Midlothian Council
Gender Equality Scheme Annual Report
June 2009
Author
Owner
Date
Version
Performance and Human Resources Unit
Cabinet
18 May 2009
1.0
1. Midlothian Council’s Gender Equality Scheme
Midlothian Council’s Gender Equality Scheme was published in June 2007. The
Scheme sets out Midlothian Council’s approach to ensuring it provides equality of
opportunity with regards to Gender, both as an employer and as a service provider.
A copy of this and the first (2008) annual report is available at
www.midlothian.gov.uk/equalities.
2. Background
The Council is required to annually publish a report summarising the actions they
have taken to implement the objectives in their Gender Equality Scheme. These
must be achieved within the life of this scheme i.e. by 29 June 2010. Performance
against the action plan in the scheme is being tracked by the Council Equalities
Working Group and forms part of regular reports to the Council’s Corporate
Management Team and Cabinet.
In the first year of the scheme, the action plan was integrated with the Council’s
performance management system, requiring some amendments to the wording of
the actions, for example to fit in with word limits. The presentation of the actions in
the Performance Report at Appendix A therefore differs slightly from that in the
original action plan.
Progress in Implementing the Scheme
At the time of writing, 15 of the 21 actions in the scheme have been completed and a
further 3 actions are ‘on target. A summary of progress against this is attached at
Appendix A.
Further Work Required
Cabinet have approved an extended due date for 3 gender actions. Three gender
actions are off target. These relate to (respectively): Engagement of people within
each equalities group within the duties; Implementing Managing Diversity training
and; ensuring equality of pay and conditions. The Council is progressing each of
these areas through(respectively): Setting up engagement groups and holding focus
workshops; embarking on Diversity training briefings and; Progressing with t he
implementation of Modernising Midlothian.
Education outcomes: Education and Communities continues to systematically
progress equalities issues through their Equality and Inclusion Thematic Task
Groups. a summary of progress is attached at Appendix B.
3. Further Information
To provide comments or find out more information, please contact:
Employee Development and Equalities
Tel 0131 271 3072
Midlothian Council
Midlothian House
Buccleuch Street
Dalkeith
www.midlothian.gov.uk/equalities
EH22 1DJ
Email: equalities@midlothian.gov.uk
Web:
Appendix A Gender Scheme Annual Report 2008/09
Priority
Measure
Due
Date
Icon
Progress Notes
Equaliti
Responsible
es
OUs
strand
01. Review Equalities Action
Plan and Performance Report
annually and equalities
schemes as necessary.
Update Equalities Action Plan and Performance
Report to reflect Gender Equality Scheme,
including appropriate targets.
30/09/
2007
100 %
08/09: Completed
G-1.1 . Services
05. Provide and improve
background equalities
information available to
inform equalities work
Review and improve equalities information
(including gender) available to staff in service
planning e.g. information available via sociodemographic profile; information in divisional
planning guide.
30/04/
2009
100 %
08/09: Completed. New action to be added to report:
Develop gender equality information to inform scheme by
March 2010.
G-1.2 . Services
01. Review Equalities Action
Plan and Performance Report
annually and equalities
schemes as necessary.
Publish annual report on gender equality duty
29/06/
2010
33 %
08/09: On target. Progress 33%.
G-1.3 . Services
01. Review Equalities Action
Plan and Performance Report
annually and equalities
schemes as necessary.
Develop and publish next Gender Equality
Scheme
29/06/
2010
0%
08/09: On target. Progress 0%. Work due to start June
2009.
G-1.4 . Services
08. Develop engagement with
equalities groups
Provide guidance to divisions on
consulting/engaging with equality target groups
as part of Community Engagement Strategy
31/10/
2008
100 %
08/09: Completed during Q2
G-2.1 . Services
08. Develop engagement with
equalities groups
Review consultation/engagement mechanisms
with staff on equalities issues (including Gender)
and produce action plan for improvement.
31/03/
2009
80 %
08/09: Off target. (80%) Updated disabled employee
forum being established. Race & gender groups to follow.
G-2.2 . Services
10. Undertake equality
impact assessment
Review EQIA guidance and training in relation to
gender, including transsexual/transgender
issues.
31/10/
2010
0%
08/09: On Target. Progress 0%. EQIA system reviewed
and guidance makes reference to gender. Recommend more
detailed consideration in relation to transsexual/transgender
issues.
G-3.1 . Services
10. Undertake equality
impact assessment
Prioritise EQIA of key strategies/plans with
relation to gender equality, e.g. -Economic
development & employment -Transport
31/01/
2009
100 %
08/09: Completed. EQIA list revised Nov 08 - Economic
Development and Transport Policies are prioritised in this
and are being undertaken at appropriate times.
G-3.2 . Services
30 %
08/09: Off target. Progress 30% While tender process
identified trainer for Managing Diversity Strategy, section
requested not to proceed by consultancy route due to
budget constraints. As an action in our Disability Equality
Scheme we are required to complete this action by 3
December 2009.
