Report To:	Housing Portfolio Holder	18 March 2015
Lead Officer:	Equality and Diversity Officer

EQUALITY SCHEME 2015 – 2020 (2015 – 2016 VERSION)

Purpose

To request that the Housing Portfolio Holder comment on and endorse a consultation draft Equality Scheme for 2015 – 2020 (2015 – 2016 version).

2.	There are no key decisions arising directly from this report.

Recommendations

3.	That the Housing Portfolio Holder comment on and endorse the pre-consultation draft of the Council’s Equality Scheme 2015 – 2020 (2015 – 2016 version) attached at Appendix A. This is to ensure that the scheme can be subject to a six-week public consultation period and that the Council is fully compliant with the statutory duty set out in Equality Act 2010.

Reasons for Recommendations

4.	Previously, an earlier version of the Equality Scheme 2012 – 2015 for the Council was endorsed – this was previously known as the Single Equality Scheme. An updated version of the Equality Scheme has been developed for 2015 – 2020, to provide closer alignment with the Corporate Plan for the same period and to reflect the latest data on the community profile of South Cambridgeshire.

5.	In addition, it is necessary to agree priorities at this stage in order to enable effective planning and resourcing and to demonstrate that the Council is compliant with the second specific duty of the Public Sector Equality Duty as detailed in paragraph 7 of this report.

Background

6.	The Equality Act 2010 came into effect on 01 October 2010 and brings together, harmonises and extends current equality law. The existing anti-discrimination laws have been consolidated into a single Act, which has been introduced to strengthen the laws preventing discrimination and the inequalities that still exist in society today.

7.	The Council’s statutory Public Sector Duty requires us to:

Publish information annually to demonstrate how we meet the General Duty. This requirement is met on an annual basis. The
Annual Equality Report 2014, previously endorsed by the Executive Management Team also enhances the Council’s compliance with this specific duty.

Prepare and publish one or more objectives to meet any of the aims of the General Duty at least every four years. The Council’s equality objectives that it will be focusing on are detailed in chapter 6 of the Equality Scheme. These objectives are aligned with the Corporate Plan, agreed by Council in February 2015.

8.	A growing elderly population, greater mobility, immigration and other social trends are	making changes to the population we serve. At the same time issues of equality,	diversity and community cohesion are high on the national agenda, which could	impact at a local level. An Equality Scheme helps to address inequalities and promote	equal life chances for the people living in South Cambridgeshire.

Considerations

9.	The consultation draft of the Council’s Equality Scheme 2015 – 2020 has been developed for a five-year period to provide closer alignment with the Corporate Plan. Annual reviews will continue to take place to ensure that the equality objectives remain fit for purpose and that the community profile information is up to date.

10.	The proposed timetable for the new Equality Scheme 2015-2020 is detailed below:

March 2015: Executive Management Team approves consultation draft.

March to April 2015: Public consultation on the new Equality Scheme.

May 2015: Executive Management Team considers post-consultation draft of the new Equality Scheme.

June 2015: Portfolio Holder considers new Equality Scheme for endorsement and adoption.

Options

11.	The Housing Portfolio Holder may agree, amend or reject the Equality Scheme as presented, bearing in mind that the Council has a legal obligation to publish one or more equality objectives.

Implications

12.	In the writing of this report, taking into account financial, legal, staffing, risk management, equality and diversity, climate change, community safety and any other key issues the following implications have been considered:

Financial

13.	All current equalities work is being taken forward from existing budgets.

Legal

14.	The Council has a public responsibility to ensure that it adheres to legislative requirements in relation to equalities, which ensure that our services are open to, and, accessible by all our residents and reflect the diversity of our rural district.

Staffing

15.	The Equality and Diversity Officer is responsible for mainstreaming equalities into the Council with the support of the Executive Management Team, Equality and Diversity Steering Group and Equalities Consultative Forum.

Risk Management

16.	Non-compliance with equalities legislation is a strategic risk for the Council. Adoption of this scheme will contribute towards mitigating this risk. The precise wording is as follows:

‘The Council could be successfully challenged over not complying with general equalities legislation or legislation specific to public and local authority bodies, leading to financial compensation payments and penalties, possible Equality and Human Rights Commission inspection, resulting in reduction in reserves available to support balanced MTFS, adverse publicity and effect on reputation.’

Equality and Diversity

17.	The Council is committed to eliminating discrimination and prejudice, and developing a culture which values difference, both in employment and service delivery. Our commitment to equalities is based on the idea of equal life chances. This helps local authorities to develop an equal society for the community, which it serves. An Equality Scheme sets out our plans for making equality happen for people living in South Cambridgeshire.

Effect on Strategic Aims

18.	The updated Equality Scheme and its associated Equality Objectives have been aligned with Strategic Aims as set out in the Council’s Corporate Plan.

Background Papers: none.

Contact Officer:	Paul Williams – Equality and Diversity Officer

Telephone: (01954) 713465

E-mail: paul.Williams@scambs.gov.uk