Interim Governance Group to Develop National Anti-Racist Infrastructure minutes: May 2022

Attendees

• Dr Addy Adelaine, International Social Worker and expert on action research and inclusive accountability
• Tuoyo Ayiku, Head of the community-based charity Heart of Africa and manager of the Heart in the Community Café
• Ndaye Lisa Badji, Head of Advocacy and Partnerships, Intercultural Youth Scotland
• Fiona Duncan, Chair, The Promise
• Jatin Haria, Executive Director, Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights
• Dr Ima Jackson, Co-Chair, Senior Lecturer in the School of Health and Life Sciences at Glasgow Caledonian University
• Monica Lee-McPherson, Head of Scottish Highlands and Islands and Moray Chinese Association (SHIMCA)
• Micheal Matovu, Co-Founder of Radiant and Brighter
• Professor Nasar Meer, Professor of Race, Identity and Citizenship in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Edinburgh
• Dr Gina Netto, Reader in International and Forced Migration at Heriot-Watt University (Expertise in racialised inequity)

• Dr Mark Wong, Lecturer in Public Policy and Research Methods at Glasgow University (Expertise in artificial intelligence and ethnicity data collation)
• Talat Yaqoob, Co-Chair, Independent consultant and social researcher across equalities issues

Apologies

• Moi Ali, author and expert on communications and marketing
• Dr Halima Begum, CEO Runnymede Trust
• Professor Kevin Fenton, Regional Director for London in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) within the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

Scottish Government

• Gavin Henderson, Deputy Director, Keeping the Promise
• Nanjika Nasiiro, Strategic Lead, Race Equality and National Advisory Council for Women and Girls
• Secretariat: Jeff Macdonald, Scottish Government

Items and actions

Key discussion points

• the actions from the previous meeting were agreed. Point 8 in the April 20 meeting, ‘key discussion points’, was requested to be updated to state ‘The Co-Chairs recommended resourcing and status for this group must be on par with The Promise moving forwards’
• the list of accountability questions and updated terms of reference will be sent to the group by email for feedback and comment (prior to the next meeting)
• to formally consider how to develop and address the sustainability and strategic baseline for the resulting oversight/repository organisation, through formation of a sub-group
• the lack of quality dis-aggregated ethnicity data creates an implementation gap, exacerbating the issue of tackling systemic change
• an overview of The Promise accountability structure and oversight board was provided, which included remit, purpose, budget and governance processes
• the group is to identify how the observatory becomes a place that progresses accountability for the implementation gap, through mirroring The Promise and in challenging gaps and the current status quo
• further meetings with The Promise may be facilitated to delve deeper into what challenges and issues may be experienced when challenging systemic issues
• the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Anti-Racism Review Work – Broad Overview: it was noted this report was only received shortly before today’s meeting. A workshop session on the OECD report to discuss what the group may like take forward from the report will be arranged
• immediate priorities plan overview: it was suggested that future reporting actions will be grouped by themes of key named civil servant action owners who are responsible for reporting. The Co-chairs will propose this mechanism to the Permanent Secretary, with the aim to have buy in and backing
• the reporting theme paper will be shared next week by email, and by mid-June Co-chairs aim to have identified accountability questions to be sent to the group, with a 10 day deadline for comment  
• the Co-chairs expressed a desire for a new mechanism for reporting to meet with senior civil servants responsible for IPP actions by end of September 2022
• resourcing and funding was discussed for governance structures, with follow up between Co-chairs and Scottish Government
• the Co-chairs highlighted that group members will have more opportunity to contribute during future meetings

Actions

• Secretariat to update point 8 in the Interim Governance Group April 20 meeting minutes: ‘Key discussion points’, to state ‘The Co-Chairs recommended resourcing and status for this group must be on par with The Promise moving forwards
• Secretariat to send the following documents to group members when received from the co-chairs:
  • updated terms of reference
  • accountability questions
  • reporting theme paper
• group members to comment on accountability questions/themed reporting paper
• group members to formally consider how to develop and address the sustainability and strategic baseline for the resulting oversight/repository organisation, through formation of a sub-group
• Secretariat to send both slide packs presented during today’s meeting to group members
• Secretariat to confirm payment method to all group members including alternative to PAYE where appropriate
• Secretariat to set up meeting between Co-chairs and Scottish Government regarding:
  • reporting mechanisms – meeting with Permanent Secretary
  • potential workshop sessions (including on what the group want to progress from the OECD report)
  • establishing meetings with other SG officials, including senior civil servants responsible for IPP actions by end of September 2022
  • resourcing and funding for governance structures
• group members to participate in future workshop sessions, allowing greater input from the members
• Secretariat to check whether a mental health commitment action been missed from the IPP reporting and update as needed
• Secretariat to communicate reporting mechanism proposal to Permanent Secretary when received by Co-chairs