EQUALITY POLICY

'I was pleased to be presenting the Equality Policy and Action Plan to Cabinet this evening, so that the public consultation process could be started with the wide Thanet community.

For me, it is a matter of moral and political duty to challenge and fight against prejudice and discrimination.

In the current economic climate, it is anticipated that residents will turn towards Thanet District Council in situations of difficulty and it is paramount that they are all treated in total fairness with dignity and respect.

I feel privileged to be able to uphold these principles within a policy document and I believe that Thanet District Council has an important role to play in championing the Equalities and Diversity agenda not only within the Council for its service users and staff but also in the wider Thanet community and its many residents groups.

I am grateful that in my Cabinet post I am supported by the Member Lead for Equality and Inclusion, Cllr. John Worrow, who contributed to the Cabinet debate this evening.” Gone are the days when a local government equality policy was just about ticking the right boxes and talking the talk. Thanks to people like Cllr. Michelle Fenner we are starting to walk the walk. It is encouraging to work with someone who genuinely understands what true equality means.”

The public consultation will enable comments on the policy itself and the action plan.

I expect, upon return to Cabinet, post-consultation, in June that the action plan will have more entries, reflecting feedback received from consultees.

I also expect both documents to be regularly updated and always considered as work in progress.

Equality can never be static and I urge all members of the Thanet community to take part in the public consultation'.

 

Cllr. Michelle Fenner, Cabinet member.

The public consultation will take place between from 2nd to 30th April 2013.

Published by Thanet Labour Group Press Office, 44 Northdown Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 2RW

POOREST HIT HARDEST

Hilary Benn MP, Labour's Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, responding to research on cuts to council services, said: 
 
"People across England will within days start to see the full impact of David Cameron's severe cuts on local government and councils.

This research shows just how seriously the impact will be on children's services, care for the elderly and our civic infrastructure - the libraries, parks and sports facilities that millions depend on and enjoy. What makes it worse is that the biggest cuts are being imposed on the most deprived communities."

LABOUR PARTY

WELFARE IN CHAOS

Liam Byrne MP, Labour’s Shadow DWP Secretary, responding to today’s Public Accounts Committee Select Committee report, said:
 
“The welfare revolution we were promised is descending into total chaos, and its hardworking families paying the price.
 
“The report reveals the woeful inadequacy of Discretionary Housing Payments to help people hit by the Bedroom Tax. And now even the Government’s own modelling shows that their changes to Housing Benefit will end up costing more than they save – what a shambles.
 
“This report lays bare the undeniable truth – under this Government the Department for Work and Pensions hasn’t got the first idea what it is doing. Ministers simply do not know what impact their housing benefit changes will have.”

LABOUR PARTY

BEDROOM TAX & THE DISABLED

Liam Byrne MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, at a summit on the impact of the Bedroom Tax on disabled people, today revealed fresh evidence of the devastating impact this Government is having on disabled people. 
 
At the event in Southwark, Liam Byrne revealed fresh evidence that the Welfare Uprating Bill will drive 50,000 disabled people into poverty, just one week before the Bedroom Tax hits 440,000 households home to a disabled person.

Liam Byrne MP said:

“In two weeks 13,000 millionaires get will get tax cut of £2,000 per week, but hundreds of thousands of people hit by the Bedroom Tax will pay an extra £728 a year. 
 
“Hundreds of thousands of disabled people will be punished by the hated Bedroom Tax, yet the budget offered them not a penny of help. Instead we have got the spare home subsidy for Britain’s richest families to add to the £100,000 a year tax cut arriving in a few days’ time.

“That tells you everything you need to know about this Government’s values.

“In no world is that fair. Disabled people are seeing attack after attack after attack – from unfair changes to DLA, a Work Capability Assessment that is out of control and now changes to benefits that will drive 50,000 disabled people into poverty. The Government’s plans are in chaos, and that's why it's so important to hear what disabled people have to say.

“We are very proud to be the party who appointed the first minister for disabled people. And we want to carry on listening to the views of disabled people. We want to hear your ideas for the future, but also we want to hear what's going wrong now.”

LABOUR PARTY

STATEMENT - REVIEW OF PROCEDURES

We wish to emphasise that Thanet District Council’s policies and procedures are robust. Indeed the Annual Audit Letter of September 2012 stated that in overall terms their assessment was that the Council has a good understanding of its underlying financial position and sound financial systems and that the Council continues to demonstrate effective arrangements for budget and financial management.

