Issue - meetings

The Executive Board considered a report on the proposed introduction of an Equality Promotion Calendar, together with a suggested calendar for 2020/21, the aim of which was to provide a standardised and authorised key equality and diversity celebrated / designated days and a platform for internal and external communication across all of the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010, as detailed within the report.

It was noted that having a planned calendar of designated / celebratory days provided an opportunity to advance equality and foster good relations between protected groups and avoided the need to consider various individual requests for support which could lead to a lack of representation from across the protected groups, as not all characteristics would have representative symbols/flags to display. If adopted, the protocol would be reviewed on an on-going basis, at least annually, in discussion with the Executive Board Member for Equalities and any additions to the calendar would be agreed with the Leader of the Council, in consultation with all group leaders.

The Executive Board also considered an amended Flag and Illumination protocol to reflect the requirements of the Equality Promotion Calendar (subject to approval of the Calendar) that outlined arrangements for designated flag flying dates (as set out by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport), locally agreed flag flying dates and the process for requesting additional dates/events for the flying of flags or the illumination of Council Buildings.

The Executive Board was advised that for clarity, should an organisation be celebrating an event over a period of time, for example one month, the flying of flags/illumination of County Buildings would only occur at the start of the event e.g. the start day or at the weekend but not for the whole of the event period. Additionally, applicants requesting the illumination of council buildings during the summer months would need to be advised of its potential effectiveness during the longer daylight and shorter night periods. The Executive Board agreed the wording of the protocol would be amended to reflect the above points.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED: