Councillor Morgan Rise to move that the Council
(i) notes that
a) under the Equality Act 2010 Surrey Heath Borough Council (the Council hereafter) has a legal duty to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those that do not share it;
b) hate crimes towards LGBTQ+ people have increased across the country, with a 25% increase in sexual orientation hate crimes (to 14,491) and a 37% increase in transgender identity hate crimes (to 2,333)[1];
c) LGBTQ+ people are often some of the most vulnerable people in our society, and at higher risk of mental illness, homelessness, domestic violence, substance abuse and experiencing a lower quality of life [2][3];
d) the Council in collaboration with members, residents and local groups demonstrated a clear commitment to LGBTQ+ equality with the raising of the pride flag ceremony last year on the lawn of Surrey Heath House;
(ii) reconfirms its commitment to the Equality Act 2010 in promoting equality and eliminating discrimination for all minority groups within the borough of Surrey Heath;
(iii) commits to an annual pride flag raising at Surrey Heath House and to fly the Pride flag for the entirety of pride month in Surrey (August) to show visible support from the Council for the LGBTQ+ community and share in the hope that things will become easier against the challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces;
(iv) joins other local authorities, including Surrey County Council, in supporting Pride in Surrey’s delivery of community events across the county, including a planned Pride Picnic in Surrey Heath;
(v) supports local groups, organisations and charities delivering inclusive services for LGBTQ+ young people; and
(vi) commissions the Equality Working Group to carry out an audit of the Council’s work to promote LGBTQ+ equality and inclusivity.
[1]Home Office, Hate Crime, England and Wales, 2018/2019 - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/839172/hate-crime-1819-hosb2419.pdf
[2]Mental Health Foundation - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics/mental-health-statistics-lgbt-people
[3]ONS, Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people say they experience a lower quality of life, 2017 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/sexuality/articles/lesbiangayandbisexualpeoplesaytheyexperiencealowerqualityoflife/2017-07-05
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor Morgan Rise and seconded by Councillor Sarah Jane Croke that the Council
(i) notes that
a) under the Equality Act 2010 the Council has a legal duty to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those that do not share it;
b) hate crimes towards LGBTQ+ people have increased across the country, with a 25% increase in sexual orientation hate crimes (to 14,491) and a 37% increase in transgender identity hate crimes (to 2,333);
c) LGBTQ+ people are often some of the most vulnerable people in our society, and at higher risk of mental illness, homelessness, domestic violence, substance abuse and experiencing a lower quality of life
d) the Council in collaboration with members, residents and local groups demonstrated a clear commitment to LGBTQ+ equality with the raising of the pride flag ceremony last year on the lawn of Surrey Heath House;
(ii) reconfirms its commitment to the Equality Act 2010 in promoting equality and eliminating discrimination for all minority groups within the borough of Surrey Heath;
(iii) commits to an annual pride flag raising at Surrey Heath House and to fly the Pride flag for the entirety of pride month in Surrey (August) to show visible support from the Council for the LGBTQ+ community and share in the hope that things will become easier against the challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces;
(iv) joins other local authorities, including Surrey County Council, in supporting Pride in Surrey’s delivery of community events across the county, including a planned Pride Picnic in Surrey Heath;
(v) supports local groups, organisations and charities delivering inclusive services for LGBTQ+ young people; and
(vi) commissions the Equality Working Group to carry out an audit of the Council’s work to promote LGBTQ+ equality and inclusivity.
The following amendment was moved by Councillor Josephine Hawkins and, as it was accepted by Councillor Morgan Rise as the mover of the motion, added to original motion:
(vii) to task the Equality Working Group with outlining an annual work plan for approval by the Executive in order to balance the Council’s resources and community priorities within the whole range of the defined characteristics of the Equality Act 2010.
A further amendment was proposed by Councillor Darryl Ratiram and seconded by Councillor Shaun Garrett that
“the Council recognises that the progress of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community generates different views and opinions. In this regard it also recognises that the freedoms of thought and expression are fundamental British freedoms.”
It amendment was put to the vote and carried.
The substantive motion was put to the vote and carried
RESOLVED to
(i) note that
a) under the Equality Act 2010 the Council has a legal duty to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those that do not share it;
b) hate crimes towards LGBTQ+ people have increased across the country, with a 25% increase in sexual orientation hate crimes (to 14,491) and a 37% increase in transgender identity hate crimes (to 2,333);
c) LGBTQ+ people are often some of the most vulnerable people in our society, and at higher risk of mental illness, homelessness, domestic violence, substance abuse and experiencing a lower quality of life
d) in collaboration with members, residents and local groups demonstrated a clear commitment to LGBTQ+ equality with the raising of the pride flag ceremony last year on the lawn of Surrey Heath House;
(ii) reconfirm its commitment to the Equality Act 2010 in promoting equality and eliminating discrimination for all minority groups within the borough of Surrey Heath;
(iii) commit to an annual pride flag raising at Surrey Heath House and to fly the Pride flag for the entirety of pride month in Surrey (August) to show visible support from the Council for the LGBTQ+ community and share in the hope that things will become easier against the challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces;
(iv) join other local authorities, including Surrey County Council, in supporting Pride in Surrey’s delivery of community events across the county, including a planned Pride Picnic in Surrey Heath;
(v) support local groups, organisations and charities delivering inclusive services for LGBTQ+ young people;
(vi) commission the Equality Working Group to carry out an audit of the Council’s work to promote LGBTQ+ equality and inclusivity;
(vii) task the Equality Working Group with outlining an annual work plan for approval by the Executive in order to balance the Council’s resources and community priorities within the whole range of the defined characteristics of the Equality Act 2010; and
(viii) recognise that the progress of the lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender community generates different views and opinions. In this regard it also recognises that the freedoms of thought and expression are fundamental British freedoms.