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Commission Meeting Minutes 20 January 2021

Updated 9 November 2021

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Attendees

Commissioners

Sandra Wallace (Interim Co-chair)
Steven Cooper (Interim Co-chair)
Saeed Atcha
Alistair Da Costa
Pippa Dunn
Sam Friedman
Harvey Matthewson
Jessica Oghenegweke
Farrah Storr
Jody Walker
Liz Williams
Sammy Wright

1. Introductions

1.1 The Co-chairs began with a welcome and introductions.

1.2 The Co-chairs gave a brief update of recent activities:

  • the publication of the Annual Review report

  • the Framework Agreement was near completion

  • the positive feedback they received from stakeholders who saw SMC’s transfer to the centre of government as a positive step

  • the positive engagement they had with Marcus Bell, the Equality Hub Director

1.3. The Co-chairs outlined the focus of the day’s meeting; It was for the Commissioners to agree the narrative for on the State of the Nation report. Julia Oertli was introduced to facilitate the interactive workshop, along with Federica Ciotti who was helping with illustrations.

2. These five things: the messages we want government to hear in our State of the Nation

2.1 Julia set out the structure for the workshop and how she would capture Commissioner’s input through using the online interactive tool, MURAL.

2.2 Commissioners were asked to write down their top policy messages onto post-it-notes for each policy area. Commissioners had previously highlighted the policy areas they wanted to focus on. These were:

  • digital exclusion

  • place-based policy

  • youth unemployment

  • tax and welfare policy

  • analysis across the devolved nations (including Northern Ireland)

  • mechanisms of government that needed to change

2.3 All suggestions were discussed with Federica summarising the messages under each policy area. The aim was for the Commissioners to agree a narrative that spoke to the current environment we were operating in – Brexit; Covid-19; move to Cabinet Office. It was noted that tax and welfare required further development.

2.4 Following discussion, the Co-chairs asked Secretariat to consider further messages for tax and welfare policy and come back with additional ideas.

Action: Secretariat to consider additional messages on tax and welfare and follow up with Commissioners.

3. Update on forward planning / work plan

3.1 As the interactive workshop over-ran, discussion of this item did not take place.

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