Issue - meetings

To present to Cabinet a draft four year Equality and Inclusion Strategy and seek its approval to commence a wider consultation prior to formal approval from Cabinet in Quarter 3 and its implementation in Quarter 4.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approves the draft Equality and Inclusion Strategy, as set out in the Appendix to item A.5 of the Report of the Partnerships Portfolio Holder, for public consultation purposes.

Cabinet considered a report of the Partnerships Portfolio Holder (A.5), which presented it with a draft four year Equality and Inclusion Strategy and which sought its approval to commence wider consultation prior to formal approval from Cabinet in Quarter 3 and its implementation in Quarter 4.

Cabinet was reminded that, in accordance with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010, all public bodies, including local authorities, were subject to what was referred to as the ‘Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED)’. This duty required public bodies to pay due regard to the following:

•    Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act;

•    Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not; and

•    Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

As part of this PSED local authorities were required to have and publish their equality and diversity objectives, showing how they would meet those requirements.  The draft Equality and Inclusion Strategy set out how Tendring District Council (the Council) would seek to meet its obligations under the PSED over the period of 2023 to 2027.

Cabinet was therefore requested to endorse the draft strategy for consultation with key partners. Following the consultation process, a revised final strategy would be submitted to Cabinet for its final approval, publication and implementation.

Members were informed that the draft Equality and Inclusion Strategy set out five objectives underneath each of which were listed the ways in which the organisation would seek to achieve them over the lifetime of the strategy. The contents were aligned to existing Council Plan and priorities and other documents such as the forthcoming Community Engagement Strategy, Local Plan, Housing Strategy, Economic Growth priorities and by working in close partnership with other providers.

The five objectives were:

1.  Engage and communicate in appropriate and accessible ways

2.  Ensure we deliver inclusive and responsive services

3.  Foster good relations with and within the community

4.  Break the cycle of inequality and improve life chances

5.  Develop and support a diverse workforce

In accordance with the agreed and published Corporate Priorities for 2022/23, section C3 Effective and Positive Governance for Quarter 2:-

It was moved by Councillor McWilliams, seconded by Councillor Bray and:-

RESOLVED that Cabinet approves the draft Equality and Inclusion Strategy, as set out in the Appendix to item A.5 of the Report of the Partnerships Portfolio Holder, for public consultation purposes.