Equality in Action: Developing our new Equality Plan

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Equality in Action Developing our new
Equality Plan
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What is an Equality Plan?

• It clearly states the Councils commitment to
  equality, diversity and human rights.
• It shows how we are meeting the requirements of
  the Equality Act 2010 as a Council, a Licensing
  Board and an Education Authority.
• It identifies key priorities for achieving
  improved equality outcomes across the Council.

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What is the Equality Act 2010?

• The purpose of the Equality Act is to ensure that
  everyone, whether at work or in using a services
  has the right to be treated fairly.
• Find out more detail about the Act here
  http//www.equalityhumanrights.com/legal-and-polic
  y/equality-act/

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Who does the law protect?

• It protects people from discrimination on the
  basis of certain characteristics. These are known
  as protected characteristics.
• Age
• Disability
• Sex
• Gender Reassignment
• Race
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Sexual Orientation
• Marriage and civil partnership (employment and
  vocational training only)

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What responsibilities does the Council have?

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

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• What does the new Equality Plan need to take
  account of?
• The Requirements of the Equality Act 2010
• The impact of Self Directed Support
• Reducing Budgets
• The impact of Welfare Reform
• Ageing and changing population
• Attitudes Whats it got to do with me?
• Shifting expectations
• Changing economic climate
• Legal Challenges

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How did we develop the plan?

• Considered East Lothians Population
• Spoke to people to get a picture of the likely
  experiences of equality groups
• Spoke to voluntary sector organisations who work
  with equality groups
• Looked at research into the issues affecting
  equality groups
• Looked at good practice from other
• councils and organisations.

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What are Equality Outcomes?

• results intended to achieve
• specific and identifiable improvements in
  peoples life chances

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What long terms outcomes are in the Equality
plan?

• East Lothian Council is a positive workplace for
  all employees
• East Lothian Council services will meet the needs
  of all those in the community
• In East Lothian we live healthier, more active
  and independent lives 
• Fewer people are the victim of crime, disorder
  and abuse in East Lothian
• All of East Lothians young people are successful
  learners, confident individuals, effective
  contributors and responsible citizens
• Everyone in East Lothian has access to quality
  sustainable housing
• Fewer people experience poverty in East Lothian
• East Lothian has strong, vibrant communities
  where residents have a sense of belonging

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What short term outcomes are in the plan?

• East Lothian Council is a positive workplace for
  all employees
• East Lothian Council will be a workplace free of
  harassment and discrimination
• Equality will be embedded through equal pay and a
  range of flexible working policies.

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All of East Lothians young people are
successful learners, confident individuals,
effective contributors and responsible citizens

• Close the gap in literacy rates between boys and
  girls in primary school
• Reduced exclusion rates for boys in school
• Reduced incidence of identity based bullying in
  youth settings e.g. homophobia
• All children who require additional support have
  the right support in place

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In East Lothian we live healthier, more active
and independent lives

• People live healthier, more active and
  independent lives in their own homes and
  communities for as long as possible
• People have more choice and control over the
  services that they access.
• Increased positive mental health and well being

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Everyone in East Lothian has access to quality
sustainable housing

• People with particular needs are able to get and
  sustain their choice of housing, including
  independent living
• More new housing is built, with a higher
  proportion of appropriate and affordable housing
  

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Fewer people are the victim of crime, disorder
and abuse in East Lothian

• Reduced incidence of violence against women
• Reduced incidence of hate crime
• Increased confidence in reporting hate crime
• East Lothian Communities get on well together

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East Lothian has strong, vibrant communities
where residents have a sense of belonging

• East Lothian Communities have a sense of
  belonging
• East Lothian Communities get on well together

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Fewer people experience poverty in East Lothian

• The life chances of people at risk of falling
  into poverty, or already living in poverty, are
  improved

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East Lothian Council services will meet the needs
of all those in the community

• Equality is embedded into all aspects of the
  Councils work
• East Lothian Council has increased knowledge and
  competent to deal with equality issues.
• East Lothian Council Procurement Practices ensure
  equality is a core part of the tendering process

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To achieve these outcomes we will need to

• Increase our knowledge of equalities issues
• Understand the experiences of those living in our
  communities
• Understand the impact of our services and the
  decisions we make
• Promote choice and control for people who use our
  services
• Work in partnership to tackle issues such as hate
  crime and violence against women
• Be a good and fair place to work
• Ensure we take our responsibility to foster good
  relations serious
• Celebrate diversity and challenge negative
  attitudes

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We want your views

• Are these the right outcomes for our equalities
  work?
• Are there other priorities which should be
  included?
• What actions by the Council would help to achieve
  these outcomes?
• What can we do to foster good relations in the
  community?

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Next Steps

• March 2013 Finalise Equality Plan based on
  feedback from the consultation
• April 2013 Council to agree the Equality
  Plan
• 2013-2016 Implement the Equality Plan with
  ongoing consultation and engagement with
  stakeholders.

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Keep in Touch

• Rebecca Spillane
• Equalities Officer
• equalities_at_eastlothian.gov.uk
• 01620 827134
• http//www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/751/equality_di
  versity_and_citizenship/835/equality_and_diversity
  
• Facebook search for
• East Lothian Diversity Network