Agenda item

This report alerts members to the recently launched draft Equalities Plan 2021-2025, currently open to public consultation for a 12-week period until the end of April. 

Lisa Redfern presented the Council’s draft Equalities Plan for 2021-25, supported by Councillor Sue Fennimore and Kim Smith, and which was currently open to consultation for a 12 week period to the end of April. The plan will reframe and set a direction of travel for the borough on equalities for the next four years, placing at its heart diversity and inclusion. The vision was for the borough to become the most inclusive borough in the country where residents felt welcomed and valued. The pandemic had spotlighted inequalities now more than at any other time so it was hoped that the Equalities Plan was well embedded across the council and will provide a focus of inclusion activities.

Councillor Fennimore continued that it was more important than ever to include equalities within work of the council and welcomed comments from the committee to the consultation as their views would help shape plan. Kim Smith stated that it was a borough priority to tackle inequalities and promote inclusion, but it was most important was to understand how to support not convinced communities, regardless of the issue.  The time was right to challenge how things were done and she highlighted the fact that she was one of three minority ethnic chief executives out of 33 London local authorities. Kim Smith felt that it was important that she was a role model for behaviour around equalities and inclusion and cautioned the need to recognise the rich diversity of the borough’s workforce that represented a wide spectrum of racial groups and had much to contribute to the shaping and delivery of services.

Councillor Jonathan Caleb-Landy welcomed the report as thoughtful piece of work that was both powerful and well-conceived. Referencing marginalised groups with hidden disabilities (learning or mental health) he asked what the positive impact the Equalities Plan might be. Lisa Redfern highlighted the work of the resident’s Disabilities Commission and their reported recommendations which the Commission Implementation Group was working to implement.  The group was led by Councillor Patricia Quigley and reflected the borough’s ongoing commitment. It was important to look at the recommendations through the lens of the Equalities Plan. 

Councillor Richardson welcomed the report and speculated if it was possible to include data on disability employment included within the Equalities Plan, alongside the statistics on gender given that the borough also had a vision to be the most disability friendly employer.

Councillor Amanda Lloyd-Harris asked if the currently available information was enough to inform the work undertaken on the producing the Equalities Plan, given that the census information was not yet available.  Kim Smith explained that current service provision was shaped by data that was available stemming from previous census reports and other, going pieces of work.  Residents and staff were impatient for change and thought that the council was not doing enough to effect positive change. There was information to demonstrate accountability in service provision and for this to inform the objectives set out in the Equalities Plan which was work in progress. This was a starting point and would be further developed, particularly considering the disproportionate impact of Covid.

Councillor Lloyd-Harris acknowledged the appalling treatment and death of George Floyd and the global outcry that this had provoked.  However, many were equally impacted by the tragic death of Sarah Everard and the concerns of women and girls in the borough. Kim Smith responded that the death of Sarah Everard highlighted the prevalence of violence against women and that this had been articulated within separate strategies. The Equalities Plan referenced in general terms how the local offer to residents and services would be improved.

 A race-based framework for the plan was largely an outcome of the disproportionate impact of Covid on black and Asian minority ethnic communities but the impact of gang violence and community safety had also been included. Lisa Redfern added that the Community Safety Partnership, chaired by Councillor Fennimore, included within its remit violence against women and girls and the work of the safeguarding adult’s board.

Jim Grealy commended the plan as one of the most forward thinking documents ever produced by the borough. Echoing Councillor Coleman’s comments regarding racism he highlighted the importance of being a welcoming borough. Kim Smith welcomed his suggestion to include an education board to inform further iterations of the plan, particularly given the importance of education in terms of facilitating social mobility although it was acknowledged that there were still barriers to overcome. The establishment of an equalities board would help ensure that all voices were heard.

Keith Mallinson commended the work undertaken in producing the plan and reported a recent Healthwatch experience where Opening Doors had given a presentation aimed at older people who were LGBTQ+. He highlighted the difficulties experienced by LGBTQ+ black and Asian minority ethnic communities and their reluctance to come out. Kim Smith responded that roll modelling was important, and that the borough had a standout council that placed inclusion at the core of its policies. This was essential in shaping services as was the language that was used for example, using the phrase “not convinced” rather than “hard to reach”.  Building trust was equally as important as challenging cultural bias and it was critical to ensure that those employed by the council fully understood why it was important to address inequalities, injustice and discrimination. Maintaining a connection with different communities exemplified the need to continue listening and having conversations.  Commending the work of Dr Lang, Kim Smith referred to an event that Dr Lang had participated in, arranged by the council and commissioned the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster for the Roman Catholic community to discuss vaccine hesitancy.

