Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

No members of the public were present.

Scrutiny of the Council’s performance in applying Equalities Legislation to policy and practice.

Purpose:

The Select Committee has a responsibility to ensure that the Council complies with relevant legislation to ensure policy is embedded into practice. The Equality Act 2010 was introduced in April 2011.  Within the Specific duties of the Equality Act is the requirement to publish an annual report on the progress made by the Council in its compliance with its Strategic Equality Plan, equality objectives and comprehensive action Plan. The Act’s principles and processes ensure that the Council remains true to its corporate values of Openness, Fairness, Flexibility and Teamwork.

Key issues:

One of the specific duties of the Equality Act 2010 requires all listed Public Bodies to publish an annual report. The purpose of this report is as follows:

1.    To evidence the progress made on the action plan that sits in the Strategic Equality Plan 2016 -2020.

2.    It gives many examples of the good practice carried out by the directorates of the council as outlined in the report covering the period 1st April 2017 to the 31st March 2018.

3.    It also records how the council complies with the Specific Duties as set out in the Equality Act 2010 namely: 

4.    How and who we engage with, our process for the assessment of impact, the recording of equality information by protected characteristic, the recording of employment information also by protected characteristic, recording of pay differences and staff training data, the procurement process, and finally the requirement to report and publish.

Member scrutiny:

The Equalities and Welsh Language Policy Officer presented the Strategic Equality Report and invited questions from the Select Committee as follows:  

·         A Member referred to the proposed Monmouthshire Pride event in Caldicot following on from last year's successful event.  It was noted that a two-day event is planned this year. Planning is being led by a working party and it was explained that £13,000 is required to fund the event of which some money has been pledged already.

            In response to a question, it was confirmed that the work of the LGBTQ support network started in Chepstow School and is being disseminated to other schools.  It was added that next year’s annual report will show further progress.

·         A Member asked if the “Adopt a Granny” scheme, which promotes young people’s association with older people, was known about in Monmouthshire to promote association with older people.  It was responded that there is good engagement when young people visit dementia units e.g. Severn View Club.

·         A Member asked if we are developing a better dementia friendly network across Council services. It was confirmed that there is a lot of work going on but there is no Equalities Group to formally gather the information.  A question was asked about support for families of dementia patients and how this can be improved. This matter is regularly considered by Adult Select Committee and it was requested that the dementia friendly café in Chepstow is represented at a future meeting.

·         In response to a question, it was responded that some specific  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Scrutiny of the service and its performance 2018-19.

Purpose:

Scrutiny of the Registration Service and its’ performance during the 2018/19 year.

Key issues:

1.  Civil registration has been mandatory in the UK since 1837. Initially Registration Officers were employed by the General Register Office (GRO) but that changed in 2007, and we are now employed by the Local Authority. Monmouthshire became the District that it is now for the purposes of registration in 1996, as part of the Local Government restructure. Prior to that it was Abergavenny, Monmouth and Chepstow and was occasionally partly in England. Boundaries historically have changed regularly which has often resulted in registers moving around between Offices, and Churches and Hospitals suddenly reporting to a different area. We are the custodians of the records of all Births, Deaths and Marriages which have taken place in Monmouthshire since 1837. They are all stored and safeguarded within our strong room.

2.  The Registration Service sits in Public Protection, within the Social Care and Health Directorate. This fits well with our remit, which has expanded over the years to become more customer focussed, and to take on additional duties on behalf of the Home Office. For example the section reports on possible sham marriages, vulnerable persons within the community, fraudulent applications for the issue of certificates, and sends statistical information to the Office for National Statistics about births and mortality. 3.  Each year we prepare an annual report to GRO and a Seasonal Variance Plan. Internally we are guided by our annual Business Improvement and Business Continuity Plans.

4.  The purpose of the Registration Service is as follows:

•           The registration of all births, deaths and stillbirths occurring within the County

•           Taking notices of intended marriages and civil partnerships from persons resident within the County

•           Conducting and registering all civil marriages and civil partnerships, (including conversions from civil partnership to marriage), taking place in any venue registered or licensed for the purpose. This includes prisons and hospitals or private residences in certain circumstances

•           Registering religious marriages where required

•           Conducting citizenship ceremonies for Monmouthshire residents who make successful applications for British nationality

•           Safe custody of all historic records of births, deaths, civil partnerships and marriages dating back to 1837, and issue of certified copies of these records on demand

•           Inspection and registration of new venues for marriage and civil partnership

•           Giving assistance and advice to all customers on all aspects of registration, citizenship and nationality

•           Providing data for vital work on population statistics and medical research

•           Management of data, including protection of both physical and electronic data. This assists with public protection and counter fraud by reporting suspicious applications and sham marriages, as well as suspicions about immigration abuse and other crimes

•           Safeguarding secure stock and accounting for fees

•           Promote and contribute to the Home Office priorities

5.  The Registration Service is based in the Old Parlour, Usk. There are 8 staff, 10 on a casual basis for ceremonies only. The staff are made up of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21^st March 2019 were confirmed and signed as a true record.

The Head of Public Protection responded by e mail to questions asked at the last meeting about fly-tipping and Toilet Strategy to all Select Committee Members.

·         Regarding the Toilet Strategy, a Member asked about anti-social behaviour and reports of drug paraphernalia in toilet facilities and queried if any action had been taken.  It was confirmed that Abergavenny Town Council and the Crime and Disorder Officer have expressed concerns.  Cleaning staff have been asked to log information in this respect but nothing has been logged this year so far.  Any evidence found will be acted upon accordingly.

            Town councils are part funding renovation work and are proactive.  A property survey is in hand and more information is available from the Councillors’ group visit in February.  A challenge is how to ensure non-Council facilities are well kept.  A £1200 grant is made to community councils to assist with maintenance and an annual Environmental Health inspection is available. 

            As part of the consultation process a meeting with Access for All has been held regarding disabled facilities to consider solutions to issues.

            Consultation responses will be collated and presented for scrutiny prior to proceeding to Cabinet.  It was confirmed that Town and Community Councils have been consulted.

The Action List was accepted.

·         A modern slavery workshop takes place this afternoon to which all members are invited. The aim is to produce an action plan and protocol through discussion of key issues and context.

·         A Special Meeting is scheduled for 21^st May 2019 at 2.00pm to consider consultation responses and complete pre-decision scrutiny on the Toilet Strategy. Additionally, the Public Protection Annual Report will be presented.

·         Apprenticeship and graduate internship strategy will be considered on 6^th June 2019.

·         Traffic and Road Safety has been considered by area committees and public workshops are in progress with town and community councils.  Feedback will be given to the task group then the matter will be brought back to the Select Committee.

·         Regarding a report on Cremations and Burial services, it was noted that 3 elected members had agreed to investigate this matter.  A reminder will be issued.

The Cabinet and Council Forward Work Programme was noted.