Content

10.1

The Director of Policy and Democratic Engagement
submitted a report seeking approval for the Council’s Period
Equity and Menopause Awareness Charter. 
It explains the background to and development of the charter and
asks for the committee’s support in taking forward the
commitments set out in the charter.
 
The comments made in the public questions item
earlier in the meeting in respect of the Charter were noted and it
was recognised that the Charter presented was a draft and that the
consultation on the matter was still open.  There is therefore
still an opportunity for changes to be made to the
Charter, which can be made by the
Director of Policy and Democratic
Engagement, in
consultation with the Chair of the
Committee.

 

 

10.2

RESOLVED: That Strategy and Resources Policy
Committee:-

 

 

 

(a) 
adopts the draft Sheffield City Council Period Equity and Menopause
Awareness Charter (draft charter at appendix
1);
 
(b) agrees that further work
should be undertaken to identify a sustainable approach to funding
the provision of free menstrual products in Sheffield City Council
buildings that are accessible to
customers;
 
(c) recognises and thanks the
partners, organisations and individuals who have contributed to the
development of the charter over the last 18 months (list of
partners at appendix 2); and
 
(d)
notes that Sheffield has a strong tradition of partnership
activism to address matters of period equity and that the city
council recognises and wishes to contribute to this
work.

 

 

10.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

10.3.1

In adopting the Period Equity and
Menopause Charter, the Council will take a significant step forward
in its commitment to improving the lives of women and girls in the
city, as well as clearly setting out our commitments to women in
the workplace. The Charter actively supports the achievement of the
Council’s new Equality Objectives which are aligned to the
Council Plan commitments.

 

 

10.4

Alternatives Considered and
Rejected

 

 

10.4.1

This is a project that came from a resolution
passed by Council on 2nd November 2022, and the Charter has been
created in partnership with other organisations in the city,
supported by Sheffield City Council. Due to the fact that this ask
for a Charter was from a resolution that was passed we have not
considered a ‘do nothing’
option.

 

 

 

(NOTE: The result of the vote on
the resolution was FOR - 10
Members; AGAINST - 0
Members; ABSTENTIONS – 2
Members.