Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - 4th Floor - Civic Centre

Contact: Earl Piggott-smith  Email: earl.piggott-smith@wolverhampton.gov.uk /01902 551251

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome

[The Chair to welcome everyone to the meeting.]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

Cllr Zee Russell, Chair, welcomed everyone to the virtual meeting and advised it was being live streamed to the press and public. A recording of the meeting would be available for viewing on the Council’s website.

2.

Meeting procedures to be followed

[The Chair will explain how the meeting will proceed, how questions are to be asked and any matters of meeting etiquette.]

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

Earl Piggott-Smith, Scrutiny Officer, explained the protocol to be followed during the meeting for asking questions and reminded everyone that microphones should be muted and cameras off, unless have been invited to speak by the Chair.

3.

Apologies

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies were received from the following:

 

Cllr John Reynolds

Cllr Paul Appleby

4.

Declarations of interest

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The were no declarations of interest recorded.

5.

Minutes of previous meeting 17 March 2021 pdf icon PDF 476 KB

[To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The panel approved the minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2021 as being a correct record.

6.

Draft Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Approach pdf icon PDF 392 KB

[David Pattison,Director of Governance, to give presentation]

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cllr Zee Russell invited David Pattison, Director of Governance, to present the report to the panel.

 

David Pattison, Director of Governance, made a few introductory comments outlining the progress made and key achievements during the year.3 The Director of Governance advised that Jin Takhar, Head of Equality Diversity and Inclusion, would give a detailed presentation to the panel on the draft Council’s Equality Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

 

The Director of Governance commented that the Staff Equality Forum Chairs would also be in attendance to share their experiences of working with senior managers in taking forward issues of concern.

 

The Director of Governance commented that the progress made in respect of equalities work was a proud personal achievement. The Director of Governance commented that the Council is making a difference on the issue of equalities which is becoming embedded across the Council and that it is comfortable with being uncomfortable on equalities issues and happy to be challenged.

 

The Director of Governance invited questions and challenge from the panel about what more the Council could do to help Wolverhampton become a fair and inclusive city and considered that it was on the right path. The Director of Governance commented that a key factor in the progress made has been because of the contributions from Staff Equality Forum Chairs and referred to the action taken by the Council in response to the issues raised. The Chairs of the equality forums attend meetings of senior management and Strategic Executive Board on a weekly basis and their contributions are valued and encouraged.

 

The Head of Equality Diversity and Inclusion gave a summary of the approach taken to develop the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. The Head of Equality and Diversity commented in detail about the Plan on a Page slide which gave a summary of the context, key objectives and priorities of the strategy.  The panel were advised that a more detailed 15-page document has been produced linked to this document which sets out the vision, commitment, aspirations of the strategy, and how the priorities listed were developed.

 

The panel were given an assurance of the Council’s commitment to inclusion, fairness, and inclusivity and the commitment across Corporate Services to make substantial progress in this area. The Head of Equality Diversity and Inclusion invited the panel to comment and shape the draft strategy which will be included in the planned wider consultation on the document towards the end of July 2021.

 

The Head of Equality Diversity and Inclusion commented on the key achievements during the previous 12 – 18 months and the focus on building on this progress.

 

The Head of Equality Diversity and Inclusion commented that there had a major change in the way in the Council as a whole, considers issues of equalities. A key element was the development of partnership working between senior management and employees across the organisation, as well as community leaders in helping to develop and shape the priorities in the strategy.

 

The Head of Equality Diversity and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Our Council Scrutiny Panel - Draft work programme 2021- 2022 pdf icon PDF 501 KB

[Earl Piggott-Smith, Scrutiny Officer, to present report]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair invited Earl Piggott-Smith, Scrutiny Officer, to present the report.

 

The Scrutiny Officer briefed the panel on selection criteria to be used when choosing items for the panel work programme and opportunity to take different approaches to reviewing topics of interest, such as small group meetings with key employees.  The panel were invited to suggest possible topics for the work programme.

 

The panel suggested a report on restructure of senior management scheduled for Cabinet should ideally have been sent to the panel for pre-decision scrutiny to assess the possible impact on achieving the objectives detailed in the Re-Lighting Our Council plan. The panel suggested that this would ensure that it met its responsibilities and given an opportunity to review how the new strategy was developed and the impact monitored.

 

The panel suggested the each of the key themes detailed in the strategy be considered in detail by the panel during the year.  The reports to be presented to the panel in timely manner so that its contributions can help to inform and shape the strategy. The panel commented on proposed changes the governance arrangements and suggested this should be included in the work programme.

 

The Director of Governance reassured the panel that the Director of Strategy would be happy to attend a future meeting of the panel to update members about the strategy and respond to questions and comments.

 

The Director of Governance added that there are no changes planned to the current Leader Cabinet model in the Council.

 

Resolved:

1.    The panel agreed to note the report.

2.    The panel to receive an early report from the Director of Strategy on the changes to senior management restructuring and the implications for the delivery of the Re-Lighting Our City strategy.

3.    The key themes in the Re-Lighting Our City strategy to be added to the panel work programme for review and discussion.