Councillor Fennimore commended the collaborative and partnership efforts that had underpinned the production of the plan which had been a joy to be part of. This was an approach that was embedded across the culture of the organisation and demonstrated a commitment and passion to challenging a range of inequalities including violence against women. The plan sets out the trajectory of the council and its position as an inclusive organisation wherever possible and to challenge all forms of discrimination at every level.

Following her experience of the Co-production Huddles organised by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust Councillor Quigley expressed her concern about the impact of health inequalities on black and Asian minority ethnic communities and her fear that mistrust of the NHS as an organisation was worrying.  Mistrust of the vaccine was also leading to discord within families.  Councillor Quigley thanked officers for their work in supporting and engaging with communities, and it was essential that residents’ voices continue to be heard.

Merril Hammer concurred and explained that she too had attended the Co-production Huddles.  She welcomed the insights offered in the Equalities Plan and emphasised that Covid had also highlighted health inequalities linked to poverty which also intersected with those with protected characteristics.  Timely local knowledge was essential to ensure that any insights accurately reflected the views of the community. It was concerning that NHS reconfiguration could result in less local accountability.  She reminded the meeting of the borough’s guiding principle of doing things with residents and not to them, fostering local equality.

Lisa Redfern welcomed the comments and confirmed that addressing health inequalities was a long-term core priority for the Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) and the local authority public health plan which was currently being drafted with input from key partners.

Co-optee Lucia Boddington referenced Councillor Caleb-Landy’s earlier point about hidden disabilities for context and asked if there was any plan to include a no gender category within the data charts for those using the pronouns, they / them. Lisa Redfern confirmed that the draft document would include this information in future iterations.  The borough relied on the accuracy of gathered and collated data for analysis as this would help shape tailored provision.

Co-optee Victoria Brignell commented on the positive impact that the Equalities Plan would have on the quality of life experienced by people with disabilities.  She commended the council for their independent living vision and the work that had been undertaken by Tara Flood and Kevin Caufield.  Kim Smith welcomed the comments and explained that although the work on the independent living vision was being led by social care it was also being taken forward across the council. Part of the plan was to ensure that staff were trained to plan and deliver support for people with disabilities and how they lived within the borough.

ACTION: To include an update on independent living vision in the work programme

Co-optee Roy Margolis commended the report and consultation document and referenced the fifth objective which was for the council to be come an employer of choice fostering greater inclusion.  He asked if this should also include encouraging the promotion of greater inclusion in private companies within the borough.  Lisa Redfern welcomed the suggestion and that this could be taken forward regardless of the size of a business.  It was important for employers to have an inclusive workforce and the council’s industrial strategy worked with several businesses such as Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust to promote this approach.

Councillor Lloyd-Harris queried the degree of choice that the council workforce would have in “sharing not declaring” information.  Kim Smith emphasised the distinction between sharing and not declaring information on ethnicity, disability and gender. This was sought at the induction stage and throughout employment and having accurate data meant that the workforce would be better supported.  Staff were not be asked to make a declaration and the data was invaluable in helping to shape workforce provision, so this was not a matter of staff being mandated. A group of staff had participated in a video and spoke about the benefits of how the council could better deliver services and she acknowledged that this at the heart of building trust, together with having accurate data. A more inclusive approach and better understanding of staff representation across the workforce now meant that the council was better placed to undertake succession planning and modelling.

Councillor Coleman welcomed the insightful comments and excellent points made and the questions asked. The guiding principle of doing things with residents was central to ensuring local equity for women, disabled people and minority ethnic communities and should be replicated more widely across society.  Commenting on the tragic death of Sarah Everard, there was a huge responsibility for men to acknowledge the impact of their behaviour and attitudes such as whistling at women and the discomfiture this caused. It was important for to understand the impact of inequality on the those subjected to injustice.  Referencing the positive work of Opening Doors in the LGBTQ+ community, he praised the work of officers and CAN volunteers supporting an isolated, older LGBTQ+ bereaved resident who had lost his life partner.

Councillor Colman commented on the new public health strategy that was currently being drafted based on the experiences of the pandemic together with the work on inequalities. It was important to take a holistic approach that addressed all forms of discrimination.  Commending the officers for the report and consultation document, Councillor Coleman encouraged members of the committee to submit individual comments to the consultation and to continue support what was a critical conversation about an extraordinary piece of work.

Councillor Richardson extended thanks on behalf of the Committee to Kim Smith and Councillor Fennimore for attending the meeting and the astute and interesting views provided. Councillor Richardson felt immensely proud of the council, the committee and the work being undertaken, and encouraged members to submit comments to the consultation.

RESOLVED

1.    That the report be noted; and

2.    That members of the committee respond to the consultation.