Public Sector Equality Duty: The Specific Duties

The Specific Duties support the general duty by helping public bodies comply.  We need to set equality objectives to show how we plan to progress our equality agenda, to do this we need good quality data to base them on.

Data

We need to have good quality data on which to base our recommendations and decisions so that they fit the community we serve and our workforce.  As we are both an employer and a public service provider we need to collect anonymous equality data from our staff and customers.

We are required by law to publish this anonymous data by the 31 January every year (until legislation changes).  There are two main reasons for this:

• It helps you to see the data on which we base our decisions, services and plans; it also
• Helps you to learn about your community and how it is changing.

All information is voluntarily given. We will treat it with the utmost respect.  Identities will not be revealed and we only process the information in strict accordance with the Data Protection Act.  But we ask that you fill in the equalities section of consultation exercises you participate in with us, whether it be a survey or public consultation as honestly as possible.

We do not want to infringe our customers’ privacy, we want to deliver services and shape policy in a fair and equitable way, and we need your help!  For more information on equalities data collection and the benefits for you see our ‘why is my equalities information important?’ section.

Equality Objectives

The Equality Objectives Plan is our action plan, our list of things we are doing, opportunities we are seeking and ideas for the future.  Every entry will have a completion date and a responsible officer allocated to it. 

The objectives plan will be updated and monitored regularly as it is a live document.  We also want to ensure it remains on course, and can respond to unforeseen events or changes in our community profile.

We must publish this at least every four years from 6 April 2012 (until legislation changes).

• Equality & Diversity
• Equality Act 2010
• Public Sector Equality Duty
• Specific Duties
• Publications

Clerk to the Equality Group

Claire Grant

claire.grant@thanet.gov.uk

Tel: 01843 577909