Equality Objectives
Read about the Equality Objectives we will be working on from 2012-2016.
Public authorities such as councils have an equality duty to pay due regard, in carrying out their functions, to the need to:
- eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act
- advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who don’t
- foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who don’t.
The protected characteristics are:
- age
- disability
- gender reassignment
- marriage and civil partnership
- pregnancy and maternity
- race
- religion or belief
- sex
- sexual orientation
To ensure that public authorities pay due regard to equalities, the Equality Act 2010 requires that they must publish Equality Objectives by 6 April 2012 and every four years after that.
In summary
Equality Objectives must be:
- informed by engagement with people with an interest in the aims of the general equality duty
- specific, measurable
- proportionate
- published in a reasonable accessible format
During autumn/winter 2011-12 we asked you what you thought were the biggest most pressing issues facing protected groups and whether you felt the Council's 'working' Equality Objectives were along the right lines.
Our consultations showed that members of staff, customers and residents broadly agreed with our working objectives. Taking account of the feedback we received we have amended the original objectives in line with those responses.
A special 'thank you' to all those who provided additional comments, which have been used to broaden the organisation's understanding of these issues.
You can download the responses from our consultations at the bottom of this page.
Equality Scheme & Objectives 2012-2016
We have now finalised our Equality Objectives. These are the areas the Council will commit to working on over the next four years to improve equality in Reigate and Banstead. Our objectives are:
- To improve the Council’s equality data evidence base
- To communicate effectively, especially with regard to accessibility
- To actively encourage resident/customer involvement in service development /delivery especially with regard to accessibility
Fairness in employment
Download
- Equality Scheme & Objectives 2012-2016
- Corporate Equality Policy
- Equality Objectives phase 1 consultation responses
- Equality Objectives phase 2 consultation responses - external
- Equality Objectives phase 2 consultation responses - internal
If you would like to comment on these we would be happy to hear from you at customer.services@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.
Contact
If you, or someone you know, would like either of the above documents in an alternative format, please contact the Helpline on 01737 276000 or email customer.services@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.
Last updated : 11/04/2012
