Agenda and minutes

The Chair (Councillor P Malpas) welcomed everyone present to the meeting, particularly the new members and officers who were attending their first meeting.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Mrs M Gray, Councillor Miss M Iddon, Councillor C Snow, Ms K Banati (Asian Women’s Forum), Ms D Hall (Chorley Council’s Chief Executive), Mr J Carson (Chorley Council’s Director of Leisure and Cultural Services), Mr D Herne and Mr J Hodge (Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust), Mr N Sharif (Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service) and Mrs P Cuerden (Neighbourhood Watch Association).

Members of the Committee are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members’ Code of Conduct.  If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, then the individual Member should not participate in a discussion on the matter and must withdraw from the Council Chamber and not seek to influence a decision on the matter.

There were no declarations of interest by any of the Borough Councillors in any of the items on the agenda.

(a)         Confirmation

         The minutes of the last meeting of the Ethnic Minorities Consultative Committee held on 26 July 2006 were confirmed as a correct record.

(b)    Matters Arising

         (i)         Multi-Agency Diversity Incidents Panel (Minute 06.EM.34)

               The Chair reported that, as requested at the last meeting, arrangements would be made for the Committee to receive a short address from Mr W Marland from the Lancashire County Council on the procedures operating in Lancashire schools for reporting and treating racist incidents.

         (ii)      Celebration of Diversity (Minute 06.EM.37)

               The Chair confirmed that Chorley Council’s Chief Executive and Communications Officer would be invited to attend the next meeting to assist discussions on suitable means of celebrating Chorley’s cultural diversity.

Councillor Hasina Khan will make a verbal update at the meeting.

(i)         Saheliyaan – Asian Women’s Forum

         Councillor Hasina Khan presented a report updating the Committee on the extent of the Asian Women’s Forum’s work sponsored by the Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust as part of their Community Health Development Project.  The report highlighted recent activities of the Forum and commented, in particular on:

         (i)         Health Mela

                  A successful Health Mela had been held on 12 August 2006 in conjunction with several health and social care organisations (including Lancashire County Council’s Social Services Directorate, Open Minds, Arthritis Care, Alzheimer Society, Alcohol and Drugs Association, Diabetes UK and Age Concern) who had provided useful information and advice.  Workshops on aroma and marriage therapy, counselling and healthy eating had formed part of the event.  The event had been the first initiative organised by the Asian Women’s Forum for both males and females and had been attended by over 50 women and 15 men, along with a number of children.

         (ii)      Courses

               The ESOL and confidence building courses for women had concluded in August.  The courses had proved to be popular and successful, with new courses requested after Ramadan and Eid.

         (iii)      Drop-In Sessions

               The project had proved popular and beneficial to the Asian community, with the assistance of PCT funding and conscientious volunteers.  It was hoped that the sessions could be extended to run during weekdays if suitable premises could be found.

         (iv)      Premises

               The Asian Women’s Forum was presently only allowed the use of the Chorley Youth and Community Centre on Saturdays, which was inhibiting the extension of the Drop-In Sessions.

         The Chair thanked Councillor Khan for her update report and wished the Asian Women’s Forum well in its future endeavours.

(ii)     Nguzo Saba Centre

         Ms C Kubicki circulated a report on the outcome of a health needs assessment survey of 50 members of the broader African community in Chorley, commissioned by the Primary Care Trust, and undertaken by the Nguzo Saba Centre.  31 of the 50 people surveyed had returned the questionnaire.

         An analysis of the survey results had revealed that the 900 or so member community was resilient in combating health problems and that, whilst language did not constitute a barrier to communication, a number of people surveyed considered that the needs of the Black/African/Caribbean community was not being afforded sufficient attention.

         The following recommendations had been agreed as an attempt to address the issues raised by the survey:

         ?      Training for all primary care staff in the different cultures of communities from the broader African community.

         ?      Mental health services to be available at a local level.

         ?      Workplace healthcare and advice, targeted at men, but available to all.

         ?      More programmes to tackle racism in schools and communities.

         ?      Information on how to report racist incidence and the importance of reporting made more widely available.

         ?      Ensure all patients can see their GP within 24 hours.

         ?      The PCT to work with the broader African community to develop confidence in services and diagnosis

         ?      Local authorities, youth work agencies and other appropriate agencies to develop programmes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

Councillor Hasina Khan will update the Committee on plans to launch the Forum.

Councillor Khan informed the Committee that the East Chorley Men’s Forum formed in July 2006 was to be officially launched as the Dosti Men’s Forum in November.  The Group had been supported by the Saheliyaan Women’s Group during its formative stages and would welcome males from all faiths and backgrounds to join.

Mr A Mala introduced himself as the Chair of the Men’s Group, emphasising that the purpose of the Group would be to provide a forum in which all sections of the community could meet in joint respect and knowledge of each other’s culture.  The issues and concerns raised at the meetings could then be relayed to the relevant Authorities and agencies for action.  The Chair welcomed the initiative and wished the Dosti Men’s Forum well in its activities.

To receive and consider the enclosed confidential report of the Director of Policy and Performance on proposals to improve the Multi-Agency Diversity Incidents Panel’s effectiveness and collaboration with other agencies.

