Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

1. That the Surrey County Council EDI Action Plan 2021-22 be endorsed and the new EDI Policy Statement be agreed.

Reason for Decision:

The EDI Action Plan is key to delivering the equality objectives in the Organisation Strategy 2021-26 and plays a pivotal role in supporting the council’s wider aim to tackle inequality to ensure no-one is left behind. Moving to a fairer, more compassionate and inclusive culture will inform how we develop policy, take decisions and serve residents so everyone who lives, works and studies in Surrey is supported to thrive.

The updated EDI Policy Statement will provide a clear, definitive commitment to staff and communities against which the council’s actions can be held to account in its effort to become a fairer and more inclusive organisation. It responds to feedback from staff that they want EDI to be integral to how we work and for Members and senior officers to show greater leadership on this agenda. It also recognises how EDI needs to underpin all we do to tackle inequalities facing residents.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee]

The item was introduced by the Leader whom explained that the report addressed equality, diversity and inclusion in the council. This work was spearheaded by the late Dave Hill and is now being led by Executive Director, Katie Stewart. As an organisation, the council wanted to have a compassionate and inclusive culture which valued diversity. The attached action plan would be rolled out over the next year. The Cabinet members and senior officers would be paired with a staff network across the council and would support them where possible. Members have had workshops to progress the councils policy statement around bullying and harassment. The Leader explained that regular conversations would take place between the networks and senior leaders which would then be fed back up through the organisation.

The Cabinet Member for Community Protection stated that this work was founded in a very grounded evidence base that was gathered in 2019 with the diversity tours led by Dave Hill. Over 250 colleagues had taken part in the tours. The Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families explained that a number of celebrations had taken place to celebrate diversity including book clubs for Black History Month and LGBTQ history month which enables a more cohesive workforce. It was recognised that in the past, the council had not always been as welcoming as it should have been. The action plan and policy statement were supported by the Cabinet and the Leader gave special thanks to Katie Stewart for leading this work and raising the issue across the organisation.

RESOLVED:

1. That the Surrey County Council EDI Action Plan 2021-22 be endorsed and the new EDI Policy Statement be agreed.

Reason for Decision:

The EDI Action Plan is key to delivering the equality objectives in the Organisation Strategy 2021-26 and plays a pivotal role in supporting the council’s wider aim to tackle inequality to ensure no-one is left behind. Moving to a fairer, more compassionate and inclusive culture will inform how we develop policy, take decisions and serve residents so everyone who lives, works and studies in Surrey is supported to thrive.

The updated EDI Policy Statement will provide a clear, definitive commitment to staff and communities against which the council’s actions can be held to account in its effort to become a fairer and more inclusive organisation. It responds to feedback from staff that they want EDI to be integral to how we work and for Members and senior officers to show greater leadership on this agenda. It also recognises how EDI needs to underpin all we do to tackle inequalities facing residents.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee]