Agenda and minutes

VinodGhadiali, Oadby and Wigston Hindu Community Association; S. Thanki, Oadby and Wigston Hindu Community Association; P. Parmar; Oadby and Wigston Hindu Community Association; J.Ramaiye, Oadby and Wigston Hindu Community Association, P.Burton (Leicester, Leicestershire Gate Gypsy & Traveller Equality/MATU – Multi Agency Traveller Unit), D Cliffe ( Voluntary Action Leicestershire), P. Owers (CAPUK.ORG), J Crane (Wigston Club for Young People), G.Gamble (Churches Together).

The Chair approved the minutes of September 28^th 2016.  There were no amendments.

The draft Local Plan sets out the long term development strategy for the Borough. It will serve the Borough for the next twenty to thirty years.

Local Plans consider the future role of places and make decisions on where new development should be concentrated.

Colleagues were requested to make comment on the draft Plan to the Council. The comments will help shape planning for the future.

The Plan provides for the building of housing in the Borough. Failure to do this means the Government will make the decision on house building on the Council`s behalf.

Once adopted the new Local Plan will supersede the Saved Local Plan, The Core Strategy and the Town Centres Area Action Plan. The Council will adopt the new Local Plan in Summer 2018.

For more information on the Plan email: planningpolicy@oadby-wigston.gov.uk or call:01162888961

The Equality and Diversity Agenda work plan is being progressed. It is available on the Council web page at: http://www.oadby-wigston.gov.uk/files/documents/equality_and_diversity_agenda/Equality%20and%20Diversity%20Agenda%20June%202013.pdf

4a. Equality and Diversity Workshops

These workshops are being developed principally with the Council`s Human Resources Team. They are focussed principally for Council Members and Staff, but will be open to Voluntary organisations and community group representatives on the Community Engagement Forum database.

The calendar listing celebratory events continues to be developed

The focus of the calendar listing is to mark key festivals, events and celebratory days which reflect the local diversity of Oadby and Wigston ,events for which the Borough Council flies the Union Jack and those that reflect the Council`s Joint Needs Assessment Plan priorities for the Borough.

An example of such a day is: Mental Health Day on Tuesday 10^th October 2017.Some of the sessions will be replicated on an evening basis.

4b. Celebratory Awareness Calendar 2017

The calendar listing celebratory days and events continues to be developed

The focus of the calendar listing is to mark key festivals, events and celebratory days which reflect the local diversity of Oadby and Wigston, events for which the Borough Council flies the Union Jack. and those that reflect the Council`s Joint Needs Assessment Plan priorities.

Examples of such days are: The Holocaust Memorial Event on 26^th January 2017 and Mental Health Day on 10^th October 2017.Some of the sessions will be replicated on an evening. Basis subject to demand and the need to inform Councillors.

ACTION:

Update the Celebratory Awareness calendar for 2017 and circulate key workshop dates to colleagues

4c.The Citizens Panel

The Citizens Panel is in progress. The draft document notes other consultative activity being used by Borough Council officers for consultation and engagement activity. This will help to shape the Panel`s design. Support has been provided by the Council`s Information Technology Team.

ACTION:

Provide a brief update as to progress at the next meeting.

4d. Equality, Diversity and Unconscious Bias Workshops.

The following dates for the Equality and Diversity and Unconscious bias workshops are as follows:

Tuesday 9^th May 2017-10am-12 Noon, 2pm-4pm and 6.30pm -8pm.

Thursday 11^th May 2017 – 2pm-4pm

The venue for all sessions is: The Council Office, Council Chamber, Station Road, Wigston,LE18  2DR.

Colleagues were requested to note the relief collection of clothing, boots and medical supplies and other items are being collected by the Mosque in Oadby. The drop off of items must be between 2pm and 6pm. Colleagues were advised there is no storage facility for items after this time at the mosque.

Sorters and Loaders for the items were requested. All items will need to be loaded on to a van. A request was made to colleagues for access to a forklift truck to assist this charity work. Retailers are being contacted as is space to store pallets for 3 to 4 days

The Walter Charles Centre has been booked for storage but it is proving somewhat difficult to get the pallets into the available space as a fork lift truck is required to assist with this.

ACTION:

The Chair offered his assistance to check if Council garages can be used for temporary storage.

The Holocaust Memorial Event day is on: Thursday 26^th January 2017. The Programme is being progressed. The theme for next year is “How Can Life Go On”. As with last year the main speaker is: Professor Aubrey Newman. The Council Chamber is to be the venue. Council doors open for refreshments at 5pm. The event is to be officially opened by the Mayor, Robert Eaton. It officially begins at 5.30pm and closes at 7pm.

The invited audience are: the general public, schools in the borough, representatives from faith/belief groups, community groups and voluntary organisations. Everyone is welcomed to attend.