The report is accompanied by a schedule listing reported racist incidents in the Borough during the second quarter of 2006/07.

The Consultative Committee were reminded that, at the last meeting, the Members had requested the Officers to examine means of re-invigorating the role and operation of the Multi-Agency Diversity Incidents Panel by broadening its scope and membership.  It was important to consider ways of encouraging the greater participation and contribution of other agencies and bodies (including the Consultative Committee) as a means of enhancing the Panel’s effectiveness and collaboration with other agencies.

Consequently, Ms L-A Fenton and Ms S Dobson presented a discussion paper which set out recommendations for suggested actions to ensure the Panel’s delivery of key outcomes in terms of equality, diversity and community cohesion.

There was an opportunity to examine ways of creating a more proactive and strategically focused Panel and the report put forward the following proposals for consideration:

?       the re-naming of the Panel to Community Cohesion and Diversity Incidents Panel to reflect the Panel’s new remit and proactive approach to community relations;

?       the establishment of a group of core partners (Police, PCT, Council, Childrens Services Officer, Chorley Community Housing etc), which would be requested to attend meetings and report regularly to the Panel;

?       the establishment of a group of Non-Core Partners to be requested to attend periodically whenever they are able to contribute to agenda items;

?       the circulation of agenda papers prior to the meeting as an opportunity for Non-Core partners to evaluate the usefulness of meetings and the subsequent circulation of minutes to Core and Non-Core Partners;

?       the establishment of working groups to tackle particular issues and report back to the Panel and partner agencies;

?       the hosting of an event with appropriate speakers as an opportunity to showcase the work of the Panel, attract potential partners, foster the sharing of good practice, and raise awareness of reporting procedures;

?       the Panel to address issues on an ongoing basis around:

         ?      economy (become actively engaged with economic regeneration activity currently underway in the Borough);

         ?      housing;

         ?      migrant workers;

         ?      removing barriers to reporting incidents and raising awareness of reporting procedures;

         ?      funding opportunities for community cohesion work;

         ?      creation of information network between partners;

         ?      identify community tensions (real or perceived) and undertake proactive work to tackle such tensions;

         ?      manage effective responses to incidents;

         ?      report diversity Performance Indicators as a standing item on agendas and explore how performance can be improved and linked in with Directorates’ ongoing activity;

         ?      proactive action to address and counter false/misleading assertions in the press nationally and locally;

         ?      identify trends in terms of geographical areas and tackle relations proactively.

The report also set out a list of organisations and agencies whose participation as a Core or Non-Core Partner was likely to benefit the new Panel.

The report was accompanied by a schedule listing the racist incidents reported during the period 1 July to 30 September 2006 that had been presented to the last meeting of the Multi-Agency Diversity Incidents Panel.  The Consultative Committee noted that the number of reported incidents in the quarter period had reduced considerably when compared to the previous quarter’s figure, but the Members were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

The Director of Policy and Performance will update the Committee on progress on the organisation of the event at the meeting.

Ms L-A Fenton reminded the Consultation Committee that a Sub-Group, chaired by Reverend Dr J Cree of Churches Together in Chorley, had been set up to facilitate and organise a multi-faith event in the Borough.  Consequently, a provisional draft programme for a half-day event early in 2007 was circulated for consideration.

The general aim of the event would be to promote community cohesion and good will, and to encourage co-operation and collaboration between the various faith groups and sectors within Chorley.

Councillor Hasina Khan referred to the possibility of the event attracting finance from the Government’s Connecting Communities Fund and intimated the possibility of other PCT funding if the event was combined with the launch of the Dosti Men’s Forum.

A number of Committee members expressed their disappointment that the multi-faith event was to replace the traditional Eid Festival event, which they claimed had been successful in past years and had, in fact, embraced a number of faiths in addition to the Muslim faith.  There was a reluctance to organise a separate Eid celebration event without specific Council support.

In response, Ms Fenton reminded the Committee that resources were limited and that it had been proposed to devote the available sum of approximately £2,000 to the organisation of an event that would celebrate the Borough’s diverse cultures and faiths and unite the whole community.  The organisers very much hoped that the Muslim community would become involved in the organisation and holding of the event.

Ms Kubicki considered that the proposed event should aim to celebrate the District’s multi-cultures, rather than faiths, and emphasised that the role of the Black/African/Caribbean community should not be overlooked.

At the conclusion of the debate, the Chair thanked all the members for their contribution.  The Chair confirmed and assured the Committee members that their views and suggestions would be assessed and considered by the Sub-Group organisers of the event and the Council’s Officers before firm decisions were agreed.

To consider any questions notified by the Consultative Committee members in advance of the meeting.

There had been no questions notified by the Consultative Committee members in advance of the meeting.

Councillor Hasina Khan notified the Consultative Committee that the Asian Women’s Forum had been awarded funding of £17,000 over the next three years by the Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust.  The funding would allow the appointment of two part-time salaried Officers.

The Consultative Committee is scheduled to meet next on Wednesday, 24 January 2007 at 7.00pm.  The Committee will need to agree the venue for the meeting.

The members noted that the next meeting of the Consultative Committee was scheduled to be held in the Town Hall, Chorley on Wednesday, 24 January 2007 at 7.00pm.