Issue - meetings

1.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR PULLEN

“For many years Gloucester has been home to a wide and diverse community with people from many nationalities, faiths and cultures living in the city.

The city has been pleased to offer homes to people from all backgrounds and has strived to be a welcoming and friendly place.      

Gloucester recognises the contribution that people from diverse cultures and faiths make to the city and values the positive part they play. 

Gloucester is committed to welcoming asylum seekers, refugees and those fleeing violence and conflict.

This council therefore wishes for the good work that is already in place to be further developed and recognised by supporting Gloucester to become a City of Sanctuary.

Whilst there are many aspects of good practice in place there is still a process to go through to ensure that the whole city fully understands and meets the City of Sanctuary framework. Specifically, this would include:

·       Continuing to develop a culture of welcome, respect and hospitality for people from all backgrounds and particularly for those seeking sanctuary.

·       Valuing the contribution those seeking sanctuary can make to the city.

·       Developing a plan to work towards greater inclusion and equality for people seeking sanctuary.

·       Creating greater public awareness of the needs and issues faced by those seeking sanctuary across the whole city, through a range of initiatives, projects and activities.

Council resolves:

1.    To seek recognition as a City of Sanctuary.

2.    To sign up to the City of Sanctuary Charter and its principles and values.

3.    Join the City of Sanctuary local authority network.

4.    To set up a task and finish group to oversee the process working in partnership with key partners and community groups to establish a timetable and action plan for achieving City of Sanctuary status.

5.    That an initial report be bought to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet at the earliest possible opportunity outlining the actions needed to obtain City of Sanctuary designation.”

2.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR HYMAN

“This Council supports the Government in its commitment to abolish conversion therapy. It notes the consultation period which ends on 10th December and requests the Managing Director to complete the online consultation form on behalf of the City Council (https://equalityhub.citizenspace.com/government-equalities-office/banning-conversion-therapy/). Abolishing conversion therapy would help the work of support groups.

Conversion therapy is the practice of attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual using psychological, physical, or spiritual interventions. There is no actual evidence that sexual orientation can be changed and medical institutions warn that conversion therapy practices are ineffective and potentially harmful.

This Council considers, therefore, conversion therapy to be a barbaric outdated practice which has caused immeasurable harm to many both physically and mentally. It has no place in a civilised society.

Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 places a public sector equality duty on the council to eliminate harassment and victimisation and to foster good relations between persons who share or don’t share a protected characteristic.  ...  view the full agenda text for item 52