Comprehensive Equality Policy 2006

(Updated March 2007)

Foreword

It is with great pleasure that we present our revised Comprehensive Equality Policy (2007) which sets out what the Council will do to promote equality of opportunity and prevent unlawful discrimination and harassment in all its forms.

Since this policy was launched in 2006, the Council has continued to strengthen its commitment to making equality for all a reality in Thanet. With our first Comprehensive Equality Policy, we set out what we will do to ensure that different people are able to access and receive services, have employment opportunities and are able to take part in every aspect of life in their community in a fair and equal way.

This is an important goal for us, and we will continue to take a prominent role in promoting the rights of our residents by providing services which meet their diverse needs. Working with the community, we will continue to foster a sense of belonging for all regardless of age, disability, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs. We will also work to raise awareness of the important contribution many individuals and community groups continue to make across Thanet in promoting the value of diversity within our district.

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, and that new and future legislation such as the recently introduced Equality Act 2006 is actively upheld. Our Corporate Equality Plan shows how all these aims will be translated into real actions, including deadlines for targets, and names of officers responsible for putting these into practice. Both our plan and policy also confirm our commitment to the Equality Standard for Local Government, and our ambition to achieve level 3 by March 2009.

We believe the Council must take a leading role in shaping a community in which equality can flourish; however, it is only by listening to you, and responding to your needs in a meaningful and effective way that we can really make this happen.

Cllr Jo Gideon

Cabinet Member for Health and Communities

Next: Leadership & Corporate Commitment

• Foreword
• Leadership & Corporate Commitment
• Service Delivery & Customer Care
• Employment & Training
• Consultation, Community Development & Scrutiny  

Clerk to the Equality Group

Claire Grant

claire.grant@thanet.gov.uk

Tel: 01843 577909