Corporate Race Equality Scheme 2008- 2011
Public Consultation 22nd July to 22nd September 2008
Click Here for a sumary of findings
A. What is the consultation about?
The general duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 require Councils to:
- Promote equal opportunity
- Eliminate unlawful discrimination
- Promote good relations between different racial groups
Specific duties include the requirement to publish a three year Race Equality Scheme, progress on which is reported publicly through annual action plans.
Given our position in relation to the pending local government re-organisation in Shropshire, our focus for action planning will be during the first year of the three year Race Equality Scheme that has been drafted up to replace the 2005-2008 Scheme. This new Scheme will in effect be a bridging document to take this Council through to the single Council for Shropshire that will exist from 1st April 2009.
The emphasis will be on:
- Continuing to mainstream equality work throughout the organisation, including challenging any discrimination and promoting understanding among our workforce and elected members;
- Promoting integration and community cohesion through seeking to identify and support vulnerable and hard to reach groups in the area, and the individuals and voluntary and community sector organisations who work on their behalf;
- Working closely and collaboratively with the other councils in the area through the countywide equality and diversity group, particularly in sharing what we learn from our consultation in terms of mapping and engaging with communities in the northern area and finding out about their needs.
B. How long does the consultation run for?
Consultation by North Shropshire District Council on updating its Race Equality Scheme started on 22nd July 2008 and will run through for an eight week period to 22nd September 2008. The reason for the shorter time scale, rather than the 12 week period to which the Council would normally adhere under the terms of the voluntary sector compact, is that if the revised Scheme is endorsed in September it will enable this Council to carry out six months worth of actions intended to promote equality of opportunity, eliminate unlawful discrimination, and foster good relations between different racial groups.
C. What does the Council want to know?
There are five topic areas where the Council is inviting a response:
- what comments people would like to make about what the Council has done to date regarding equality ie up to July 2008
- what comments people would like to make about what the Council is planning to do in the next six months
- what suggestions people have for actions to be taken forward into the new single Council for Shropshire after 31st March 2009.
- what people think of the proposed layout for the updated Scheme
- whether people would like to make any comments on the content of the Government's Single Equalities Bill ie changes to equality legislation
D. Who does the Council want to hear from?
The Council is keen to contact and hear from as many communities as possible, and from people or organisations who represent those communities. By mapping or building up a better picture, the Council will be better able to understand different needs and issues for different communities, and act on these wherever possible.
E. How can I take part in the consultation?
You are invited to email or write to the Senior Policy Officer, Mrs Lois Dale, with any comments that you wish to make. If you could possibly use the attached survey form in making your comments, that will help us to analyse results more quickly and start to see where the priorities are for local communities.
This includes requests for comment on the documents below, which are the proposed layout for the revised Scheme, and the Single Equalities Bill summary.
If you would like a copy of the survey form in a different format or in a language other than English, please contact the Council's customer services team on 01939 232771 for this to be arranged.
If you would like some help in filling out the form, please again contact the customer services team, who will then make arrangements with Mrs Dale for this to take place.
Mrs Dale's details are as below:
Senior Policy Officer
North Shropshire District Council
Edinburgh House, New Street, Wem, Shropshire SY4 5DB
Email to ldale@northshropshiredc.gov.uk
F. Who else is the Council contacting about the Race Equality Scheme?
The Council is contacting the following, with copies of the survey form and documents, and this introductory guidance:
- Voluntary and community sector organisations and individuals, through the North Shropshire Voluntary Action newsletter and through what we know already;
- Town and parish councils, through mailings out to clerks;
- Local places of worship and community centres;
- Businesses known to employ people whose first language is not English, including takeaway establishments licensed by the Council.
G. What happens next?
The feedback received is due to go to a public meeting of scrutiny councillors planned for the 23rd of September. Final feedback and revised Scheme will be considered by Cabinet, who are due to next meet on 13th October 2008. Full results will then be published on the website at www.northshropshiredc.gov.uk., and in the North Shropshire Voluntary Action monthly newsletter.
Results will also be used by the county wide equality and diversity working group in preparations for a single Equality Scheme to be produced by September 2009, particularly information about the different communities who live and work in the area and their needs and priorities.
