· Part of Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010 required public bodies such as Coventry City Council, to consider how their decisions might reduce or increase inequalities resulting from socioeconomic disadvantage but this has not yet been enacted nationally
· In Scotland and Wales, Socio-economic duty is already in force, with more than 20% of local authorities in England already having voluntarily adopted it too.
· Coventry currently uses Equality Impact Assessments to consider protected characteristics but these do not explicitly outline assessment of class or socioeconomic disadvantage as a requirement
· That the “Practical Guide for Local Authority Implementation of the Socio-Economic Duty” (Published by Just Fair and Resolve Poverty) provides a robust framework for local authorities to adopt this duty voluntarily and embed it in decision making.
This Council welcomes:
· the commitment in Labours 2024 General election manifesto to bring Socio-economic Duty into force as part of Section 1 of the Equality Act
This Council believes:
· That the inequality as a result from socioeconomic disadvantage which exists in Coventry is preventable
· That socioeconomic disadvantage, along with other intersecting protected characteristics, disproportionally disadvantages many Coventry residents
· It was a mistake of the previous Conservative-LibDem coalition government to not enact Socioeconomic Duty when the Equality Act was introduced in 2010
· That with no formal timescale yet outlined nationally for enactment that Coventry would benefit from ‘getting ahead’ of statutory implementation.
· That by passing this motion we would see more equitable policy outcomes and increase our councils ability to address poverty, inequality and disadvantaged would be strengthened.
· That all future decisions, strategy, policy and budget proposals should include explicit assessment of socioeconomic impacts in addition to protected characteristics and this should include the use of both quantitative and qualitative data, along with lived experience
· That public accountability and transparency would be improved if reports required Council, Cabinet and Officers to include how socioeconomic inequalities have been considered and what mitigating actions have been taken.
This council resolves to:
· adopt the Socioeconomic Duty as a requirement for all relevant new and revised policies, plans, strategies and decisions taken by Coventry City Council
· To incorporate socio-economic disadvantage as a requirement to be included in the existing inequality impact process thereby ensuring that reports demonstrate how it has explicitly been considered and how any negative impacts have been mitigated against
· Proactively listen and seek out the voices and experiences of those experiencing economic disadvantage, including young people, in addition to looking at quantitative data when developing new policy
· Formally call upon other bodies the council partners and contracts with to treat Economic Disadvantage as a protected characteristic
· Provide training and support for officers and elected members on how to assess socioeconomic impacts and use the revised process effectively
· To publish an annual overview of how Socioeconomic duty has been applied in Coventry including examples where is has made a positive difference
Make representations to the Government asking for a timescale for national implementation and urging them to make it a priority.
Minutes:
The following Motion was moved by Councillor G Lewis and seconded by Councillor S Gray:
· Part of Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010 required public bodies such as Coventry City Council, to consider how their decisions might reduce or increase inequalities resulting from socioeconomic disadvantage but this has not yet been enacted nationally
· In Scotland and Wales, Socio-economic duty is already in force, with more than 20% of local authorities in England already having voluntarily adopted it too.
· Coventry currently uses Equality Impact Assessments to consider protected characteristics but these do not explicitly outline assessment of class or socioeconomic disadvantage as a requirement
· That the “Practical Guide for Local Authority Implementation of the Socio-Economic Duty” (Published by Just Fair and Resolve Poverty) provides a robust framework for local authorities to adopt this duty voluntarily and embed it in decision making.
This Council welcomes:
· The commitment in Labours 2024 General election manifesto to bring Socio-economic Duty into force as part of Section 1 of the Equality Act
This Council believes:
· That the inequality as a result from socioeconomic disadvantage which exists in Coventry is preventable
· That socioeconomic disadvantage, along with other intersecting protected characteristics, disproportionally disadvantages many Coventry residents
· It was a mistake of the previous Conservative-LibDem coalition government to not enact Socioeconomic Duty when the Equality Act was introduced in 2010
· That with no formal timescale yet outlined nationally for enactment that Coventry would benefit from ‘getting ahead’ of statutory implementation.
