Agenda item

To consider the attached report regarding the corporate approach to equality.

Samantha Jones – Inclusive Communities Manager introduced the report.

Panel members made the following points and asked the following questions:

Councillor Bevan congratulated the officers on the 2010 and 2017 awards.

Councillor Furse explained that he felt the social deprivation gap seemed to be widening and was extreme in his ward which includes the Royal Crescent alongside pockets of deprivation. He stressed the need for the authority to work hard to promote social cohesion and further explained that communities needed support through resources to schools and youth teams. He expressed concern about the Council’s resources and financial pressures. Councillor Bevan added that areas of social deprivation are also a concern in North East Somerset.

Councillor O Brien referred officers to communication advice that has been developed by Mencap regarding typeface, type of language and pictograms. She also asked if there was any indication of measures regarding Domestic Violence. The officer explained that the Council commissions Southside to provide DVA services, including Independent Domestic Violence Advisors based in BANES and at the RUH.  ‘IRIS’ has now been developed which was a new way of GPs identifying violence. She explained that there had been an increase in reporting of elder abuse (inter-generational abuse) and carer fatigue. It was explained that resources were limited and services relied on the Police and Crime Commissioners grant.

Councillor Moss congratulated and thanked the officers. He stated that the report only gave part of the picture as many services were now outsourced and privatised. He asked if customer feedback was on directly provided services and referred to recent report that 20% of elder people are unhappy with services provided to them at home – he asked if this type of feedback would go to Virgin/Sirona or BANES and also asked how we would deal with the CCG/BANES closer working. The officer explained that she did not have statistics regarding home services. She explained that equalities issues were central in commissioning and organisations bidding for work must demonstrate compliance with the authority’s policies and procedures. She assured the Panel that information on complaints and court cases are sought and there are timeframes in place in the event of a conviction.

Councillor Moss asked about the spike in Domestic Violence in the Somer Valley 2 years ago, the officer explained that there was a change in the method of gathering data about an incident – an increase from 10 to 14 questions which affected reporting statistics.

Councillor Anketell Jones asked if the cost of the interpreting service is a barrier to use. The officer explained that it is not expensive compared with litigation and explained that the provider had changed recently and there is now a wider range of languages available. She explained that interpreters can be used by a wide range of services such as for marriage ceremonies to ensure that people understand that they are signing a legal document. Louise Murphy – Corporate Equalities and Diversity Officer explained that the biggest spend around interpreters are Syrian families although almost all of the cost is reimbursed through the Home Office grant and some family members are now being trained as interpreters.