Seasons change as Summer of Listening is complete

The Plymouth Fairness Commission will publish its Summer of Listening report on Friday 15 November, showcasing the findings of its listening activities over the past three months and revealing real issues of unfairness that people face within the city.

The commissioners have heard many issues that affect local people, including: high cost of living vs. low wages, discrimination, the attainment gap in education in more deprived areas, youth unemployment and readiness to work, poor quality private rented housing, cost of parking and public transport, disempowered communities, access to some healthcare services like mental health and a desire to support local business.

The Summer of Listening saw commissioners go out into groups across the city who may not have otherwise had the chance to speak up about issues of unfairness they face. This included 27 satellite meetings with groups in relation to homelessness, people with disabilities, older people, younger people and religious and faith groups – to name a few. Select Committees were held where a panel of commissioners questioned expert witnesses in specific key areas such as mental health, housing and access to food. Another method of communication was to hold listening events, an example of which saw commissioners outside Asda speaking to shoppers, whilst another saw commissioners visiting private rented housing to see some of the extreme conditions that people in Plymouth are forced to live in. Street surveys were also conducted by Plymouth University to gain an understanding of issues from the general public in Plymouth and the commissioners went on 'walkabouts' throughout the city to talk to local residents and those who work there.

Dame Suzi Leather, Chair of the Commission said “At this half way point in our deliberations I would like to thank everyone who has given us their views and ideas. Of all the Fairness Commissions in the country none to date has, I believe, taken so much trouble to listen to the people themselves or heard so much from them.”

The commissioners are 100% committed to ensure that the Plymouth Fairness
Commission makes a difference to people in the city by going above and beyond the standard set by other fairness commissions by the range, quantity and quality of events held.

The report is available to everyone and can be found on the Plymouth Fairness
Commission's website at www.plymouthfairnesscommission.co.uk/

The Summer of Listening report will be used to help form recommendations to present to city leaders in April 2014.