· That by passing this motion we would see more equitable policy outcomes and increase our councils ability to address poverty, inequality and disadvantaged would be strengthened.
· That all future decisions, strategy, policy and budget proposals should include explicit assessment of socioeconomic impacts in addition to protected characteristics and this should include the use of both quantitative and qualitative data, along with lived experience
· That public accountability and transparency would be improved if reports required Council, Cabinet and Officers to include how socioeconomic inequalities have been considered and what mitigating actions have been taken.
This Council resolves to:
· Adopt the Socioeconomic Duty as a requirement for all relevant new and revised policies, plans, strategies and decisions taken by Coventry City Council
· To incorporate socio-economic disadvantage as a requirement to be included in the existing inequality impact process thereby ensuring that reports demonstrate how it has explicitly been considered and how any negative impacts have been mitigated against
· Proactively listen and seek out the voices and experiences of those experiencing economic disadvantage, including young people, in addition to looking at quantitative data when developing new policy
· Formally call upon other bodies the council partners and contracts with to treat Economic Disadvantage as a protected characteristic
· Provide training and support for officers and elected members on how to assess socioeconomic impacts and use the revised process effectively
· To publish an annual overview of how Socioeconomic duty has been applied in Coventry including examples where is has made a positive difference
Make representations to the Government asking for a timescale for national implementation and urging them to make it a priority”.
The following amendment was moved by Councillor R Brown, seconded by Councillor A Jobbar, and accepted by Councillor G Lewis thus becoming the substantive motion (in accordance with paragraph 15.1.7 of the Constitution):
“That the Motion as set out as Agenda Item 10.c on the agenda be amended as follows:
After ‘This Council believes’ in the 5th bullet point delete the words ‘Passing this Motion’ and replace with ‘considering this issue’
Delete all of the paragraph that starts ‘This Council resolves’ and replace with the following:
‘Therefore, this Council will investigate the implications, including any additional financial requirements, of the adoption of the Socioeconomic Duty as an additional consideration for all relevant new and revised policies, plans, strategies and decisions taken by Coventry City Council’
The amended Motion now to read:
“This Council notes:
• Part of Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010 required public bodies such as Coventry City Council, to consider how their decisions might reduce or increase inequalities resulting from socioeconomic disadvantage but this has not yet been enacted nationally
• In Scotland and Wales, Socio-economic duty is already in force, with more than 20% of local authorities in England already having voluntarily adopted it too.
• Coventry currently uses Equality Impact Assessments to consider protected characteristics but these do not explicitly outline assessment of class or socioeconomic disadvantage as a requirement
• That the “Practical Guide for Local Authority Implementation of the Socio-Economic Duty” (Published by Just Fair and Resolve Poverty) provides a robust framework for local authorities to adopt this duty voluntarily and embed it in decision making.
This Council welcomes:
• The commitment in Labours 2024 General election manifesto to bring Socio-economic Duty into force as part of Section 1 of the Equality Act
This Council believes:
• That the inequality as a result from socioeconomic disadvantage which exists in Coventry is preventable.
• That socioeconomic disadvantage, along with other intersecting protected characteristics, disproportionally disadvantages many Coventry residents.
• It was a mistake of the previous Conservative-LibDem coalition government to not enact Socioeconomic Duty when the Equality Act was introduced in 2010.
• That with no formal timescale yet outlined nationally for enactment that Coventry would benefit from ‘getting ahead’ of statutory implementation.
• That by considering this issue we would see more equitable policy outcomes and increase our council’s ability to address poverty, inequality and disadvantaged would be strengthened.
• That all future decisions, strategy, policy and budget proposals should include explicit assessment of socioeconomic impacts in addition to protected characteristics and this should include the use of both quantitative and qualitative data, along with lived experience
• That public accountability and transparency would be improved if reports required Council, Cabinet and Officers to include how socioeconomic inequalities have been considered and what mitigating actions have been taken.
Therefore, this Council will investigate the implications, including any additional financial requirements, of the adoption of the Socioeconomic Duty as an additional consideration for all relevant new and revised policies, plans, strategies and decisions taken by Coventry City Council”
RESOLVED that the amended Motion, as set out above in bold, be adopted.