Meeting documents

1 THE ISSUE

1.1 The Race Equality Scheme and Action Plan outlines the actions that the Council needs to take over the next five years to provide an equitable service to the whole community and to comply with the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and the Race Relations Act 1976.

1.2 This report invites Members to consider the adoption and application of the Race Equality Scheme and Action into the Councils programme of mainstreaming race equality.

2 RECOMMENDATIONS

2.1 Adopt the Corporate Race Equality Scheme and Action Plan attached to this document into Council policy as living documents that can be updated when necessary in accordance with the Race Relations (Amendment) Act and Secondary Legislation.

2.2 Refer the Scheme and Action Plan to the relevant Overview & Scrutiny Panel for further input and ongoing development by Elected Members.

Printed on recycled paper

3 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 There are no financial implications at this time.

4 THE REPORT

4.1 The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 requires that all Public Authorities produce, adopt, implement and publish a Race Equality Scheme and Action Plan outlining how the authority plans to comply with the General and Specific Duties set out within the Act and Secondary Legislation.

4.2 The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 states that public authorities have a General Duty when carrying out it's functions to:

¬ Eliminate unlawful racial discrimination

¬ Promote equality of opportunity

¬ Promote good relations between people of different racial groups.

4.3 The Commission for Race Equality produced a Code of Practice to enable public authorities to comply with the General and Specific Duties. The Code of Practice has since been adopted as Secondary Legislation and requires the Council to show how it plans to work in the areas of employment, monitoring, training, consultation and community leadership to meet the requirements of the General and Specific Duties.

4.4 The Secondary Legislation requires that the Scheme and Action Plan be a living document that can be updated to take into account improvement through the compliance of the General and Specific Duties, changes in statistical information, employment and service provision.

4.5 The Race Equality Scheme and Action Plan set out how The Council intends to meet its legislative obligations under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act and continue it's commitment to mainstreaming race equality.

4.6 Adoption of the Scheme and action plan will mean that the Council will have complied with the requirements under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.