G-4.1 . Services
07. Implement Managing
Diversity Strategy
Ensure gender, including Gender Identity, is
included in training to be carried out under the
Managing Diversity Strategy
31/12/
2008
Executive
Executive
Executive
Executive
Executive
Executive
Executive
Strategic
Executive
12. Ensure equality of pay
and conditions
Ensure equality of pay and conditions for all
council employees (Single Status) (new scheme
effective from July 08)
31/07/
2008
90 %
08/09: Off target. Progress 90%. Modernising Midlothian
will be fully implemented by 29/06/09.
G-5.1 . Services
12. Ensure equality of pay
and conditions
Produce an Equal Pay statement by 28
September 07.
28/09/
2007
100 %
08/09: Completed Dec 07
G-5.2 . Services
06. Raise awareness of and
publicise equalities issues and
actions
Raise awareness of appropriate policies and
information e.g. -Policy on the Prevention of
Harassment at Work -Code of Conduct -Policy
related to maternity -Work/life balance policies Manager Development Programme
31/03/
2008
100 %
08/09: Completed Q4 07/08
G-5.3 . Services
11. Review and introduce HR
policies and practices to
promote equality.
Review Recruitment and Selection Policy and
practice by gender, including identifying barriers
to progression, proactively encouraging underrepresented groups and developing action plan
where necessary.
31/03/
2008
100 %
08/09: Completed Q4 07/08
G-5.4 . Services
11. Review and introduce HR
policies and practices to
promote equality.
Finalise, implement and monitor Flexible
Working Policy
31/03/
2008
100 %
08/09: Completed Dec 07
G-5.5 . Services
04. Improve equalities
monitoring
Review violent incidents monitoring with regard
to gender, with action plan if necessary
31/03/
2008
100 %
08/09: Completed Dec 07
G-5.6 . Services
11. Review and introduce HR
policies and practices to
promote equality.
Review Human Resources policies to ensure that
they take into account the needs of
transsexual/transgender people and do not
discriminate against them
31/07/
2008
100 %
08/09: Completed Q4 07/08
G-5.7 . Services
02. Each division to write a
divisional equalities action
plan
Divisions to add to divisional equalities action
plan any further actions required (report this &
any information gathered to PSA Committee &
CMT annually)
31/01/
2008
08/09: Completed Q4 07/08
G-6.1 .
100 %
14. Tackle harassment and
hate crime
Domestic violence/abuse: Prioritise supporting
the Midlothian women's refuge (provide
information to Women's Aid to support funding
bids e.g. stats on the number of children we
work with).
30/04/
2009
100 %
08/09: Completed during Q2
G-6.2 . Social Work
14. Tackle harassment and
hate crime
Domestic violence/abuse: Review support
available to men experiencing domestic violence
(collate information to identify resource gaps)
30/04/
2009
100 %
08/09: Completed Q4 07/08
G-6.3 . Social Work
14. Tackle harassment and
hate crime
Harassment and hate crime: Distribute
information on reporting and taking action to
address harassment and anti-social behaviour to
transgender people.
30/09/
2008
100 %
08/09: Completed. Information, posters and cards posted
to LGBT Forum for distribution. Action complete.
G-6.4 . Services
06. Raise awareness of and
publicise equalities issues and
actions
Publicise gender equality scheme to all
stakeholders
31/12/
2007
100 %
08/09: Completed Dec 07
G-8.1 . Services
Executive
Executive
Executive
Executive
Executive
Executive
Executive
Race .
Executive
Services
Corporate
Executive
Appendix B
Gender Scheme Annual Report 2008/09 - Performance Indicators
Theme: Equalities Service Delivery PIs
PI Code
EQ.PI.01
EQ.PI.02
EQ.PI.03
EQ.PI.04
EQ.PI.05
2008/09
Q1 2008/09 Q2 2008/09 Q3 2008/09 Q4 2008/09 2008/09
Value
Value
Value
Value
Value
Childcare/early years
employees
PI-01.% Change in
the intake of
male/female
-0.2%
employees in
childcare/early years.
2% by August 09
N/A
N/A
N/A
Education attainment
PI-02. % Increase in
boys level of
attainment in four
secondary schools.
1% by August 09
N/A
N/A
N/A
Education attainment
PI-03.% Increase in
boys levels of
5%
reading in 5-14
levels. 1% by August
09
N/A
Out of school youth
activities
PI-04.% Increase in
male participation in
out of school youth
activities. 4% by
August 09
N/A
N/A
Health related
support
PI-05. % Increase in
girls use of health
related support
services. 3% by
August 09
N/A
N/A
Priorities
Measure (short name)
N/A
N/A
Value
Annual
Target
2008/09
Notes
N/A
-0.2%
2%
08/09: Off target. Events to
target male recruitment being
planned.
N/A
N/A
1%
08/09: Data not yet
available
5%
1%
08/09: Target achieved.
Primary results increased
from 75% in 2007 to 79% in
2008.
N/A
4%
08/09: Data not yet
available
N/A
N/A
08/09: Baseline data could
not be collected due to
budget savings resulting in
removal of post.