The Council has an important role in tackling inequality and will ensure services are provided to those people experiencing greatest disadvantage. We will work with people to reduce exclusion and ensure equality of opportunities.
The Council is subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty, which requires public authorities, in the exercise of their functions, to have due regard to the need to:
- Eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Act
- Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and people who do not share it
- Foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not share it
This Policy Statement sets out our equality objectives and areas of focus and action. We want to make sure that people have the opportunity to reach their potential and that our services meet their needs. We will achieve this through our roles as a community leader, service provider and employer.
As a community leader we will:
- Manage the effects of reduced financial resources by taking informed decisions and being accountable for them;
- Encourage and support people to be active in community life and exercise their democratic rights; and
- Listen and respond to the views of our communities.
As a service provider we will:
- Help everyone to make use of the services to which they are entitled;
- Give information and advice in suitable ways; and
- Monitor and evaluate services to identify whether they are meeting people’s needs.
As an employer we will:
- Select, appoint and promote individuals only on the basis of merit;
- Encourage all staff to develop and reach their potential;
- Provide a safe and accessible workplace;
- Provide fair and open pay and reward systems; and
- Make sure staff treat each other with dignity and respect.
To deliver our commitments we will:
- Ensure that we monitor and record progress against our objectives
- Consider any equality impacts arising from decisions
- Not tolerate inappropriate or offensive language or behaviour to staff or customers.
Rights and responsibilities
- The Chief Executive will have overall responsibility for implementing this policy statement.
- Senior Managers will make sure their service areas comply with this document.
- Each member of staff has responsibility to read, understand and implement this policy statement and to take responsibility for their own behaviour. Each Councillor has responsibility to read, understand and make sure their behaviour has regard for this policy statement.
- Implementation of this policy statement will be monitored by Management Team.