Corporate equality and diversity policy

The council has produced a corporate equality and diversity policy which details our commitments and aims in this area.

We are committed to valuing and treating all people with dignity and respect. Our approach is three fold:-

1. To recognise that people, whether as communities or individuals, will have specific needs that need to be recognised and addressed in order for them to develop their full potential
2. To acknowledge that the majority view is not always right and the rights of minorities will need to be protected
3. To mainstream equalities into all aspects of our policy development and service delivery

We measure our progress against this policy, national legislation, the Equality Framework for Local Government and related action plans and report this on an annual basis.

The principles that underpin the overarching corporate equality and diversity policy and inform our approach to equality are:-

• Welcoming and celebrating diversity;
• Developing a shared understanding of the essence of equality which is to value and treat all people with respect and dignity;
• Promoting equality of opportunity;
• Through policies, services, employment, contracting, and funding practices ensuring that no service user, employee or job applicant will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, colour, physical or mental impairment, marital status, lifestyle and culture, religion or belief, nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity.
• Taking all possible steps to eliminate discrimination, and undertaking action to remedy past discrimination and disadvantage.

View our Corporate Equality and Diversity Policy in the ‘Read More’ box to the right of your screen.