The Monitoring Officer presented a report, so as to advise Members of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) ‘Diversity in Democracy’ report and seek Council’s endorsement of becoming a ‘Diverse Council’ and the resulting actions that need to be taken forward to achieve a ‘step change’ at the 2022 Local Government Elections. 

She explained that the WLGA has committed to making a change in local government diversity at the 2022 Local Elections, as it is acknowledged that despite previous action and campaigns, progress has been slow and it is recognised that there remains a lack of diversity in Councils. Examples of what these were, was shown in paragraph 3.2 of the report and expanded upon at the meeting by the Monitoring Officer.

The evidence base, barriers and challenges to attracting more diverse councillors were referenced in the WLGA’s submission to the Senedd’s Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee Inquiry into diversity in local government in September 2018. The barriers and challenges can broadly be summarised as:

• Time-commitment and meeting times

• Political and organisational culture

• Childcare and other caring responsibilities

• Public criticism and online abuse

• Remuneration and impact on employment and

• Lack of diverse role models and incumbency

          The WLGA has committed to making a step change in local government diversity at the 2022 Local Elections. At a special meeting during March, its Council endorsed the ‘Diversity in Democracy report’ (attached as Appendix 1 to the report). The report was the culmination of the work of a cross-party working group (represented by Councillors D Patel and CA Green for BCBC) and builds upon the action plans and ambitions of both councils and partners. WLGA will take forward several actions nationally, as outlined within the report including:

• The launch of the “Be a Councillor” website (already in place);
• Representations made to political parties to take action and make progress;
• Representation to Welsh Government and the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales that councillors should be entitled to ‘resettlement grants’ should they lose their seat at an election. 

           At its meeting and through its report, the WLGA Council recognised the diversity work already under way locally but called for concerted and ambitious local action. Through its report and resulting actions, it asks Councils to prioritise action locally, promoting the take-up of members’ allowances and progressing ‘Diverse Council’ Declarations by the summer. The WLGA Council unanimously agreed that all councils should commit to a declaration by July 2021 on becoming ‘Diverse Councils’ in 2022, to provide a clear, public commitment to improving diversity.

The Monitoring Officer continued, by stating that Councils’ local diversity work will be supported by a national awareness raising, publicity and support through the WLGA and Welsh Government. WLGA officials will be meeting with Heads of Democratic Services to share ideas and approaches to develop local declarations and action plans.

As part of the commitment from Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) to support the Diversity in Democracy agenda, all Members were asked to complete a diversity and inclusion survey during May 2021. The headline figures as a result of this, were shown in paragraph 4.5 of the report.

Attached at Appendix 2 to the report, was the equality information captured as part of the County Borough Census for 2011. The member survey results will support the work to make the Council more diverse, provide a better understanding of the support people may need and help to support equality and fairness. 

It was important stressed the Monitoring Officer, that BCBC is committed to increasing diversity, which includes tackling the barriers which prevent an individual’s active participation in local democracy.  It was therefore proposed that the Council commits to being a ‘Diverse Council’ and makes a declaration, in order to meet required timescales set by the WLGA, as detailed at paragraph 4.6 of the report

Attached at Appendix 3 to the report, was a draft Action Plan which will be updated accordingly ahead of the 2022 Local Elections. The Plan illustrated Welsh Government’s overall objectives and a combination of Welsh Government derived actions for local authorities to drive forward and proposed actions that are bespoke to the Council.

The Cabinet Member – Future Generations and Wellbeing, advised that the WLGA report had been unanimously supported by local authorities as well as also being heavily supported by the Minister of Housing and Local Government. As part of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill, new Members in the forthcoming local elections would be supported by existing Members (as mentors) and key Officers alike. In particular she added, Members would be supported in training and development, promoting the role of Councillors, discouraging social media abuse and supporting Members with family commitments.

A Member felt also that in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, the RGT population and its communities needed to be considered as part of the above.

The Cabinet Member – Future Generations and Wellbeing confirmed that a report in relation to this would be considered at a future meeting of the Cabinet Equalities Committee.

RESOLVED:                               That Council endorsed the ‘Diverse Council’ Declaration, as set out in paragraph 4.6 of the report.