Meeting documents

1 THE ISSUE

1.1 A new Corporate Equality Commitment and consequent Equal Opportunities Policy has been written to take into account new legislation. This one policy will replace a range of existing and draft policies that are currently in existence across the Council.

2 RECOMMENDATION

2.1 Endorses the corporate Equality Commitment and Equal Opportunities Policy current in draft form and as a "living document" to be updated as required.

2.2 Authorise the Strategic Director of Social & Housing Services to amend the policy, commitment and statement as appropriate, having regard to any comments made by the Corporate Issues & Partnerships Overview & Scrutiny Panel and the consultation responses.

2.3 Recommends that each Overview & Scrutiny Panel, formal Committee and the Executive receive training on the issues of Equalities and that it is repeated on an 18 month basis.

2.4 Refer a finalised policy and statement of commitment to Council for adoption as Council Policy.

3

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 The cost of training would be encompassed in the Corporate Member training budget.

3.2 Every part of the Council has a responsibility to comply with the legislative requirements within its existing services .

4 THE REPORT

4.1 The current policies are of varying standards and do not offer a coherent message across the Council they are not linked and can be confusing. Nor do these policies meet all of the requirements of current legislation.

4.2 The draft disability policy has never been implemented.

4.3 The new Equal Opportunities Policy links into the Councils current Visions and Values and will be a living document that will be amended with Executive Member agreement as and when legislation is brought in/amended and best practice indicates necessary change.

4.4 The policy offers a frame work for the Council and its employees to work to. It covers the six legislative strands required as well as identifying a further five key areas.

4.5 The policy is in draft format and further work is needed prior to its completion, taking in the consultation feedback.

4.6 The draft policy and feedback from consultation was shared at a meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Panel, where the recommendation for training for Elected Members was proposed.

5 RISK MANAGEMENT

5.1 The main risks are in not agreeing to endorse a Commitment and Policy where we would be unable to meet our requirements under level one of the Equality Standard for Local Government and would be putting our services at risk of being in contravention of current legislation.

6 RATIONALE

6.1 The policy brings the Council in line with the level one of the Equality Standard for Local Government and current legislation and supports its employees and members in understanding their responsibilities around equalities issues. It offers a clear and central point of information and explanation.

7 OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED

7.1 None

8 CONSULTATION

8.1 This policy has been widely consulted on both internally and externally to the Council. Member Champions, Town and Parish Councils, Unions and internal Council mechanisms have been utilised as well as with the Local business, community, voluntary and statutory partners.

8.2 The draft policy was considered at a meeting of the Corporate Issues & Partnerships Overview & Scrutiny Panel on 29th July 2004.

8.3 The consultation feedback will be incorporated as appropriate into the final document for Council.