The Head of Democratic Services reported on the action plan being developed by the Diversity Champion to take forward the diversification of democracy initiated by the Expert group and set out in “On Balance: Diversifying Democracy in Local Government in Wales”.  He stated that the Expert Group analysed a survey of local Councillors in Wales and set out a plan of action to encourage a greater diversity of candidates to stand for office in 2017.  The “On Balance: Diversifying Democracy in Local Government in Wales” report outlined the actions required to increase the diversity of local Councillors in Wales in respect of age, gender, disability and ethnicity. 

The Head of Democratic Services informed the Forum that Cabinet at its meeting on 27 May 2014 appointed Councillor H Townsend as the Diversity Champion who had met Welsh Government representatives and other Diversity Champions to discuss plans for progressing the aims of the “On Balance” report.  He stated that there were several recommendations of the Expert Panel report which would require the involvement of Town and Community Councils and an initial action plan had been developed with key actions.  He requested that Town and Community Councils work with the Diversity Champion, Head of Democratic Services and Equalities and Engagement Officer to collect the relevant diversity data, assess the information as it pertained to each council and determine appropriate strategies to better reflect the make-up of constituents in their respective Councils.  Further work will be undertaken to develop the action plan and the Diversity Strategy to meet the requirements of the “On Balance” report and improve the Democratic Diversity within the County Borough. 

The Diversity Champion informed the Forum of the work she had undertaken in her role in that she had attended a number of meetings with the Welsh Government and had addressed underrepresented groups.  The Diversity Champion stated that she was seeking to share resources with Town and Community Councils and to raise awareness of the need to consider diversity whilst at the same time recognising that all Town and Community were themselves different and diverse.  The Diversity Champion informed the Forum that she was seeking to meet Town and Community Councils to ascertain their needs with regard to diversity and in the hope that they would appoint diversity champions.  The Diversity Champion informed the Forum that she was intending to collate and assess relevant data to assist in the development of the Diversity Strategy.  She stated that the profile of elected Members in the County Borough mirrored that across Wales. 

A member of the Forum commented on the importance of diversity in democracy and that administrations were formed from political parties and that political parties needed to increase their efforts to recruit new members.  The Diversity Champion commented that her role was non-political but political parties needed to play their part in recruiting new members. 

A member of the Forum stated that Bridgend Town Council had discussed Democratic Diversity at its recent meeting and is approximately 50% gender split with a range of religious backgrounds.  Bridgend Town Council resolved that it take no action at this time on appointing a Diversity Champion. 

The Diversity Champion informed the Forum of the need to ensure training for mentoring and that 15 BCBC Members had been trained to date.  The mentoring training which is to commence in June would be funded by the Welsh Government.  There would also be a training module on the use of social media.  The Diversity Champion informed the Forum that she was part of a network of 22 Diversity Champions across Wales.  She stated that work would continue on highlighting diversity despite the re-organisation of Local Government not being known.  The Head of Democratic Services informed the Forum that a request had been made to use part of the underspend on budgets to fund the continuation of work on diversity.  He stated that a significant number of potential candidates were not politically aligned however officers were willing to signpost them to political parties.   

A member of the Forum commented that Maesteg Town Council had welcomed the approach of appointing diversity champions which would help the Council in its decision making. 

The Diversity Champion informed the Forum that events were being planned to be held in communities where the role of the Councillor would be explained.  The Diversity Champion commented that she would be prepared to attend meetings of Town and Community Councils to address them on diversity. 

A member of the Forum stated that St Brides Minor Community Council is considering appointing a diversity champion and that the composition of the Council was now more balanced in terms of gender and stated that Youth Council members should be encouraged to attend Town and Community Council meetings.  The Diversity Champion informed the Forum that she had already spoken to the Youth Council as to the possibility of Youth Council members attending meetings of Town and Community Councils.  Brackla Community Council was looking at co-opting a member of the Youth Council on to its Community Council.  The Leader commented that the Youth Council met regularly with the Cabinet Member - Children and young People.    

A member of the Forum commented on the need for the political parties to encourage new members to join which would help with diversity and believed that citizenship should be taught on the curriculum in schools and that democracy needed to reflect society.  The Diversity Champion informed the Forum that she had met the Local Government Minister to discuss diversity and that the curriculum in schools is being reviewed by the Welsh Government.  She also informed the Forum that the work on the diversity project would be communicated to all Clerks of town and Community Councils.      

RESOLVED:            That the Town & Community Council Forum:

·         notes the content of the report;

·         recommend that each Town and Community Council:

o   Identify a Member Champion for Diversity

o   Consider the co-option of a youth member.

o      Encourage their elected members to undertake mentoring of potential successors

o      Work with the BCBC Diversity Champion to collate and assess relevant data and assist in the development of the Diversity Strategy