Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Crime, Justice and Communities presented a report on the development of the Council's first Single Equality Scheme (SES) which builds on the three previous equality schemes of race, gender and disability and covers additionally a range of other equality issues identified in the new Equality Act 2010.

Implementation of the SES will enable the Council to continue to meet its legal duties and deliver further real improvements in equality for people living and working in the borough.  The SES draws on best practice and has been developed through a process of consultation with the local community.  It is also proposed that the work will form the basis of the development over the next year of a SES that encompasses the work of all the partners within the Borough Local Strategic Partnership.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council to meet its legislative duties and achieve the Community Priorities “Fair and Respectful”, to:

  (i)  Adopt the Single Equality Scheme as set out in Appendix A to the report; and

  (ii)  Authorise officers to work with statutory partners to develop a Single Equality Scheme for the Local Strategic Partnership