Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors JC Bayliss, VM Evans, ET Kirchner and TH Rees.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Equalities Committee held on 4 June 2014.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Equalities Committee held on 4 June 2014 be agreed as a correct record

The CYPSU Team Leader assisted by the Access to Services Team Leader, provided a presentation on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and its impact on the workings and policies of the Local Authority.

The presentation focussed on the following key areas

·         Background to the adoption of the Convention by the Authority.

·         History of the Convention

·         Relevant articles(1-42)

·         Principal and underpinning articles (2,3,6 & 12)

·         Progress on implementation including:

·  Work undertaken to incorporate due regard to the UNCRC    within the current  EIA process

·  Extension of the EIA process to cover the UNCRC including - age ranges and handy guides

·   Pilot scheme to trial the revised process and the resource needs to develop a quality assurance process for the UNCRC

·  Training and Rights based practice

·  Promotion and awareness raising

·         Draft timelines for Children’s Rights new scheme

·         Expected outcomes and benefits

Discussions centred around the introduction and adoption of the Convention by the Authority, statutory responsibilities and duties, the development of polices, training of staff, improved knowledge and understanding of their rights by young people, roles and responsibility and lifestyle of families.

Members asked questions of the Officers and debated the content of the presentation.

The possibility of the Committee contributing to the consultation exercise on the new Children’s Rights Scheme in the coming months and receiving an update on the issues and progress on the Convention in the future including possible cases studies was discussed.

The Chair thanked the Officers for their detailed and informative presentation.

The Chair and Members of the Committee reported on the recent Swansea Pride and Armed Forces Day Events.

The Chair presented the revised Work Plan for 2014/2015.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.

NOTED that the next meeting of the Committee was at 5pm on Wednesday 30 July 2014.