Minutes: none

• If the sub-committee wishes to consider the remaining item
• in private, it will be appropriate for a resolution to be passed in the
• following terms:-“that under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972
• the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of
• business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt
• information as defined under paragraphs 1-7 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the
• Act. It has been decided by the Council that in all the circumstances, the
• public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing
• the information.”

Minutes: none

Minutes: none

• To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Equalities Sub-Committee held on 24 August 2020. 

Minutes: none

• Items of other business notified under Council Procedure
• Rule 30 to be announced, together with the special circumstances that justify
• their consideration as a matter of urgency. The Chairman to rule on the
• admission of such items. 

Minutes: none

• To receive any declarations of interest. 

Minutes: none

• Three Rivers Community Safety Partnership set an objective
• to investigate the experiences of our communities, to understand how people
• have been affected by prejudice and discrimination, the impact this has on an
• individual and the resulting community needs. 
• The insight gleaned will guide work with partners, to tackle
• discrimination and prejudice. This survey looked particularly at the 9
• protected characteristics, but was also interested to understand any challenges
• or experiences of any other marginalised group. This report provides a summary
• of the survey, outcomes and recommendations.

Minutes: none

• The sub-committee will receive an updated work plan for
• consideration 

Minutes: none

• At the Council meeting on 20 October 2020 it was agreed that
• the following motions would be referred to the Equalities sub-committee.  The following motions will be taken
• individually in the order provided.  All
• the proposers and seconders of the motions have been invited to the meeting to
• present their motion under new Rule 11(11). 
•  -07-20-11-30-equalities-sub-committee-motions-report
•  
•  accessible-toilet-sign-design (annex for
• Motion 2)Motion 1 - Councillor Sara Bedford and seconded by
• Councillor Phil Williams to move under Notice duly given as follows:Supporting Trans and Non-Binary PeopleCouncil notes that Trans people face significant
• disadvantage in society. One in four Trans people report being discriminated
• against in work, over a third avoid expressing their gender through physical
• appearance in fear of being assaulted or harassed, and almost 50% of Trans
• people have attempted suicide at some point in their lives. (see
• https://www.stonewall.org.uk/sites/default/files/trans_stats.pdf)           Council believes that:
• a)  Trans men are men,
• Trans women are women, and that non-binary genders are valid.
• b)  Trans people
• deserve respect and autonomy
• c)  Transphobia has a
• hugely detrimental impact on the mental health and well-being of trans
• individuals
• d)  It is our duty as
• community leaders who seek to create an open and tolerant society to speak out
• against transphobia and make clear it will not be tolerated.2.   Council therefore
• resolves to:a)  Ensure that all
• Council services, both directly provided and through partners, are fully
• accessible to all, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity.b)  Work to provide at
• least one gender neutral toilet where possible in every public building owned
• or operated by the Council, and encourage partners to do likewise.c)  Ensure that the
• Council’s constitution, policies, forms, and all internal and external
• communications are gender neutral.
• d)  Create a network
• of informal LGBT allies across officers and councillors to support all members
• of the LGBT communities.Motion 2 - Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst to propose,
• seconded by Councillor Chris Lloyd to move under Notice duly given as follows:Not every Disability is VisibleThis Council notes that:The charity Crohn's and Colitis UK is encouraging venues
• providing accessible public toilets to install new signage. This is to help
• stop stigma and discrimination towards people with invisible illnesses such as
• Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis.There have been instances nationally where such individuals
• using an accessible toilet have been accused by others of being ineligible to
• use them.These signs have two standing figures and a wheelchair user
• with the words Accessible Toilet and the logo. 
• Not every disability is visible. The Government has decided recently
• that large accessible toilets for severely disabled people known as Changing
• Places will be made compulsory for large new buildings, such as shopping
• centres supermarkets, sports and arts venues, in England from 2021.Council resolves to:Ensure that accessible toilets on Council premises bear
• these signs.Ask town and district centre retailers and leisure outlets
• to do likewise with their accessible public toilets.Seek advice from the charity Crohn's and Colitis UK on the
• information and training we should provide to Council Staff members.  This is so they understand these illnesses
• and to prevent potential embarrassment for those who suffer with them.Ensure that any Changing Places toilets in our buildings are
• properly signposted for visitors.Ensure that the any legal requirement to provide new
• Changing Place toilets is included within any of the Council's future plans.Motion 3 - Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, seconded by
• Councillor Sarah Nelmes to move under Notice duly given as follows: This Council is appalled by the evidence of racism and
• discrimination that have blighted the lives of so many in the UK and concerned
• by the evidence of the disproportionate impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having
• on BAME communities. The Council during Black History Month and at time where
• Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities globally are expressing
• their anger and frustration with institutional racism which disproportionately
• affects them, takes this opportunity to restate our condemnation of racism,
• discrimination and hatred in all its forms. This Council reaffirms its underlying our values of equality
• and inclusion. Recent events have highlighted once again the sad truth that
• discrimination and racism still looms large, particularly against members of
• the black community both abroad and at home in the UK. Council restates its determination to condemn racism where
• we see it but also to develop and maintain a proactive anti-racist approach
• across the council. Part of this is acknowledging the hard truth that there are
• inequalities within our organisation and our communities. These inequalities
• can only begin to be fixed by speaking to and understanding members of our
• workforce and our residents who have been disadvantaged because of their
• ethnicity. Council acknowledges that, alongside the threat of overt
• racism, there exists deeply ingrained and often unconscious discrimination
• across all levels of society. As a council representing a diverse community, we
• have an important role to play in dismantling biases and systemic oppression. As an organisation we endeavour to make Three Rivers and
• Hertfordshire a safe and inclusive place of opportunity for all of our
• residents. Three Rivers District Council remains committed to doing our part to
• achieve this and play our part in the hard task of removing racism and
• discrimination from our society. Council therefore:Endorses this approach, calling out racism as an evil that
• has no place in the Council’s workplaces;Supports the holding of a Q&A event for the Council’s
• BAME staff with senior leaders to understand their concerns and required
• actions;Affirms its commitment to condemn racism, discrimination and
• hatred in all its forms.

Minutes: none

Minutes: none

• If the sub-committee wishes to consider the remaining item
• in private, it will be appropriate for a resolution to be passed in the
• following terms:-“that under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972
• the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of
• business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt
• information as defined under paragraphs 1-7 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the
• Act. It has been decided by the Council that in all the circumstances, the
• public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing
• the information.”

Minutes: none