Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

The Council is committed to ensuring that it is compliant with the statutory duties under the Equality Act 2010, and in October 2024 published two new equality objectives:

• To promote the use of equality impact assessments as part of the Council’s decision making, policy making, procurement, and service design to ensure inclusivity, accessibility, equal opportunities, and good relations
• To tackle the effects of poverty and deprivation, and to have a positive impact on people’s daily lives through delivery of Supporting Communities Strategy projects

To reflect these objectives the Council will:

• Ensure that any engagement and consultation activities will be designed so that all groups with protected characteristics will have an opportunity to take part in a way that is accessible and inclusive for them
• Carry out equality impact assessments to identify barriers and ensure equal access to facilities, services, and programmes
• Carry out equality impact assessments for any proposed service changes arising from the Financial Recovery Plan
• Promote inclusive cultural activities that engage underrepresented and marginalised communities, ensuring that all residents can take part and benefit
• Target programmes and activities to areas and people that need them most, including our areas of deprivation
• Ensure mental health support is accessible to everyone, particularly focusing on deprived areas and minority groups, and make sure events reach a wide range of people, especially those from under-represented groups.
• Improve the quality of local social and private rented housing