Equality and Diversity

These pages set out what we are doing to promote equality of opportunity and prevent unlawful discrimination and harassment.

The Council has continued to strengthen its commitment to the spirit of the Public Sector Equality Duty.  Our Equality Policy, sets out what we will do to ensure that our residents and visitors are able to access and receive services, have employment opportunities and are able to take part in community life in a fair and equal way. 

To achieve this, we will embed equality and diversity into everything we do. We will provide ongoing support and training for staff and councillors to ensure that equality issues are championed.

We will also ensure that new and future legislation such as the recently introduced Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) are actively upheld in:

• the services we provide
• how we act as an employer
• how we seek to further the aims of the duty where possible
• ensuring those that provide services on our behalf do so in compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty
• the data we capture to support service and policy design
• the equality objectives we set

Our Equality Objectives Plan shows how our aims will be translated into actions, including deadlines for targets, and names of officers responsible for putting these into practice. 

We strive to encourage and develop the same spirit in others through effective partnerships. We will continue raising awareness of the important contribution many individuals and community groups  make across Thanet in promoting the value of diversity in our community.

What's New?

• The Equality Act went live in October 2010
• The Public Sector Equality Duty came into effect in April 2011
• 31 January 2012 - deadline for publishing anonymous staff and service user equality data
• 6 April 2012 - deadline for publishing equality objectives
• 19 April 2012 - Thanet Council first to support equal civil marriage

Clerk to the Equality Group

Claire Grant

claire.grant@thanet.gov.uk

Tel: 01843 577909