Agenda item

The Committee had before it a report prepared by the Strategic Lead - Prevention and Community Empowerment, presenting the Council’s response to the Scottish Women’s Budget Group Study on Gender Inequality and Poverty in Aberdeen.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee:

(a)          note the Council’s planned actions to be taken in response to the Scottish Women’s Budget Group Study on Gender Inequality and Poverty in Aberdeen;

(b)          thank members of the Scottish Women’s Budget Group Steering Group, Aberdeen Youth Movement and all other stakeholders who participated in the improvement action planning process; and

(c)          instruct the Executive Director of Corporate Services to provide an update on the 52 improvement actions presented in the report by December 2026.

The Convener moved, seconded by the Vice Convener:-

that the Committee approve the recommendations.

Councillor Blake, seconded by Councillor Macdonald, moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee:

(1)       note the Council’s planned actions to be taken in response to the Scottish Women’s Budget Group Study on Gender Inequality and Poverty in Aberdeen;

(2)       thank members of the Scottish Women’s Budget Group Steering Group, Aberdeen Youth Movement and all other stakeholders who participated in improvement action planning process;

(3)       instruct the Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning and Chief Officer – Data Insights, to review questions in future surveys on early learning and out of school care in order to ensure analysis by socio-economic status is possible, so that any variations can be identified and additional targeted measures can be introduced where required;

(4)       instruct the Executive Director of Corporate Services to map women’s groups across the city with a view to highlighting where support might be available;

(5)       note the importance of wrap around childcare to enable women to return to the workforce and to lifting children out of poverty. Notes the expansion of breakfast club provision in 2025/26 through the Bright Starts breakfast fund and instruct the Chief Officer Education and Lifelong Learning to look at external funding opportunities to support expansion for the end of the school day provision; and

(6)       instruct the Executive Director of Corporate Services to provide an update on the 52 improvement actions presented in this report by December 2026.

Councillor Kusznir, seconded by Councillor Brooks, moved as a further amendment:-

that the Committee:

(1)       agree the recommendations, subject to the following two amendments of improvement actions:

a.    deletion of “translations into priority languages and” from improvement action 30; and

b.    deletion of “clear, multilingual information and” from improvement action 46;

(2)       recognise that English is the UK’s primary language;

(3)       believe that government of all levels should prioritise integration by promoting learning English, not entrench disadvantage and damage social cohesion by making it easier to not learn the language while claiming state benefits;

(4)       note that the Scottish Government strongly promotes English learning as essential for integration, funding English for Speakers of other Languages classes to develop language skills for work and community life; and

(5)       welcome the comments from the Labour Home Secretary, The Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP, affirming that “This country has always welcomed those who come to this country and contribute. But it is unacceptable for migrants to come here without learning our language, unable to contribute to our national life. If you come to this country, you must learn our language and play your part.”

There being a motion and two amendments, the Committee first divided between the amendment by Councillor Blake and the amendment by Councillor Kusznir.

On a division, there voted:-

For the amendment by Councillor Blake (7) – Convener, Vice Convener and Councillors Blake, Davidson, Macdonald, Mennie and van Sweeden.

For the amendment by Councillor Kusznir (2) – Councillors Brooks and Kusznir.

At this juncture, the Convener indicated that he was willing to accept Councillor Blake’s amendment.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to instruct the Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning and Chief Officer – Data Insights, to review questions in future surveys on early learning and out of school care in order to ensure analysis by socio-economic status is possible, so that any variations can be identified and additional targeted measures can be introduced where required;

(ii)        to instruct the Executive Director of Corporate Services to map women’s groups across the city with a view to highlighting where support might be available;

(iii)       to note the importance of wrap around childcare to enable women to return to the workforce and to lifting children out of poverty. Notes the expansion of breakfast club provision in 2025/26 through the Bright Starts breakfast fund and instruct the Chief Officer Education and Lifelong Learning to look at external funding opportunities to support expansion for the end of the school day provision; and

(iv)       to otherwise approve the recommendations contained within the report.