Issue - meetings

To approve the Draft Single Equality Scheme and Action Plan 2010-2013 and the Equality Impact Assessment Toolkit and Guidance for the purpose of extensive consultation; and to approve an extension to the Interim Single Equality Scheme 2009-10 to 31^st July 2010 to ensure that the Council remains statutorily compliant whilst consultation takes place.

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Capacity considered a report which introduced the Draft Single Equality Scheme and Action Plan 2010-2013.

Cheshire East Council was committed to providing high quality, customer-focused services for all people in the borough, whether residents or employees and visitors.  It was developing the Equality and Diversity agenda both to meet its statutory responsibilities to provide quality customer services and also to enable achievement of its corporate aims and objectives. The Council was required, under the Race, Gender and Disability Equality duties to assess both its existing and new policies and functions and to set out the method by which it would monitor any possible negative impact on disability/gender and race equality.

The Draft Scheme would be subject to consultation with partners, voluntary, faith and community stakeholders, staff and residents so that their views could be reflected in the Scheme which it was expected would be finalised by June 2010. 

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member for Performance and Capacity –

1.         approve the Draft Single Equality Scheme and Action Plan 2010-2013 and the Equality Impact Assessment Toolkit and Guidance were approved by the Portfolio Holder for Performance and Capacity. (These documents were approved in draft to allow extensive consultation with partners, voluntary, faith and community stakeholders, staff and citizens); and

2.         approve an extension to the Interim Single Equality Scheme 2009-2010 to 31^st July 2010 to ensure the Council remains statutorily compliant whilst that consultation takes place.