Agenda and minutes

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests in any item on the agenda

No interests were declared.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the meeting. Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide three clear working days’ notice, in writing, in order for an informed answer to be given.

There were no members of the public present.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th February 2010.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th February 2010 be approved as a correct record.

To seek approval for the adoption of a Data Quality Strategy for Cheshire East Council and a programme of training to ensure high levels of awareness and compliance.

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Capacity considered a report which sought approval for the adoption of a Data Quality Strategy for Cheshire East Council and a programme of training to ensure high levels of awareness and compliance.

The Council was accountable for its use of resources and it was important to use sound and accurate information to plan and account for its activities. The Strategy set out the framework for an effective and co-ordinated approach to data quality.

RESOLVED

That

(1)         the Data Quality Strategy and supporting actions attached as an appendix to the report be adopted for Cheshire East Council subject to the minor amendment agreed at the meeting;

(2)         the Cabinet Member for Performance and Capacity be confirmed as the Member responsible for data quality; and

(3)         it be noted that the Corporate Scrutiny Committee will take responsibility for reviewing and monitoring data quality arrangements and for overseeing the data quality standards. 

To approve the Draft Single Equality Scheme and Action Plan 2010-2013 and the Equality Impact Assessment Toolkit and Guidance for the purpose of extensive consultation; and to approve an extension to the Interim Single Equality Scheme 2009-10 to 31^st July 2010 to ensure that the Council remains statutorily compliant whilst consultation takes place.

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Capacity considered a report which introduced the Draft Single Equality Scheme and Action Plan 2010-2013.

Cheshire East Council was committed to providing high quality, customer-focused services for all people in the borough, whether residents or employees and visitors.  It was developing the Equality and Diversity agenda both to meet its statutory responsibilities to provide quality customer services and also to enable achievement of its corporate aims and objectives. The Council was required, under the Race, Gender and Disability Equality duties to assess both its existing and new policies and functions and to set out the method by which it would monitor any possible negative impact on disability/gender and race equality.

The Draft Scheme would be subject to consultation with partners, voluntary, faith and community stakeholders, staff and residents so that their views could be reflected in the Scheme which it was expected would be finalised by June 2010. 

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member for Performance and Capacity –

1.         approve the Draft Single Equality Scheme and Action Plan 2010-2013 and the Equality Impact Assessment Toolkit and Guidance were approved by the Portfolio Holder for Performance and Capacity. (These documents were approved in draft to allow extensive consultation with partners, voluntary, faith and community stakeholders, staff and citizens); and

2.         approve an extension to the Interim Single Equality Scheme 2009-2010 to 31^st July 2010 to ensure the Council remains statutorily compliant whilst that consultation takes place.