Bath and North East Somerset Council
Function Title: The Role of the Chair(man) of Bath and North East
Somerset Council
Equality Impact Assessment Report
Date: September 2009
Co-ordinator of Policy: Ruth Hutchings, Civic Secretary
Persons carrying out Equality Impact Assessment:
Rebecca Jones, Principal Solicitor with Ruth Hutchings, Civic Secretary
1. Introduction.
The existing policy is to provide guidance on the role of the Chair of Bath and
North East Somerset Council, to the Chair, councillors, officers and the public. The
role of the Chair is primarily set out in legislation; however there is opportunity for
discretion around the civic function, such as, attending events in Bath and North
East Somerset, welcoming delegations, making speeches and issuing messages,
conducting citizenship ceremonies.
2. General problems and issues already identified that might affect the policy
from meeting its aims.
Political leaders and councillors need to exercise good judgment in selecting the
Chair. The Chair has a prominent role attending public functions within B&NES,
hosting citizenship ceremonies and receiving civic visits from the Chairs of other
councils and foreign delegations.
It is possible for there to be bias in the way the Chair carries out the role, for
example, in the civic functions and charities the Chair attends and supports. The
Chair may choose to support a narrow range that does not reflect the wide work of
the Council and the diverse local population.
There is guidance on the types that can and cannot be supported, but the policy
does not provide guidance on how to ensure equality.
There is also a possibility that in making speeches and issuing statements the
Chair may not act in accordance with equalities law and good practice and either
not seek or ignore advice. Also others could misinterpret and/or misuse the
Chair’s role.
3. What data was analysed as part of this Equality Impact Assessment
process and what did it tell us?
The role of the Chair of the Council is delivered by the Chair supported by the Civic
Secretary. A mixture of men and women have been Chair, but mainly white,
middle aged – a reflection of who is elected as a councillor in B&NES.
A record is kept of every event attended and the invitations declined. Thank you
letters received are recorded, but no analysis of events attended or declined or a
formal satisfaction survey.
Consultation on this assessment was undertaken with the Civic Secretary, the
Equalities Team and the Directorate Equalities Group. In addition to monitoring,
wider consultation will be undertaken prior to a review of this assessment.
The main issue arising was the lack of monitoring information and that there had
been concerns in the past about speeches / messages from the Chair to the public.
4. Assessment of impact on equality groups
The policy has no greater impact in principle on any one of the six equality groups.
The chair should attend / support a wide range of public events. Who is elected as
Chair and the events attended or declined, the charities supported (e.g. is there a
wide range), speeches / messages made could result in direct or indirect
discrimination.. There is a responsibility on the Chair and the Civic Secretary to
promote the Council’s vision and values and engage with the whole community
and not just a narrow section.
5. Monitoring arrangements
Full records, that capture the six equality strands, will be kept of invitations
attended or declined, who attends and satisfaction / complaints by pro active
monitoring.
6. Conclusions and action plan
There is a need to gather information and monitor. The booking form will be
amended to advise that feedback is welcomed.
The written guidance to the Chair will be amended to include potential issues and
the way the role can be used positively to promote equalities and the Council’s
vision and values and engage the wider community.
An annual report will be submitted to the Corporate Equalities Group.
Wider consultation on this assessment will be undertaken at the next review.
The protocol leaflet for the public will be amended.
Equalities training will be provided to the Chair following election.
The Chair / Civic Officer will ensure as far as reasonably possible that events
arranged by the Chair are accessible to all.
The political groups will work with the wider population to widen the range of
people who become councillors and therefore able to become Chair.
Action Plan
Issues
identified
Lack of
information /
monitoring.
Actions
required
Amend booking
form to state
that feedback is
welcomed.
Lack of positive
guidance to
Chair.
Re-write and
issue new
guidance to
Chair.
Solicitor to
the Council
End of
January
2010
Lack of wide
consultation on
EIA.
Publish on EIA
public website.
On review of
EIA consult
more widely.
Engage political
groups to work
with wider
population to
widen range
who become
councillors and
therefore
available for
office of Chair.
Provide training
on equalities as
part of the
Chair’s
induction
following
election to
office.
Update protocol
leaflet
Civic
Secretary
Publish by
6.11.09
Review by
end 2012
Councillors who
have become
Chair from
narrow range of
population.
Lack of training
for Chair on
equalities
More information
required by the
Public on role of
Chair
Possibility that a
Monitor
Progress
milestones
Officer
By when
responsible
Civic
6.11.09
Secretary
Chief
Executive
with Group
Leaders
Equalities
Team.
Done
Civic
Secretary
Civic
Offer by
end Nov
2009 for
current
Chair and
to be part
of future
inductions.
Already
done
narrow range of
events could be
attended by
Chair.
Possibility that
people are not
able to attend a
civic event
through lack of
accessibility of
venue, times,
dates etc
invitations and
events attended
and be proactive in
attending
events and
promoting the
Council’s
policies and
duties.
As far as
reasonably
possible ensure
events are
accessible to
all.
Secretary /
Chair
Already being
undertaken by
Civic Secretary
for events
arranged and
hosted by
B&NES
Civic
Secretary /
Chair
Signed off by ………………………………
Vernon Hitchman, Solicitor to the Council, Directorate Equalities Group
Date…
Monitor
feed back
received