Issue - meetings

Recommendation from the meeting of the Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 November 2017 proposing a revised Equality Policy for the Council.

Recommendation from the meeting of the Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 November 2017 proposing a revised Equality Policy for the Council.

(1)        The Decision Taken

RESOLVED:

That the new Equality Policy be approved.

(2)        Reasons for the Decision

The Equality Policy had been updated following the re-integration of the housing service back into the Council and reflected the Council’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for everyone it provided services to and to its employees and partners.  A new steering group was formed following the re-integration of the Housing Service and five new equality objectives had been proposed to provide a framework for delivering on this commitment:-

1.       Leading by example within the community, promoting equality and fairness

2.       Valuing and understanding the diversity of our communities

3.       Delivering fair and accessible services for all

4.       Providing equality of opportunities for our employees

5.       Consulting with residents and the community on matters which affect them, taking into account the diversity of our Borough

Following approval of this policy the Steering Group would develop a new single equalities scheme which was a statutory document and as such would be consulted on and then brought back to the Cabinet for approval, prior to being presented to the Council for adoption.