Minutes: December 2007

1.

Present: PG, HT, JW, MB, JS, SC, JLS, NB, MCW, RCW, Cllr P Sharp, Qahir Sheikh and Robin Stannard - Wilts Police, Paula Harrison - SBC, Nick Stephenson - SBC, Kati Wood - SBC, Kathleen Daley - SBC

Apologies: SN, Doreen Dart

Paul welcomed everyone to the meeting especially members of the GPI.

2.

Minutes of last meeting of LGBT and Matters Arising:

Minutes agreed as a true record.

Item 2 - Pride Update: HT asked if the site plan was available. It is on the website but is subject to amendment.

Item 7 - Representation on Children & Young People's Partnership Board. This has not been resolved, would like to identify a champion to sit on the board and raise any issues we want to bring.

Item 8 - Write to Swindon College for a copy of their Gender Equality Scheme.

Item 9.2 - Response to issue sheet read out.

ACTION: Ask for this question to be included in future staff surveys and request regular updates.

Item 9.4 - Nick thanked everyone who attended the Equalities Conference, 120 people attended 60 of whom were elected members and staff. The Coalitions, general public and police, other Partnership bodies and large and small businesses were represented. He said they were still processing the feedback. The highlight was Lead Member of the Council coming out to a major public meeting and speaking about being a gay man. He had wanted to do all he could to stop other people experiencing the problems he had. The Coalition would like to acknowledge that this took a lot of courage.

3.

House of Commons Committee Report on Homophobic Bullying in Schools - Julie Lender-Swain, Pride Youth:

Julie said bullying was still prolific in schools. Pride Youth had reported a couple of years ago on the difficulties in Swindon schools and there was no change at all. There were still instances of homophobic bullying going on and also those perceived to be LGBT were more at risk than SEN, minority ethnic groups or for any other reason. If you are LGBT or perceived to be you are more likely to be at risk. School teaching staff are less certain about dealing with homophobic bullying than any other.

The report makes quite clear recommendations. There should be in place in schools an effective anti bullying programme, support for teachers at Government level, effective data collection, engagement of school governors and an effective complaints procedure. It is quite shocking today that basic teacher training does not give teachers effective ways to deal with bullying in schools.

Basically we need to take the high level recommendations to the Education Department and produce an action plan to be implemented in schools at primary and secondary level. Working with young people, teachers, head teachers governors and the Education Department through a partner such as Stonewall and using a benchmark from other Organisations and Councils that are getting it right we could produce an action plan for use in schools.

Julie said there were a lot of good anti-bullying programmes out there but they are not being put into practice. There is a need to change the internal environment and mindset in schools, it is not just about delivering another anti-bullying programme.

Take this to the Education Department and make proposals.

4.

Links - Social Care, Helen Thompson:

Helen and Val Vaughan spoke about the new Local Involvement Networks (LINks) that will take over from Patient Participation in health and also include Social Care. It will be the public's voice for having a say in anything to do with public health. The LINks will come into operation on 1 April 2008.

Val gave the background to the Government's decision to start the LINks. These are being set up all over the Country; anywhere the Authority is responsible for health and social care. A LINks Steering Group has been set up in Swindon and one of their first jobs will be to contract a Host Organisation to support the LINk. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) will overview contracting. They may commission a LINk to undertake work on its behalf. Local Authority departments and a LINk may agree to pool information or work together.

Paul thanked Val and Helen.

5.

Wiltshire Hate Crime Report - Robin Stannard - (Copy circulated with the minutes)

Robin said the report related purely to Swindon and it was his last meeting as his role has been taken over by Qahir Sheikh and he will be moving into youth that will include schools.

Paul thanked Robin for all his work and welcomed Qahir.

Item 6 in the report, Helen asked if they had received a statement from Lancashire Police? Robin said he would find out.

6.

