NEW EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY SCHEME FOR ARGYLL AND BUTE

A new document designed to ensure that Argyll and Bute Council promotes equality in terms of race, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation and religion was adopted by the authority.



The new Single Equality and Diversity Scheme aims to enable the Council to better address the needs of all members of the diverse communities it serves, by combining all previous equality actions into one plan.


A public consultation on the draft document was carried out earlier this year, with individuals as well as local organisations, voluntary groups and all other interested parties invited to give their views.



The Council also offered face-to-face meetings with community groups to discuss the draft Scheme, and copies of the document were sent out to Access Panels, Community Care Forums, our Community Planning Partners and the Council’s Employee Equality Forum.



The final document was drawn up with consideration to all comments received from stakeholders and partners, and was approved at a meeting of the Full Council today.



Argyll and Bute Council leader, Councillor Dick Walsh, said he was confident it would prove a vital tool in the bid to improve services for all.


“We want to celebrate Argyll and Bute’s diversity, and this Scheme provides the framework within which we can make sure that happens,” he added.


“We recognise that individuals are different, and we need to ensure that there is equality among our diverse communities.


“Achieving equality is a driver for improving services to all members of the community, and is integral to the Council’s overall performance.


“Equality is about people having equal life chances, equal dignity and worth and equal participation. We will continue to strive to achieve this in every area of Council business.”


The Single Equality and Diversity Scheme replaces several other documents, including the Race Equality and Diversity Scheme (published in November 2002 and revised in September 2004) and the Equal Opportunities Policy.



It will be a key resource in helping to prepare the Council for the new provisions in the Equality Bill, which is due to pass through Parliament later this year and become law in 2011.



Through its Action Plan, the scheme is also aligned with the Council’s Corporate Plan and with individual Service Plans.



The Council will use the new document as a basis for pursuing its objectives, among which are:



· celebrating diversity

· ensuring equality in the development and delivery of its services

· being an equal opportunities employer

· improving community engagement



Using the Council’s Equality Impact Assessment, all Council policies, strategies and procedures, both new and revised, will be assessed for their likely impact on different groups of people and individuals.



By assessing all new initiatives, the authority will be able to identify any likely cause of inequality at the planning stage and remove it.