Issue details

16/00136 - Corporate Equality Objectives 2016-2020

 

 

Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, and the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) requires public bodies to have ‘due regard’ to:

 

  • Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Equality 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.

 

In October 2011 the Government Equality Office (GEO) issued guidance on what public bodies are expected to publish in order to show how they meet the Duty. The guidance states that public bodies:

  • Must publish their first equality objectives by 6 April 2012, with subsequent objectives published at least every four years
  • Must decide how many equality objectives it should set and what they should be
  • Objectives should take into account evidence of equality issues across all of the authority’s functions, consider issues affecting people sharing each protected characteristic, and take into account the three aims of the Duty.

 

The Equality & Human Rights Policy meets the requirement of the Public Sector Equality Duty and supporting guidance.

 

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Affects more than two Electoral Divisions;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Division affected: (All Division);

Notice of proposed decision first published: 11/11/2016

Department: Strategic & Corporate Services

Contact: Akua Agyepong, Assistant Director (Countywide) Adult Social Care and Health 03000 415 762; Email: akua.agyepong@kent.gov.uk Email: akua.agyepong@kent.gov.uk.

Consultees

Early engagement activity: December 2015 – March 2016

Formal consultation: July 2016 - September 2016

The Policy & Resources Cabinet Committee approved the approach to refreshing the equality objectives on the 11 December 2015.

 

Further consultation with Policy & Resources Cabinet Committee took place at the meeting scheduled for 2 December 2016, at which the proposed decision to approve the Equality and Human Rights Policy and Objectives 2016-2020 was endorsed.

 

Financial implications: Lead Director: David Whittle Director – Strategy, Policy, Relationships & Corporate Assurance Tel: 03000 416 883 E-mail: david.whittle@kent.gov.uk Lead officer: Akua Agyepong Corporate Lead Equality & Diversity Tel: 03000 415 762 E-mail: akua.agyepong@kent.gov.uk

Legal implications: 16/00136

Decisions

Agenda items