Commissioning & Coalitions' Review - Paula Harrison

Paula said firstly she was attending the meeting to make people aware that Swindon Borough Council is changing 3-year grant programme and currently that will affect Pride Youth. Cabinet agreed we would shift from 3-year grants to commissioning services. It is anticipated that there will be 4 blocks, two for about 35% of the allocated budget - Advice Services and Infrastructure support to Voluntary & Community Sector, then a smaller block of approx. 15% for support to Asylum Seekers & Refugees and finally o block of approx. 2 ½% for Domestic Violence.

They have just started a 4-month consultation period to get any views in terms of what you think local needs are, ideally in terms of advice services and also in relation to infrastructure support. Paula asked if between now and the end of February anyone received a letter and questionnaire from the outside Consultancy firm BMG would they please respond as this would be their chance to influence the process. If anyone else would like to receive a form let Kati or Kathleen know as she would like to get as much feedback on local needs as possible.

Secondly Paula wished to speak about the Review of the Coalitions. She, Nick and Kati had been speaking to the Coalitions, Officers and a range of other people to find out if what we have is fit for purpose. At the last EAF meeting they presented a summary and they were asked to go around each Coalition and give them an opportunity to give their views.

Paula read through the feedback she had received so far - a copy of which is attached. Feedback forms and reply paid envelopes were available for people to give their views. Please return by 14 January.

7.

LGBT History Month:

No planned events in whole of South of England.

8.

Governor Support Services - Bridget Sinclair

Bridget said school governance was the largest voluntary organisation in the Country. Every maintained school has a governing body and in Swindon all schools have governing bodies with from 10-20 members. Governors come from the stakeholders of the school, parents, staff, local people and LAA partners.

The governors are there to hold the school to account, to make sure it delivers the best quality education they can and spends its money in the best way. The governors are there to ask those critical questions of the school and make sure they do not fail and the resources are spent effectively. For a lay person that is a steep learning curve and that is where Governors' Support comes in.

Governors' Support has 3.5 staff and they are a statutory service. They are there at the end of the telephone and send out 3 weekly mailings to all governing bodies keeping them up to date with any new initiatives relating to governance. They also maintain a database of governor's records, making sure they are elected properly. On top of that schools can subscribe to Governors' Support for training services based largely at Oakfield. Firstly training for new governors then for what they need from a whole range. We will also provide bespoke training and go out and deliver that. Will also provide additional support when needed, we might go in and deliver a package to make sure they understand their roles and responsibilities.

Paul asked what proportion of governors were LGBT? Bridget said she did not know as there was no requirement for governors to give that information.

Paul asked if they monitored ethnicity? Bridget said this information was optional and thought it was more important that they were representative of their communities.

Paul asked if Bridget could see any need to record LGBT governors? Bridget said no, it was not an issue and she didn't see it as a barrier or that it would stop anyone taking on the role. She did not see it as a barrier in any shape or form.

Paul asked if Governors would be aware of LGBT issues and he was sorry that Bridget had not heard what Julie was talking about? How would governors monitor LGBT issues? Bridget said they would need to be aware of bullying issues generally she didn't think they would be aware of specific issues. It has been raised in schools as a development area.

Paul asked about training for Governors. Bridget said they do provide general training in governance and also for specific areas but there was relatively low take-up for specific area training. Governors do not have to attend any training.

Paul asked about governors' responsibility for policies being in place and Bridget said they have to make sure they are in place to comply with the law. She said equalities were still high on the agenda for schools but they were still on a learning curve, different schools were at different points.

Paul felt there was a huge lack of training for governors and a whole range of equalities issues not being covered. He asked Bridget to take these up for the Coalition.

ACTION: Put in writing the issues we would like Bridget to take up.

Nick said his fear and the fear of LGBT people, who can have a good influence over schools, is governors are still hanging on to the remnant of Section 28, which has gone and been gone for a number of years. Don't know if that has ever been addressed.

9.

Dates of future meetings:

Wed 9 Apr, CR2: 6-8pm
Wed 11 June, CR2: 6-8pm
Wed 13 Aug, CR2: 6-8pm
Wed 8 Oct, CR2: 6-8pm
Wed 10 Dec, CR2: 6-8pm