Agenda item

Report of the Chief Strategy Officer.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Chief Strategy Officer providing an update on the Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EEDI) Review. The report set out activity taken by the consultants, Belonging Pioneers, since November 2024 including their data gathering work and with the Review due to conclude on 1 April 2025, the report set out next steps.

The Sub-Committee received a presentation from Belonging Pioneers, which included its framework; process of methodology; inputs and insights from their stakeholder engagement to date including a document review, the EEDI Review survey, interviews, listening circles and an upcoming workshop with senior leaders; extracts of data providing initial findings; examples of good practice; examples of challenges; emerging themes; and next steps. Members asked questions and made comments throughout the presentation, summarised below.

Members of the Sub-Committee noted and made queries on the response rate to the EEDI Review Survey, with particular interest around the City Corporation’s Institutions. Members heard that the reasons behind low engagement with the survey varied, such as a parallel survey being run during the same period. The survey and engagement with it across the City Corporation had been picked up by the Town Clerk for further discussion with the Senior Leadership Team. Further discussion was held in non-public session.

Members noted emerging observations on the responses from staff in relation to Elected Members, which, generally, appeared to be unfavourable. A point was raised that much of the City Corporation’s workforce would not encounter a Member during their daily work and suggested that future surveys should ask whether the respondents role involved engagement with Members. The Sub-Committee were reminded that although much of the workforce might not engage directly with Members, a perception did exist of Members who made political decisions on enabling functions that did directly affect a respondent’s daily work.

It was noted that a final report setting out the baseline assessment, recommendations to drive change would be produced and received by the Sub-Committee at its June 2025 meeting.

RESOLVED – That Members:

·       Note the report;

·       Consider and comment on the baseline assessment and initial findings presentation provided by Belonging Pioneers at the February EDI Sub Committee meeting; and

·       Endorse the proposal that the final report with recommendations and options for next steps be brought to the June EDI Sub Committee meeting for decision.