Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety introduced the new Barking and Dagenham Equality and Diversity Strategy which set out the Council’s plans to close equality gaps for all residents and ensure fair access to services for the period 2017 to 2021. 

The Cabinet Member explained that the Strategy was structured around the four main objectives of Improve Outcomes For All, No-One Left Behind, Fair and Open Service Delivery and Exemplar Employer.  A 10-week consultation had gathered the views of local residents, partners and staff on their priorities and had informed the development of a 67-point Action Plan for delivering the four main objectives. 

Cabinet Members spoke in support of the Strategy and it was suggested that the significant contribution of former Barking MP, Jo Richardson, in promoting women’s rights should be reflected in the published document.  The Leader also referred to the Borough’s participation in the recent London Pride event to promote the “One Borough, One Community, One Love” message.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Adopt the Equality and Diversity Strategy at Appendix 1 to the report; and

(ii)  Note that monitoring of the delivery of the Strategy and its actions would take place annually through the Corporate Performance Group.