We welcome the Equality Act 2010 which will help us to design and deliver need led services and develop a diverse and inclusive workforce. Equality legislation makes it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, gender, disability, age, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy/maternity or marriage/civil partnership.Individuals and groups can experience a range of barriers that prevent them enjoying the same quality of life as their peers. The Council’s aim is to ensure that its services are equally accessible by all people who need them, irrespective of gender, race, disability or age. This has been the Council’s stated aim since adoption of the Equal Opportunities Policy in 1995 and is integrated into normal working practices. However public bodies also have a statutory duty to promote equality. The attached Equality policy sets out how the Council aims to eliminate any discrimination based on gender, disability, race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or belief by ensuring measures are in place to monitor whether its policies or practices discriminate against any particular group and then identify what can be done to ensure everyone is able to access its services. The duty to promote equality between people of different racial groups is part of the Race Relations Amendment Act (2000), which requires that the Council has a Race Equality Scheme. The Disability Discriminations Act 2005 requires the authority to promote equality for disabled people and to publish a Disability Equality Scheme. The Equality Act 2010 came into force from October 2010 and streamlined the approach to equality legislation.As such the Council must have due regard to
Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the act.
Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
Foster good relations between people who have a protected characteristic and those who do not.
The Council’s schemes are incorporated into the Single Equality Scheme and departmental action plans including equality impact assessments. Equality Plan
