Agenda item

The following motion has been proposed by Councillor Turmaine and seconded by Councillor Khan:

 

This council notes:

 

Councillors represent their community, and it is important that they reflect the diversity within their communities, particularly those with protected characteristics (such as age, disability, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, gender, and

sexual orientation).

 

The work of political parties, including the Co-operative Party and the Local Government Association (LGA) in developing a declaration for councils aimed at increasing diversity in local government.

 

The council has already made much progress, which should be acknowledged and celebrated and has undertaken several aspects of the proposals on its journey towards best practice.

 

This council believes:

 

Diversity in representation makes for good decision making.

 

Political engagement is precarious and turnout figures in the recent local elections demonstrates that there is some way to go in offering a representative voice to all in our town’s demography.

 

This council resolves:

 

To adopt the Diverse Councils Declaration to increase diversity in our local government, including the nine objectives within it:

 

1.         Provide a clear public commitment to improving diversity in democracy.

2.         Demonstrate an open and welcoming culture to all, promoting the highest standards of behaviour and conduct.

3.         Set out a local Diverse Council action plan, ahead of the next local elections.

4.         Work towards the standards for member support and development as set out in the LGA Councillor Development Charter and/or Charter Plus.

5.         Demonstrate a commitment to a duty of care for councillors.

6.         Provide flexibility in council business by regularly reviewing and staggering meeting times.

7.         Ensure that all members take up the allowances and salaries to which they are entitled, particularly any reimbursement for costs of care.

8.         Ensure the council adopts a parental leave policy, setting out members’ entitlement to maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave and relevant allowances.

9.         Ensure that councillors from under-represented groups are represented whenever possible in high profile high influence roles.

 

 

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Turmaine and seconded by Councillor Khan. 

 

“This council notes:

 

Councillors represent their community, and it is important that they reflect the diversity within their communities, particularly those with protected characteristics (such as age, disability, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, gender, and sexual orientation).

 

The work of political parties, including the Co-operative Party and the Local Government Association (LGA) in developing a declaration for councils aimed at increasing diversity in local government.

 

The council has already made much progress, which should be acknowledged and celebrated and has undertaken several aspects of the proposals on its journey towards best practice.

 

This council believes:

 

Diversity in representation makes for good decision making.

 

Political engagement is precarious and turnout figures in the recent local elections demonstrates that there is some way to go in offering a representative voice to all in our town’s demography.

 

This council resolves:

 

To adopt the Diverse Councils Declaration to increase diversity in our local government, including the nine objectives within it:

 

1.     Provide a clear public commitment to improving diversity in democracy.

2.     Demonstrate an open and welcoming culture to all, promoting the highest standards of behaviour and conduct.

3.     Set out a local Diverse Council action plan, ahead of the next local elections.

4.     Work towards the standards for member support and development as set out in the LGA Councillor Development Charter and/or Charter Plus.

5.     Demonstrate a commitment to a duty of care for councillors.

6.     Provide flexibility in council business by regularly reviewing and staggering meeting times.

7.     Ensure that all members take up the allowances and salaries to which they are entitled, particularly any reimbursement for costs of care.

8.     Ensure the council adopts a parental leave policy, setting out members’ entitlement to maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave and relevant allowances.

9.     Ensure that councillors from under-represented groups are represented whenever possible in high profile high influence roles.”

 

Councillor Dychton then moved an amendment to the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Pattinson.

 

“This Council celebrates the diversity of our community across Watford Borough and affirms its belief that equality, diversity and inclusion play a critical role in all societies and should be factored into all local decision making.

 

This council notes:

 

Councillors represent their community, and it is important that they reflect the diversity within their communities, particularly those with protected characteristics (such as age, disability, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, gender, and sexual orientation).

 

The work of political parties and the Local Government Association (LGA) in developing a declaration for councils aimed at increasing diversity in local government.

 

The council has already made much progress, which should be acknowledged and celebrated and has undertaken several aspects of the proposals on its journey towards best practice.

 

This council believes:

 

Diversity in representation makes for good decision making. Strong focus must be made by all political parties both locally and nationally to encourage underrepresented groups to stand for political office.

  

This council resolves:

 

To support the Diverse Councils Declaration to increase diversity in our local government with amends to reflect the progress this council has made already towards achieving the objectives within it, these are:

 

1. Provide a clear public commitment to improving diversity in democracy.

 

2. Demonstrate an open and welcoming culture to all, promoting the highest standards of behaviour and conduct.

 

3. Continue the excellent work on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies and plans being implemented and embedded ahead of the next local elections.

 

4. To continue to work towards the standards for member support and development as set out in the LGA Councillor Development Charter.

 

5. To continue to develop thecommitment to a duty of care for councillors.

 

6. Provide flexibility in council business by regularly reviewing and staggering meeting times where possible, whilst ensuring the need for council business to be quorate.

 

7. Ensure that all members take up the allowances and salaries to which they are entitled when they choose to do so, particularly any reimbursement for costs associated with their role. 

 

8. Now adopted, ensure the council embeds and reviews the Councillor Leave policy which includes sickness leave, parental leave, setting out members’ entitlement to sick, maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave and relevant allowances.

 

9. Ensure that opportunities for councillors from under-represented groups to be appointed/elected to high profile or more senior roles are equally available and the support and development is available to all to support a diverse, skilled, and locally representative leadership of the Council.”

 

After debating the motion and the amendment, Councillor Turmaine accepted the amendment. This then became the substantive motion.

 

On being put to Council the motion as amended was agreed.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That this council notes:

 

This Council celebrates the diversity of our community across Watford Borough and affirms its belief that equality, diversity and inclusion play a critical role in all societies and should be factored into all local decision making.

 

This council notes:

 

Councillors represent their community, and it is important that they reflect the diversity within their communities, particularly those with protected characteristics (such as age, disability, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, gender, and sexual orientation).

 

The work of political parties and the Local Government Association (LGA) in developing a declaration for councils aimed at increasing diversity in local government.

 

The council has already made much progress, which should be acknowledged and celebrated and has undertaken several aspects of the proposals on its journey towards best practice.

 

This council believes:

 

Diversity in representation makes for good decision making. Strong focus must be made by all political parties both locally and nationally to encourage underrepresented groups to stand for political office.

  

This council resolves:

 

To support the Diverse Councils Declaration to increase diversity in our local government with amends to reflect the progress this council has made already towards achieving the objectives within it, these are:

 

1. Provide a clear public commitment to improving diversity in democracy.

 

2. Demonstrate an open and welcoming culture to all, promoting the highest standards of behaviour and conduct.

 

3. Continue the excellent work on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies and plans being implemented and embedded ahead of the next local elections.

 

4. To continue to work towards the standards for member support and development as set out in the LGA Councillor Development Charter.

 

5. To continue to develop the commitment to a duty of care for councillors.

 

6. Provide flexibility in council business by regularly reviewing and staggering meeting times where possible, whilst ensuring the need for council business to be quorate.

 

7. Ensure that all members take up the allowances and salaries to which they are entitled when they choose to do so, particularly any reimbursement for costs associated with their role. 

 

8. Now adopted, ensure the council embeds and reviews the Councillor Leave policy which includes sickness leave, parental leave, setting out members’ entitlement to sick, maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave and relevant allowances.

 

9. Ensure that opportunities for councillors from under-represented groups to be appointed/elected to high profile or more senior roles are equally available and the support and development is available to all to support a diverse, skilled, and locally representative leadership of the Council.