Equality Objectives Annual Report 2025-26

1. Introduction

Equality Objectives

The Council is a public body which, under the Public Sector Equality Duty in the Equality Act 2010, has a specific duty to publish one or more equality objectives to demonstrate how the Council is meeting the aims of the general equality duty.
Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 places a general equality duty on the Council to have due regard to the need to:

  • Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and any other conduct prohibited under the Act
  • Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it
  • Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it

The characteristics protected under the Act are:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • Gender reassignment
  • Marriage and civil partnership
  • Pregnancy and maternity
  • Race
  • Religion or belief
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation

Under the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011, the Council is required to publish one or more objectives we think we should achieve to do any of the things mentioned in the 3 general duties. The Council’s current equality objectives were published as part of the Corporate Plan and are set out below, along with information on updates on related actions and key progress.