TDC’s Whistleblowing Policy was effective and instantaneous in alerting the Senior Management and subsequently the Police to the crime committed by Cllr. Ezekiel who was found guilty of Misconduct in a Public Office.

Thorough investigations by the Police with full co-operation of TDC officers to check if there were any signs of collusion found nothing untoward.

We share the concern that Councillors who are elected to represent and serve the general public must adhere to the highest standards of integrity.

We have therefore decided to take the opportunity this situation presents to revisit our policies and procedures and not to leave any stone unturned.

We have requested a comprehensive report to Cabinet on lessons to be learnt and what actions to follow. This report will be discussed at the Cabinet meeting in April.

It is proposed to write a report to Cabinet to debrief Members on the findings of the court case, and to present the response of the council to learn from this case to improve its systems and processes. 

The cabinet report will state in its opening paragraphs that a crime has been committed and although we are actively reviewing our procedures, a preliminary review has shown that it was a result of the council’s procedures that enabled the crime to be detected and brought to justice. As a learning council we have used this to prompt a thorough review of procedures covering asset disposal, contract procedures, publication of reports and disclosure of member interests.

The report will specifically refer to:-

• A review of the asset disposal policy and procedure – with revisions to include the addition of an explanation of the methods of disposal; and to improve key controls to prevent advantage to officers and members through inside knowledge, by prohibiting officers from sharing bidding information during commercial negotiations.   Internal audit will be asked to contribute to this review and to provide assurance of the adequacy of key controls.
• A review of the register of member interests, to strengthen the information requested. This revision would then be taken to Standards, for recommendation to Council.
• A reminder will be issued to all members alerting them of the need to complete the register of interests.
• Regular reminders will be issued to all staff and members of the whistleblowing policy.  This has recently been undertaken.
• Officers will be made aware of risk areas in disposal and contract award decisions and will be reminded of the need for thorough and accurate records of all decisions as well as for the need to log member contact in relation to sale and contract negotiations.
• To strengthen the detection controls for asset sales, all sales will be reported in the quarterly budget monitoring reports, where the sale values will form part of the capital receipts figures within the capital programme. The report will state which assets have been disposed of, by which sale method, for what price and the details of the purchaser.
• Members will be reassured that it is appropriate to approach officers with concerns relating to their ward, or portfolio, such as may affect the areas regeneration, but that these contacts will be recorded.
• Where officers deem it necessary to exclude the press and public due to the content of a report, the report that recommends the exclusion of the press and public will, in future, state what the public interest test is, to explain the rational for the exclusion, and what is meant by commercially sensitive, where applicable.
• The exclusion report will also state that in the case where the public interest test is finely balanced, that the presumption will be in favour of publishing.
• The annual review of contract standing orders and the tight controls over tender opening, which already exist.

This course of actions will show the residents of Thanet that, as the new administration at Thanet District Council, we are not complacent about the way decisions are made and implemented and that our guiding principle will always be the public interest. We intend to continue to debate, scrutinise and challenge every aspect of Thanet District Council’s work on behalf of the community it serves.

Councillor Clive Hart – Leader

Councillor Alan Poole – Deputy Leader

Councillor Michelle Fenner – Cabinet Member Business Services and Corporate Regulatory 

NEW SEA DEFENCE SCHEME IN MARGATE

TDC's Cllr Alan Poole - Cabinet Member for Operational Services and Cllr Clive Hart - Leader with ward councillors Cllr John Watkins and Cllr Iris Johnston - Cabinet Member for Community Services. 

A partnership between TDC and the Environment Agency has accessed funding to deliver a new sea defence scheme in Margate on time and well under budget.

The £6.2million grant funded scheme has involved major renovations to the Stone Pier, the North and South Sea Walls as well as the construction of a stepped structure (revetment) in front of Marine Drive.

The Leader of Thanet District Council, Cllr. Clive Hart, said “Margate is a superb town to spend your time; whether on the beach, at an interesting attraction, staying the night in one of the numerous B&Bs or shopping in the renowned Old Town.

“Particularly during the warmer months the revetment steps will be a joy to sit and ponder, eat lunch or meet friends and family, to enjoy the wonderful scenery that Margate has to offer.

“We are now confident that our lovely town will be protected by the sea flood defence scheme, thanks to the engineers, architects and builders involved in the project.”

New seating has also been installed along the top of the steps and LED lighting will highlight the revetments at night.

Savings on the scheme have allowed the Environment Agency to fund the major refurbishment of the Marine Pool on Margate Sands, as well as the refurbishment of the heritage railings that are a feature of Margate Seafront.