Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16^th July 2014 were signed as a true record.  There were no matters arising.

Report of the Chief Executive

Presentation by the Assistant Director, Policy, Partnership and Performance

Councillor Townshend, Cabinet Member (Policing and Equalities) has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive, along with a presentation, on progress against the Council’s Equality Strategy.

It was noted that the current Equality Strategy was approved in March 2013 and set out how the Council complied with the Equality Act 2010 along with the Council’s equality objectives, which were linked to the priorities of the Council Plan 2011-2014.

The progress against the plan was reported under the key headings of Globally Connected, Locally Committed and Delivering our Priorities.  Within these key headings, the Committee received information in relation to employment rates, Job Seekers Allowance claimants, reducing the impact of poverty, the living wage, housing and arts and culture, reducing crime, supporting the most vulnerable, improving health and wellbeing and giving children the best start in life.  With regard to delivering priorities, the report outlined the Council’s workforce profile in respect of ethnicity, disability, gender and pay levels in order to ascertain whether the Council’s employees were reflective of the local population.

Having considered the data provided and seeking clarification on some matters, the Committee requested that the Corporate Policy Team provide additional information in relation to the following:-

·  The average earning figures and distribution;

·  The living wage and its impact;

·  Female employment rates, in particular the differential between male and female employment in the context of the West Midlands Region and Nationally;

·  Under 5 development figures for Asian and Bangladeshi children;

·  Falls prevention.

In addition, the Committee requested that the Chairs of the Scrutiny Boards indicated, be recommended to consider the following issues for inclusion on their work programme:-

·  Scrutiny Board 1

o  Workforce Profile

o  Purchasing

·  Scrutiny Board 2

o  Early Years Development figures, including Gypsy/Roma children

·  Scrutiny Board 3

o  Herbert Art Gallery and its cultural programme

·  Scrutiny Board 5

o  Increase in smoking in pregnant mothers

RESOLVED that:-

1.  The progress made on the equality measures set out in the Council Plan be noted and the Committee place on record their thanks to the Corporate Performance Team for all their work in producing this informative report. 

2.  The Chairs of the relevant Scrutiny Boards be requested to consider the addition of the matters indicated above in their work programmes.

3.  No specific recommendations be made to the Cabinet Member (Policing and Equalities) in relation to the progress made.

The Committee considered two reports outlining the work of the following organisations over the preceding twelve months, together with details of attendance by the City Council’s representatives on those organisations:-

a)  The Coventry Law Centre

b)  Coventry and Solihull Waste Disposal Company Limited Shareholders Panel

RESOLVED that the City Council at their Annual General Meeting continue to nominate representatives to the following Outside Bodies:-

a)  The Coventry Law Centre

b)  Coventry and Solihull Waste Disposal Company Limited Shareholders Panel

All outstanding issues have been included in the work programme below

The Committee noted that all outstanding issues had been included in the work programme for the year.

Report of the Members and Elections Team Manager

The Committee considered a briefing note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator, appended to which was the 2014/15 work programme.

It was recommended that the items on Tourism/Heritage and Air Quality be scheduled for November and December 2014 respectively and that Child Sexual Exploitation be added to the list of matters to be scheduled for future consideration.

RESOLVED that the work programme be updated as indicated.

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no other items of public business.