FOI request (FOIR-339227259)

Equality and Diversity/Councillors

Requested Wed 02 June 2021
Responded Wed 08 September 2021

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information concerning your councillors:

1. Does the council have a formal policy in place for maternity, paternity, adoption and kinship care for all councillors? If yes, please provide a copy.

2. If not, does the council have any informal arrangements in place by which it would make provisions for maternity, paternity, adoption and kinship care for all councillors?

3. Does the council have a formal policy in place for maternity, paternity, adoption and kinship care for councillors with a Special Responsibility Allowance? If yes, please provide a copy.

4. If not, does the council have any informal arrangements in place by which it would make provisions for maternity, paternity, adoption and kinship care for councillors with a Special Responsibility Allowance?

5. Does the council have a formal standards committee?

6. Does the council have a formal role to oversee member conduct and promote equality (for example, chair of the standards committee, chief whip or similar)?

7. Does the council's Code of Conduct under Section 27(2) of the Localism Act 2011 make any reference to promoting equality or tackling sexism?

Response

1. Hastings Borough Council does not currently have a policy in place.

2. Hastings Borough Council does not currently have a policy in place.

3. Hastings Borough Council does not currently have a policy in place.

4. Hastings Borough Council does not currently have a policy in place.

5. Yes, details of the Standards Committee can be found online at:

https://hastings.moderngov.co.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=187

6. The Standards Committee promotes and maintains high standards of behaviour by ensuring all elected members comply with the council's code of conduct. Equalities sits within the portfolio of the Lead Member for Organisation, Cllr Rogers.

7. The Code of Conduct sets out a general obligation that members do not do anything which would cause the authority to breach its obligations under the Equality Act 2010. The Code of Conduct makes no specific reference to tackling sexism. The Code of Conduct can be found online at:

https://www.hastings.gov.uk/content/my_council/decisions_how/pdfs/Part_5_Constitution_-_Codes_and_Protocols