Venue: Online Meeting via Microsoft Teams
Contact: Michael Popham - Democratic Services Manager Email: michael.popham@reading.gov.uk
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Mayor's Announcements To receive Mayor’s Announcements. Additional documents: |
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Appointment of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor To confirm the appointment of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Additional documents: |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest. Additional documents: |
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To approve the Minutes of the proceedings of the previous Council Meeting held on 25 February 2020. Additional documents: |
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Petitions To receive petitions in accordance with Standing Order 8. Additional documents: |
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Questions from Members of the Public PDF 18 KB Questions in accordance with Standing Order 9. Additional documents: |
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Questions from Councillors PDF 81 KB Questions in accordance with Standing Order 10. Additional documents: |
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Reports and Recommendations from Committees Additional documents: |
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Online Meeting Protocols PDF 110 KB Report by Executive Director of Resources Additional documents: |
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Motions Additional documents: |
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Tackling Employment Inequality Councillor Challenger to move:
This Council notes that:
? Just 52 out of the 1099 most powerful roles in the country are held by People of Colour, or 4.7% of the total number compared to the 13% proportion of the UK population (Colour of Power report 2020). ? There are 56 Unitary Authorities in the UK, currently only two Chief Executives identify as BAME. ? 3.3% of local government staff are Black in the South East compared to over 10% of the population. ? Progression remains important to BAME employees across the UK, with 70% saying that career progression is important to them, compared to only 42% of White British employees. However, over half of BAME employees (52%), believe that they will have to leave their current organisation to progress in their career, in contrast with 38% of White British employees who believe this. ? The evidence clearly shows that the workforces and institutions of the UK and our region are not reflective of their stakeholders. ? Many of the recommendations in the Lammy Review (2017), the Dame Angiolini Report (2017), the Windrush Lessons Learned Review (2018), the McGregor-Smith Review (2017), and the Macpherson report (1999) have not been implemented by Government. ? Reading Borough Council commits to being an anti-racist organisation – one that does not just tackle inequality, but actively fights racism in the Borough. ? Work is already being undertaken at the Council to identify the gaps and long-term solutions to fix the inequalities in our community and workforce, focusing on the understanding of the causes and consequences of inequality
This Council resolves to:
? Ask officers to bring forward plans to improve the diversity of the Council’s senior leadership by instigating inclusive leadership training and seek to achieve the ‘excellent’ rating in future Local Government Equality Framework peer challenges. ? Develop an apprenticeship scheme that commits to increasing the number of black employees across the Council in a range of roles. ? Work with partners to improve diversity across the public sector. ? Request that the Corporate Management Team to identify a Lead Officer at Executive Director level to champion equalities work across the borough. ? Publish Ethnicity Pay Gap reporting on an annual basis and lobby Government to make such reporting mandatory for all organisations. ? Improve transparency in our recruitment, retention and progression data of Black/BME colleagues and develop an Action Plan. ? Become a signatory to Business In The Community’s Race at Work Charter. ? Engage with any future Government commissions on racism in the UK and lobby the Government to implement outstanding recommendations in existing reviews.
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Homes at the Heart Councillor Ennis to move: This Council notes:
This Council believes that:
Consequently, this Council resolves to: · Support the Housing Federation’s Homes at the Heart campaign
· Write, via the Chief Executive, to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to express our support for the Homes at Heart campaign
· Continue to lobby, both independently and in partnership with other bodies and local authorities, against the implementation of the planning white paper
· Commit to continue investment in decarbonisation of social housing stock locally.
Additional documents: |
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Hydrotherapy Services Councillor Hoskin to move: This Council notes that:
• Berkshire West CCG tells us it is consulting on the future provision of hydrotherapy now because the current Covid-19 pandemic and related controls mean the pool is currently closed and that ‘the ongoing challenges and potentially open-ended nature of the pandemic’ has prompted them to examine future options for the service. • The Royal Berkshire Hospital’s website declares that hydrotherapy can help with the relief of pain and muscle spasm, increasing range of movement and improving both the strength and control of muscles as well as helping encourage weightbearing, especially where land-based exercise is very difficult. • The strong support for continued provision of NHS hydrotherapy in Reading by a range of charities and support groups, including Berkshire Disabled People Against Cuts, Arthritis Matters, Parkinson's UK, Reading Families' Forum, Reading Fibromyalgia Support Group, the MS Society and the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre. • This Council, at its meeting on the 24th January 2017, passed, in response to a previous consultation, a resolution objecting to the closure of hydrotherapy services in Reading. This Council recognises that the judgement of many clinicians and patients that there is a therapeutic benefit and is shown to improve mobility, strengthen muscles, increase circulation and help movement in some painful joints. This Council believes that:
Consequently, this Council resolves:
Additional documents: |