Agenda item

The Forum received a verbal update from Lindsey Ambrose on Northampton Borough Council’s approach to equalities and the development of the new equality strategy. Consultation would take part in two parts: the first until 30 September and a further period looking at corporate equality priorities would follow and be included in the Council’s corporate plan and budget consultation which normally takes place in December to January period.

The forum noted that the Council’s new strategy document recognised:

• That there was a moral case and a business case to enhance equality as well as there being laws about doing so. For example disabled people and people aged over 65 contribute many £billions to the UK economy each year.
• The Council were committed to reducing ‘Jargon’ and ‘council speak’ and to explaining it where they needed to use it;
• Equalities and a commitment to treating people fairly is important even in times of austerity and cuts as it can help make services more efficient – for example f the Council get their approach to equalities right, they will deal with fewer complaints so officers will have more time to do their jobs and people they serve should get better service. 

The Council would be looking at what it does well and what it needs to improve through consultation. It needs to find out what other people think this is – rather than just the Council assume it knows the situation.

There would be consultation with the public in various ways. This would include attending community events in the summer to meet people who might not otherwise talk to the council and discussion at forums. Recognising many people prefer to do surveys online, there would be online ways to do surveys: with links on the Council’s own web pages and also on Facebook forum pages as some people who do not want, or cannot come to meetings or use the Council website but might feel passionate about disability issues, issues affecting older people and so on.

Councillor Larratt thanked Lindsey for a thorough and informative update.

Larry Barber considered the jargon buster and shorter sentences to be a useful tool.

Rashmi Shah and Primrose Landstone asked if the consultation would be taken face to face to various focus groups, might be mentioned on the radio – not just online or on paper that they would miss the engagements of individuals whose contribution would be useful. Lindsey Ambrose confirmed that there would be surveys done face to face at some meetings and events and she hoped to be able to make use of radio too. She said that if people wanted to suggest groups to attend she would be happy to look to do this.

Madeline Boys noted that people needed to be reached that lived in their own homes rather than council owned properties - people who have worked hard to live independently.

Further to the meeting:

The consultation “Our Approach to Equalities” was taken to community events such as the Umbrella Fair, the Riverside Festival and a public event at the Weston Favell shopping centre; also to meetings such as the Northampton LGBTQ People’s Forum meeting, Northampton Diverse Communities Forum meeting and a Northampton Youth Forum meeting. It was also booked in as something to be available at the Northampton Older People’s Health Forum meeting on 15 September 11am to 1pm at Northampton Guildhall. Web links to the consultation were put online on the Council’s web pages and on Facebook. The link to take the surveys and read the draft equality strategy document is: www.northampton.gov.uk/ourapproachtoequalities

Rashmi Shah raised concerns that the Council’s looking to install solar panels on Council homes was a way in which tenants of Council homes were being put before homeowners.  Lindsey Ambrose and she would seek an update for the forum about what help was available for obtaining solar panels.

Further to the meeting – information was obtained in June 2011 as follows:

Solar Panels and Council Housing

Northampton Borough Council are in talks with a contractor to supply south-facing homes with solar panels (know as "solar p.v.") The stage is currently at a legal point of agreeing the partnership framework with the contractor. The next step will be consulting with residents.

In additional to this project being in legal discussions, Rachael Hawthorne and Lauren Humber are looking for residents to "volunteer" their homes for energy efficiency measures (the request was in this summer addition in "My Home"). This is because they recognise that not every property is suitable for Solar P.V and so they would like a holistic approach for council tenants. If you are a council tenant and would like more information, please take contact Racheal or Lauren and they'll add your details to the list they are collaterating.

People living in private rented and ownership properties can be signposted to funding contacts. These are handled by Shane Conway in Private Sector Housing.

Rachael Hawthorne 

Tel: 01604 838594

e-mail: rhawthorne@northampton.gov.uk  

Lauren Humber

Tel: 0300 330 7000

email: lhumber@northampton.gov.uk

Shane Conway

Tel: 0300 330 7000

email: sconway@northampton.gov.uk