Issue - meetings

Councillor Keith Williams, the Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Organisational Excellence and the Director of Performance, Organisational Improvement and Communications submitted a joint report  to update Cabinet on some key actions driven by the Children’s Service Improvement plan. The report also sought Cabinet’s approval to adopt the equality and diversity strategy, which would lead to an amendment of the Council’s current Equality & Diversity policy and process, (Cabinet Minute 132, 2009/2010 refers), to ensure that the needs of Children in Care and Care leavers are at paramount when proposing any policy or service changes across Swindon Borough Council (SBC).

Councillor Williams drew Members’ attention to the fact that while children in care and care leavers were not protected characteristics set out in law, the proposals reflected the Council’s wider duties towards those young people in and leaving its care.

Councillor Mary Martin, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Councillor Russell Holland, Cabinet Member for Finance, Education, and Skills, both spoke about the importance of helping young people through the transition stages of care as well as councillors’ duty as corporate parents.

Resolved:-

1.    That the Equality and Diversity strategy considered by both the Equality Task Group and Equality Advisory Group CMAG in 2018 be approved and that the Equality and Diversity Policy be aligned to deliver the strategy.

2.    That beyond the statutory definitions, it be approved that children in care and care leavers be included as a tenth characteristic for the Council’s diversity impact assessment process at Swindon Borough Council.

3.    That the Chief Executive and relevant officers be authorised to implement the updated diversity impact assessment policy as part of the Council’s decision-making processes.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.