particularly that relating to public engagement.

Officers referred to existing scrutiny work already undertaken in the area of community engagement. Although Members had confirmed their satisfaction with progress in this area consideration would be given the implementation of the recommendations arising from the Community Engagement Review at the Committee’s next meeting. If Members were not satisfied with progress in relation to any of the recommendations they could, at that time, request that further review work should be undertaken. 

This report highlights the criteria for achieving Excellence for the Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG) and provide an update on progress in implementing the Excellence Equalities Improvement Action Plan against each of the EFLG performance areas. Representatives from Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, an authority who has already achieved the excellent level in their EFLG, will be in attendance at the meeting.

Consideration was given to a report which highlighted the criteria for achieving Excellence for the Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG), provided as Appendix 1 to the report. An update on progress in implementing the Excellence Equalities Improvement Action Plan against each of the performance areas was also reported at Appendix 2 of the report.

Following a request at the Committee’s last meeting representatives from Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, an authority who had already achieved the excellent level in their EFLG, had been invited to attend the meeting to share their experiences.

Julian Horsler, Barnsley’s Equality and Diversity Manager, reported details of the journey undertaken by his authority to achieve the excellent level. He highlighted the need to work with senior managers and for a cultural shift thorough out the organisation. Clear goals and objectives were suggested as a priority which should include partnership working. Barnsley had identified a list of 10 core objectives together with improvements which would benefit both staff and residents. Progress on each had then to be demonstrated. He confirmed there was no simple solution and required a lot of hard work.

Tim Cheetham, a Councillor from Barnsley confirmed the importance of the journey towards the achievement of excellence but also the need for continuous improvement. This had been undertaken by incremental steps and working with the community.

Following Members questions about various aspects of the work  the Barnsley representatives confirmed that:

·        All information was provided in easy read format and work had been undertaken to make the authorities website more accessible

·        Community engagement had been important to cascade information to those not online

·        Equality Forums now assisted in the preparation of tender specifications

·        The ten actions had been chosen where it was felt a difference could and which were achievable

·        The end result should be measurable

·        The Authority should lead by example

·        The barriers faced by the disabled people had been a focus.

Members referred to the inaccessibility of the information provided in the report graphs and to existing issues with the acoustics in West Office meeting rooms.

Officers confirmed that work was ongoing to overcome the general sound problems in meeting rooms and that any future testing would involve Members.

In respect of the equality profile information from Members this was required, as part of the evidence base and to ascertain whether Members represented the diverse community they served.

The Chair and Members thanked Mr Horsler and Cllr Cheetham for their attendance at the meeting and provision of helpful guidance and information in relation to the EFLG.

Following further lengthy discussion it was

Resolved:         i)  That the progress report be received and   noted.

       ii)  That hard copies of the equality profiling information be provided to all Members for their completion. ^1.

Reason:              To help the authority to achieve excellence for the Equality Framework for Local Government.

[As amended at the Corporate & Scrutiny Management Committee meeting held on 11 November 2013]

This report analyses the latest performance for 2013/14 and forecasts the outturn position for the services falling under the responsibility of the Corporate Scrutiny Management Committee. 

Members considered a report which provided the latest performance for 2013/14 and forecast the outturn position for the services falling under the responsibility of the Corporate and Scrutiny Management Committee.

Officers confirmed that, as this was the first performance report to this Committee covering the key areas of Customer and Business Support Services, and the Office of the Chief Executive, if there should be any other areas where Members required information these could be incorporated into future reports.

Members expressed concern in relation to reduced footfall in the city during quarter 1, which Officers acknowledged there was ongoing work being undertaken to improve. A request was made for update information in future reports on the Guildhall project and the apprenticeship brokerage service.

Resolved:           That  the performance report be received and noted.

Reason:              To update the Committee on the latest finance and performance position for 2013/14.

To provide Members with an evaluation of the ‘Service to City’ development programme as requested at the last meeting of the Committee.

Consideration was given to a report which provided an evaluation of the ‘Service to City’ development programme, following a request for this information by Members at the last meeting. A programme which had been launched in July 2012 to develop leadership capabilities of Heads of Service.

The aims and content of the programme were reported together with the results of feedback and future plans for the next phase of the programme.

Officers provided further information on the Innovate to Master class Programme and future mentoring proposals.

In answer to Members questions regarding course take up, Officers confirmed that attendance on the course had not been mandatory but for the personal development of staff. It was also confirmed that the course would be replicated for new service heads as they joined the authority.

Resolved:           That the feedback received in the programme evaluation and plans for Phase Two of the Service to City programme be received and noted.

Reason:              To ensure Members are kept informed of progress in the Council’s leadership programme.

To consider the Committee’s work plan for the 2013/14 municipal year, including verbal updates on ongoing scrutiny reviews.

Consideration was given to the Committee’s work plan for the 2013/14 municipal year.

Officers confirmed that the corporate themed topic on Mental Health would be added to the Committee’s work programme in due course.

Resolved:  That the Committee’s work plan for 2013/14 be received and noted.

Reason:     To update Members and provide an overview of the Committee’s work for the 2013/14 municipal year.

To consider the annual scrutiny report which summarises the work of the five Overview & Scrutiny Committees for the municipal year May 2012 – May 2013. Members are asked to agree any amendments prior to presentation of the report to Council in October 2013.

Consideration was given to the Annual Scrutiny Report which summarised the work of the five Overview and Scrutiny Committees for the 2012/13 municipal year. Members were asked for their comments or amendments prior to presentation to Council in October.

Recommended:           That Council be asked to endorse the  Annual Scrutiny Report, covering the period June 2012 and May 2013.

Reason:              To comply with Constitutional requirements.