Equality Strategy Group

Members:

• Lead Officer for Equality (delegated attendance to Head of Organisational Development)
• Corporate Equality Officer
• Equality Reference Group  (external stakeholders)
• Trade union (employees) equality representative
• Directorate equality and customer service champions

Group support and co-ordinator: PA to the Head of Organisational Development

Role:

• To steer and prioritise the work of the Council in relation to equality and diversity.
• To scrutinise the Council’s performance on equality, as community leader, employer and service provider.
• To offer advice and guidance to help ensure the Council complies with legislative requirements with regard to race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion/belief and age and takes action to:
  • Eliminate discrimination and harassment
  • Promote equality of opportunity
  • Promote good relations and positive attitudes towards people
  • Encourage participation in public life

         and to take steps to meet disabled people’s needs, even if this requires ‘more favourable treatment’.

• To recommend, approve and assist with the development of policies, strategies, projects, plans and guidance to be adopted or recommended for adoption by Corporate Management Board / Executive / Council.
• To identify risks, needs and impacts on people and communities.
• To maintain a link with communities, employees and councillors.
• To invite officers/managers to meetings to scrutinise specific areas of work or gaps.

Equality and Customer Service Champions

Each directorate has a lead champion for equality and customer services.  The role of the champion is detailed in the Terms of Reference (16KB - pdf help).