EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FORUM MEETING
Present:
Councillor Hinds – Chair
Councillors Dobbs, Devine, MacDonald, Grey,
Smyth, McIntyre
Tim Sigsworth, Director of Fundraising, LGF
Samia Barkatli – Salford Link Project
In attendance:
David Horsler, Sarah Farmer, Zahrah Mir,
Stephen Durbar, Jim Wheelton (Salford Disabled
Motorists and Access Association), William
McKay (NPHL)
1.
APOLOGIES
Councillors Perkins, Hudson, Pooley, Mullen, Warmisham
Jean Carter, Paul Budis, Bhupendra Mistry, Joanne Drinkwater
(Salford Women’s Centre)
2.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No declarations were made
3.
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 25TH MAY 2005
The minutes were agreed as a true record
4.
ACTION PLAN AND MATTERS ARISING
An update on activities detailed in the Matters Action Plan was
given.
Item 1.
Briefings for the Customer and Support Services
Scrutiny Committee had been arranged for October and
November. It was agreed to evaluate this model and see if it was
effective to develop Members’ skills and knowledge.
Item 2.
This has been placed on the agenda for the next
meeting of the LJCC.
Item 3.
Mr Wheelton requested further information on the
progress made with transport
5.
REPORT – ACCESS TO COUNCIL BUILDINGS AND
CONSULTATION ON THE 5-YEAR STRATEGY
Steven Durbar (representing the Director of Housing and Planning
outlined the issues regarding improving access to Council
buildings.
The Council has agreed for £250k to be allocated for
improvements in the current year and was looking to make similar
sums available in subsequent years.
Currently 44 of 99 Council owned buildings with public access
areas are fully accessible.
The report proposed that each year there will resources for
buildings from each service area to be adapted (ensuring that all
DDA/BVPI 156 issues are addressed).
The importance of consultation with disabled people was
recognised and the plan is not set in stone but will evolve each
year. Consultation will take place with disabled people to ensure
buildings do meet needs.
From this years allocation £25k has been set aside for additional
works, £25k for works around buildings not included in the BVPI
definition and £5k for additional survey works.
It was resolved: THAT the report be noted.
Jim Wheelton discussed issues around motorised scooters and
public housing stock. This item would be considered at the next
consultation round on 8th November.
6.
REPORT – ACTION PLAN FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL
AND TRANSGENDER ISSUES – Tim Sigsworth LGF
Tim Sigsworth identified progress in the last 12 months, since the
“Invisible Minority” report was discussed. He noted that Salford
City Council had supported the Pride Games and it was massively
successful.
He also commented that
 There are 5,500 calls to LGF help line of which 25% are from
Salford.
 Hate crime is not going away and reporting needs to be
improved.
 The Commission of Equality and Human Rights will be set up
in 2006 this will be placing duties on Public Authorities in
respect of sexuality.
It was recognised that some of the issues raised could have cost
implications but many could be achieved within existing budgets.
It was resolved: THAT the report be noted and that the details of
the Action Plan would be further discussed with relevant officers
with a further report to come to the Forum in due course.
7.
REPORT – THE CONSULTATION AND INVOLVEMENT OF
WOMEN IN SALFORD – Sarah Farmer
Two events were held at Salford Women’s Centre and Salford Link
Project regarding addressing the needs of women who live and or
work in Salford. The Women’s Centre event had 23 participants
who agreed to set up a inclusive women’s forum (through the
completion of a ‘PATH’) to address the needs of all women within
Salford as well as planning for International Women’s Week on 8th
March 2006.
The event at Salford Link Project had 55 women from varying
communities with 5 separate interpreters (Arabic, Punjabi, Bengali,
Urdu, Cantonese). The women benefited from being able to
express their genuine views through the completion of a ‘PATH’
and were enthralled by the Bangra Music supplied and the
introduction in five different languages. The outcome was the
setting up a of Women’s Forum for the Asian community and
eventually to work together with Salford Women’s Centre to ensure
an inclusive forum for women of all ages and cultures.
It was resolved: THAT the report be noted.
8.
REPORT – EMPLOYERS ORGANISATION ADVISORY
BULLETIN – A BRIEFING AND CONSULTATION ON THE
DRAFT EMPLOYMENT EQUALITY (AGE) REGULATIONS
The report was circulated for information prior to discussion at the
next meeting of the Forum
It was resolved: THAT the report be noted.
9.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS OF AN URGENT NATURE
The launch of DisabledGo in Salford is on Wednesday 6th October
2005 from 11.30am to 1.30pm. This is an initiative that the Council
has undertaken with DisabledGo to publicise access to a variety of
venues around Salford via a website. Members of the Forum had
been invited to attend the launch at the Civic Centre.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – 23rd November 2005 10 :00 am
It was further agreed that the Forum would meet on the following
dates in 2006: 25th January, 22nd March, 24th May, 26th July, 27th September and
22nd November.