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Equality objectives

We are committed to ensuring our equality objectives make a real difference, promote opportunity and fairness while actively supporting people to fulfil their potential. Setting equality objectives enables the council to take decisive action by placing the focus on equality issues and delivering improved outcomes for protected characteristics and other vulnerable groups.

Equality objectives 2023 – 2027 

A self -assessment against the Equality Framework for Local Government was undertaken in 2022. That self-assessment was undertaken over a period of several months and included engagement and consultation with the Councils Employee Networks and Member Equality Champions. This led to the following recommendations: 

  • To strengthen leadership, oversight and governance of equalities, diversity and inclusion across the council 

Strong leadership is essential for creating lasting change. We’re committed to strengthening our approach by embedding equality considerations into all levels of decision-making and ensuring clear accountability at every level of the organisation. 

  • Improve the quality and consistency of the data we collect on service user and workforce equality characteristics. 

Good decisions require good information. We’re working towards improving how we collect, analyse, and use equality data to ensure our actions are based on solid evidence and real community needs. This includes developing better data collection methods, improving our analysis capabilities, using insights to inform decision-making and regular reporting on progress. 

  • Embed equality, diversity and inclusion within GCC’s culture and ways of working. 

Creating positive change requires an organisational culture that truly values diversity and inclusion. We’re working to build this culture through comprehensive training, support for employee networks, and clear policies that promote inclusion. 

  • Community engagement: develop an infrastructure that enables the council to hear from communities and engage effectively with them. 

We recognise that the best solutions come from working closely with our communities. We are working to promote regular dialogue with diverse community groups, inclusive consultation methods that reach all parts of our community, strong partnerships with community organisations, active listening and responsive action. 

It has been agreed that this will be the council’s new equality objectives (2023-2027) as it broadly encompasses the principles of the Public Sector Equality Duty on public bodies to: 

  • Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, 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