Issue - meetings

Report of Chief Executive (Copy herewith)

Cabinet recognised and welcomed the work and achievements of the Forums.

Cabinet recognised and endorsed the role of the Forums in assisting the Council to meet the new duties and requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and to become an Excellent council under the Equality Framework for Local Government.

Cabinet recognised the project activities delivered under the Money 4 Youth scheme in the first part of 2010-11, and noted that the scheme would likely to be coming to an end from March 2011.

Councillor Hawkins welcomed the report and expressed her appreciation of the work that had been done in difficult times. She congratulated the Community Engagement and Equalities Officer for her work with all the Forums and suggested that Cabinet needed to consider how best to communicate with people and how to make this model available to all wards and all sections of the community.

Councillor P. D. Varnsverry, as the relevant Portforlio Holder submitted a report that set out the progress of the Council in relation to equalities, diversity and the Community Forums during the second half of 2009-10 and endorsed the comments made by Councillor Hawkins. He commented that the Forums were spearheading engagement with the community using modern approaches and were assisting the Council in it’s wish to achieve excellent status under the equalities framework. The Forums helped with the formation of policy and also acted as an enabling mechanism such as the Youth Forum through the Money4Youth initiative. Facebook was used by other Forums other than the Youth Forum, and had been embraced by the Pensioners and Diverse Communities Forums as well. He referred to the effectiveness of Facebook in generating recent interest in skateboarding and BMX facilities. Councillor Varnsverry thanked all those involved.

RESOLVED:     1.   That the work and achievements of the Forums be    welcomed and recognised.

                          2.   That the role of the Forums in assisting the Council to meet the new duties and requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and to become an Excellent council under the Equality Framework for Local Government be endorsed.

                          3.   That the project activities delivered under the Money 4 Youth scheme in the first part of 2010-11be recognised, and that the likely end of the scheme from March 2011 be noted.