Agenda item

To receive the report of the Service Director, Democratic Services & Communication.

In his report, the Service Director Democratic Services & Communication presented

the WLGA Council ‘Diversity in Democracy’ report which outlines the work undertaken

by the WLGA Cross Party Working Group on Diversity in Local Democracy. The

Service Director advised that the proposals are supported by all WLGA Group Leaders which seek the support of all councils within Wales to endorse the principles within the declaration which are aimed at increasing participation and widening the diversity of candidates for the 2022 Elections.

The Service Director also advised of the work undertaken by the Diversity Working

Group of the Council’s Democratic Services Committee and the interim report which

Committee had recently adopted. The report sets out the actions the Democratic

Services will progress next year to support the diversity of candidates and of the

provision required, through political groups, to realise the ambitions within the

interim report and the WLGA declaration.

The Service Director extended his thanks to Ms Emma Wilkins for producing the detailed interim report.

In conclusion, the Service Director advised that if Council supports the WLGA declaration to become a ‘Diverse Council’ this evening, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council would be the first Council to do so.

The Cabinet Member for Council Business and the Council’s Equalities & Diversity Champion praised the report and work of the WLGA led by Co-Chair - Cllr Mary Sherwood, WLGA spokesperson for Equalities, Welfare Reform and Anti-Poverty, City and County of Swansea and Co-Chair - Cllr Susan Elsmore, WLGA Spokesperson for Equalities, Welfare Reform and Anti-poverty, Cabinet Member for Social Care, Health and Well-being, Cardiff Council. The Cabinet Member also thanked members of the Democratic Services Committee for their contributions to the interim report and to the diversity agenda which resonates with the work the council has been looking to achieve for a number of years.

The Cabinet Member for Council Business welcomed and acknowledged the importance of supporting the WLGA diversity declaration and the recommendations of the Democratic Services Committee which would promote diversity within the council.

Through her discussions particularly around the data set within the interim report of the Democratic Services Working Group, the Leader of the Plaid Cymru Group commented on the missed opportunity to recently appoint a female Chair to the Democratic Services Committee and a female Chair of the Democratic Services Working Group the need for the Council to improve its ratio of female to male Committee Chairs. The Opposition Leader wished to formally correct the name of Councillor E Stephens within the report.

Through further discussion, the Council’s positive approach to the promotion of the Welsh language was acknowledged. Further comment on the importance of all Members being treated equally regardless of their age, gender and background was made and the importance of committing to and measuring the outcomes to arise from the recommendations within the Diversity report.

The Chair of the Diversity Working Groupwas pleased to present the interim report and support the diversity declaration to be taken forward by the Council. The Chair commented that the recommendations within the report would progress the engagement needed to reach out to potential candidates and youth voters through the voting awareness raising campaigns that have been taken forward for the Senedd elections.

The Leader of the Council provided comment on the positive track record to date of the Council in terms of diversity and highlighted the number of female chairs of committees as being 54.5% compared to 45.3% of male chairs. He added that diversity means more than the consideration of male/female representation to committees and acknowledged that all political parties need to improve. The leader commended the report supported the WLGA declaration to become a ‘Diverse Council’.

RESOLVED:

1. To note the work of the Democratic Services Committee and the interim report of the Working Group produced to promote the diversity agenda within the Council attached at Appendix A;
2. To note the actions outlined within the WLGA Council report, as attached at appendix B.
3. To endorse in principle a ‘Diverse Council’ declaration and agree for a bespoke RCTCBC diversity declaration to be brought forward to the July Council meeting.
4. To receive updates and progress reports on the work needed to be undertaken by the Council in respect of the actions outlined within the WLGA Council report and the ongoing work of the Democratic Services Committee as and when appropriate.