Equality in Action:
Developing our new
Equality Plan
What is an Equality Plan?
• It clearly states the Council’s 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.
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-andpolicy/equality-act/
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)
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.
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: What’s it got to do with me?
Shifting expectations
Changing economic climate
Legal Challenges
How did we develop the plan?
• Considered East Lothian’s 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.
What are Equality Outcomes?
‘results intended to achieve
specific and identifiable improvements in
people’s life chances’
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 Lothian’s 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
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.
All of East Lothian’s 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
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
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
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
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
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
East Lothian Council services will meet the
needs of all those in the community
• Equality is embedded into all aspects of the
Council’s 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
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
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?
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.
Keep in Touch
• Rebecca Spillane
Equalities Officer
equalities@eastlothian.gov.uk
01620 827134
• http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/751/equa
lity_diversity_and_citizenship/835/equality_a
nd_diversity
• Facebook: search for
East Lothian Diversity Network