The event will be publicised on the Council`s web site, through Twitter, Face book and other networking avenues.

The Oadby, Wigston and South Wigston Multi-cultural Group will consider if it is possible for it to take on organising the Holocaust Memorial event in 2018.

ACTION:

J. Bryars will liaise with Mark Mitchell about this and then contact Councillor Morris re the outcome of this conversation.

Ian Vernon, representing the Pagan Federation delivered a presentation on Paganism and the Pagan Federation.The audience complimented Ian on how informative and educational it was. The term pagan was defined and the presentation outlined its changing history and perceptions of its nature within the Pagan community and outside of it.The presentation sought to dispel the myths and misconception about paganism and define the belief system as pagans understand it to be in its diversity.

Key points flowing from the presentation were:

In modern terms it means 'A follower of a polytheistic or pantheistic nature-worshipping religion' and Paganism means a 'polytheistic or pantheistic nature-worshipping religion

The individual paths of behalf and worship such as: Wicca & Witchcraft, Heathenry, Druidry, Shamanism, Goddess Worship were explored.

Key belief and festival dates were noted. These are: Samhain – Oct 31^st, Yule(Winter Solstice) – around Dec 21^st,Imbolc – Feb 2^nd and Ostara (Spring Equinox) – around Mar 21^st. Dates are not all fixed.

In conclusion Paganism is about: supporting Pagans in their right to worship, promoting a  positive profile of Pagans and Paganism, providing education on what is a Pagan, facilitating communication between the various Pagan communities, providing pastoral care in prisons and hospitals, providing advocacy to Pagans in need.

On concluding the presentation the Chair thanked Ian on behalf of the Forum.

ACTION

Circulate the presentation to colleagues

The representative for Action on Hearing Loss provided information on the remit of the service and his role in the Leicestershire region.

Statistics on the number of deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK was pinpointed in the presentation.

Action on Hearing Loss was previously known as the RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf.

Types of deafness and the causes were outlined as follows:

Conductive hearing loss is the result of sounds not being able to pass freely to the inner ear.

•       This usually results from a blockage in the outer or middle ear, such as a build-up of excess ear wax or fluid from an ear infection (especially common in children).

•       It can also happen as a result of some abnormality in the structure of the outer ear, ear canal or middle ear – or be due to a ruptured eardrum.

•       A condition known as otosclerosis (which results in the abnormal growth of bone in the middle ear) can cause severe conductive hearing loss. The excess bone prevents the ossicles in the middle ear from moving freely.

•       The result of this type of hearing loss is that sounds become quieter, although not usually distorted. Depending on its cause, a conductive hearing loss can either be temporary or permanent.

Conductive hearing losses can often be corrected with medical management, or minor surgery.

The presentation ended with information on hearing aid support, medical research, accessing solutions, accessing products such as amplified phones, the importance of fundraising and a pointer as to how people can access help.

On concluding the presentation the Chair thanked Roger on behalf of the Forum.

ACTION

Circulate the presentation to colleagues

Darren Goddard the Leicestershire Police Force officer provided a presentation on Hate Crime and awareness issues. His work remit covers Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.He outlined the two definitions of hate, both of which interconnect.

Examples of hate incidents were outlined.

People sometimes were confused about the definitions for example cyber crime bullying.

He provided an example of hate crime using the example of David Kelly a self proclaimed monk. This is a good example of what a hate crime looks like.

Victims of hate crime have been identified in sub cultural groups of people such as Goths and Punks. People with a disability, those from various racial and faith / belief have also been attached. There were 530 recordings of hate crimes across Leicestershire and Rutland in 2015.

Every public organisation has an action plan for dealing with hate crime.wotrk is also taking place through social media. A Stamp It Out poster has been produced and work has taken place with communities to get the message across that hate incidents and crimes will be addressed by the authorities.

Staff have been provided with training on the issue. And have also supported young people .This summer partnership working has delivered Don’t Hate Educate information .Young people have also been involved in a campaign against hate crime.

The Sophie Foundation raised awareness on hate crime, speaking to some one hundred thousand students. During half term week a symposium on hate crime awareness was held in Leicester City. This was linked to the theme “the power of good”.

Further work to address hate crime is being developed and delivered by young people through Youth Councils and Council Officers. A promoting of Keep Safe cards and places is progressing. Better Journey Cards have also been produced and distributed. These cards are to help people use public transport, especially empowering people with a disability to use public transport.

On concluding the presentation the Chair thanked Darren on behalf of the Forum.

ACTION

Circulate the presentation to colleagues

No any other business items were raised.

Date: Tuesday 14^th March 2017

Time: 7pm-9pm

Venue: Council Office, Council Chamber, Station Road, Wigston, LE18 2DR