Decision details

RECOMMEND TO CABINET: That Cabinet:

(1)   Approve the Council’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2027 as attached at Appendix 1, subject to the amendment regarding the explanation of the term ‘people of colour’ and ‘BME/BAME’ in the Glossary and that the Glossary remains a live document which can be amended as required.

(2)   Approve the Equality objectives as set out below:

1.     Work with young people through youth engagement to make it easier for them to have their voices heard in local decision-making and democracy.

2.     Improve our engagement with marginalised, seldom heard, and new communities to make it easier for them to participate in local decision-making and democracy, and to have their views and experiences heard by the council.

3.     Improve our understanding of broader EDI issues and their impacts, such as neurodiversity and economic disadvantage; as well as the intersections between inequalities, using our Inclusion Group as a channel.

4.     Achieve consistency in measuring the likely equality impacts of our emerging policies and services.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: The previous Corporate Equality Strategy (2017) was revised to ensure consistency with the latest public sector equality legislation and obligations. The refresh of the Strategy reflects the Council’s ongoing commitment to fulfil our legal obligations as set out in the Equality Act and to set out the new equality objectives.