To receive a report from the Group Manager, Organisational Development.

The Chairman introduced Rachel Robinson, Group Manager (Organisational Development) to present Members with the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, pages 65 to 94 of the Agenda refer.

Members were advised that the purpose of the report was to bring forward the proposed Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Strategy (Appendix A) for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP) for 2025-2028.

The strategy had been developed following extensive consultation and was a key recommendation from the Local Government Association Peer Challenge process, which aimed to further develop service provision to ensure that services were accessible to all. 

To implement the strategy, a high-level action plan was required (a copy is attached at Appendix B), pages 85 to 94 of the Agenda refer.

Members were invited to put their comments and questions forward:

• A Member welcomed the idea of having more female representation on the Council and highlighted that the Executive Board currently had more male than female representation.

• In reference to ‘Our Equality Objectives’ a Member highlighted the need for an additional objective in relation to concerns about the decisions the Council made and the effect those decisions had on other people, page 75 of the Agenda refers.

• A Member further expanded on the need for the Council to consider everyone affected by decisions of the Council including suppliers, subcontractors and participants in procurement processes, and to ensure appropriate training was given to those informing people of Council decisions.

• It was highlighted that the decision for Magna Vitae to commence a Partnership wide leisure operator procurement process in 2024 had been a case study on how not to implement a decision.

• The Chairman commented that it would be beneficial to observe the differences across the Partnership Councils.

• A Member commented that deprivation, particularly along the coastal areas should be recognised in the Council’s Equality Objectives.

• In reference to Appendix Outcome Number 3.7 ‘Ensure that tenants of South Holland District Council are able to report repairs and consider vulnerability in undertaking repairs’, a Member commented that South Holland district were fortunate to benefit from such a service, page 91 of the Agenda refers.

• A Member supported that everyone should be treated equally, and that better control was needed in relation to Platform Housing.

• A Member commented that in light of recent election results, it was essential that the Council stayed committed to communities that were concerned about being divided and that numerous challenges along the coast needed to be combated.

• A Member further highlighted the benefit of the sports centre in Mablethorpe and celebrations of diversity with the East Coast Pride event taking place on Saturday 13^th September 2025.

• A Member highlighted that funding was much needed by some of the smaller inland villages which needed as much support as coastal areas.

• A Member queried the definition of DNA, page 83 of the Agenda refers.  In response, Group Manager (Organisational Development) confirmed to Members that DNA referred to Did Not Answer.

• Members commented in support of the report and discussed the assistance available for people who struggled with digital access and highlighted the need to further develop the community hubs.

Roxanne Warrick, Service Manager (Healthy Living) informed the Committee that the ELDC Community Investment Fund would have additional capacity in July 2025 to assist people at the Community Hubs.

• A Member queried whether the font in Members’ Point Brief could be made larger.  In response, the Chairman explained to Members that using the zoom feature on a tablet by pinching the screen enabled information to be read more easily.

• Councillor Graham Marsh as Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture, and Carbon Reduction supported that more Community Hub initiatives were the way forward and explained to Members that Lincs Digital were only able to engage with people that sought assistance.

• A Member stressed that the Council should not be relying on volunteers to deliver services that were essential to residents.  In response, the Chairman highlighted that the ELDC Councillor Community Grants award could assist with funding volunteers.

• A Member highlighted that assistance to apply for funding had been provided to those who were left without the services of Lincs Digital in Louth.

• Councillor Graham Marsh as Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture, and Carbon Reduction reiterated that Members were encouraged to contact the Director of Economic Development to put forward ideas for allocations of funding.

N.B Councillor Dick Edginton left the Meeting at 12.12pm.

• A Member highlighted that too few Councillors had attended the briefing on funding availability.

• Members further commented on the wider lack of attendance at Meetings by Executive Board Members and Portfolio Holders.

No further comments or questions were received.

The Chairman thanked Rachel Robinson, Group Manager (Organisational Development) for the report.

Following which it was,

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

N.B Rachel Robinson, Group Manager (Organisational Development) left the Meeting at 12.15pm.