Agenda and minutes

L Ambrose reported that Councillor Collins was the new Councillor Co-Chair of the Forum but unfortunately was unable to attend this meeting due to a prior commitment, however, he had expressed a wish to find out from Forum members what they wanted to get from Forum meetings.  Councillor Collins’s details could be found on the Forum pages of the Council’s website.  She also noted that Overview & Scrutiny would be reviewing all the Council’s Forums over the summer. 

Apologies were received R Begum, N Aggarwal and Councillor Collins.

Mr Ahmed referred to Item 6 of the minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2007 in respect of the Council for Ethnic Minority Communities and commented that the Somali community were attempting to improve their relationship with the Council for Ethnic Minority Communities but suggested that the Borough and County Councils in their dealings with the Somali community should approach them direct.  Mr Ahmed also indicated that the Somali community would be interested in participating in Local Democracy Week in October to offer a workshop on their culture. 

None.

S Katz reported that the Council’s Corporate Equalities Steering Group had been disbanded at the end of April and a new arrangement put in place under the Corporate Manager, N Marzec and Cabinet Portfolio Holder, Councillor Glynane.  In the Council’s Corporate Plan was a target to reach Level 2 of the Equality Standard by March 2008.  There were five levels in the Equality Standard:

•       Level 1 – Commitment to a Comprehensive Equality Policy

•       Level 2 – Assessment and Consultation

•       Level 3 – Setting Equality Objectives and Targets

•       Level 4 – Information Systems and Monitoring Against Targets

•       Level 5 – Achieving and Reviewing Outcomes

The Delivery Plan had been approved by the Council’s Management Board and a Corporate Equality Scheme including an Action Plan had been published.  Progress would be monitored via a performance tool, which had been acquired from the IDeA.  The Council currently had a Race Equality Scheme and a Disability Scheme; a Gender Equality Scheme was to be adopted shortly.  These three separate schemes would be brought together under a single Equalities scheme.

S Katz commented that the Equality Standard would provide a framework which would enable equalities to be mainstreamed into service delivery and employment.  It would enable the Council to identify and remove discriminatory barriers that prevented equal access to services and employment.  This framework could be extended beyond disability, race and gender to meet all equality issues. 

The levels within the Equality Standard referred to above covered all aspects of policy making, service delivery and employment, which in themselves comprised four areas vis:

•       Leadership and Corporate Commitment

•       Consultation and Community Development & Scrutiny

•       Service Delivery and Customer Care

•       Employment and training

S Katz commented that a recent report to the Council’s Cabinet on the Black and Ethnic Minority Housing Strategy had been through this process and it was intended that all Cabinet reports would have to give consideration to equalities issues and that any equality impact assessments would be a public document and would help to make decision making transparent.  It was noted that information on the Equalities Standard and who was involved in it was available on the Council’s website. 

Reference was also made to a new customer relations management system, which was being introduced that would track issues and all those who had been involved in it.  From this it would be possible to identify trends in respect of issues and to target help where this might become necessary.  It was noted that the Forum was the first group to be given this update, which would be rolled out across the Council from the following week.

Discussion with members of the Forum

Not discussed.

•       Youth Festival to take place on 21 July.

•       Copies of Northamptonshire Police “Out Take” newssheets were available.

•       The Anne Frank Exhibition would be in Northampton during February 2009.

•       “Making It” – copies of a publication produced by Northampton Museum and the Youth Forum and a teacher’s pack were available from Debra Cox at Northampton Museum (01604 837837) or via e-mail; dcox@northampton.gov.uk

•       It was noted that a May spring ball had been arranged by youngsters of the Hindu community on a Hollywood/Bollywood theme.  This had been enjoyed by all ages and £300 had been raised for the Mayor’s charity.

•       A retirement event had been held for Mr Sumair who had held music classes for a number of years, particularly for the harmonium and different types of drums. 

•       It was noted that a summer camp was to be held at the Desborough Scout Camp in August for Hindu youngsters.

•       In respect of a Hindu centre, it was hoped that work would commence in March 2008.

None.

Date of the next meeting is Thursday 30^th August 2007 at the Guildhall.

Future Meeting Dates

Wednesday 28^th November 2007

Tuesday 8^th January 2008

Thursday 6^th March 2008

Thursday 29^th May 2008

It was noted that the next meeting of the Forum would be held on 30 August 2007 at The Guildhall.