Equality standard for Local Government

• Where does the equality standard for Local Government come from?
• What is the equality standard?
• How is progress against the equality standard for Local Government monitored and measured?
• What does the equality standard for Local Government mean for Plymouth City Council?
• Where can you get more information about the equality standard for Local Government?

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Where does the equality standard for Local Government come from?

It was written by the three equalities commissions, namely:

• Commission for racial equality: the main body relating to race law and policy
• Disability rights commission: the main body relating to disability law and policy
• Equal opportunities commission: the main body relating to gender/marital status law and policy

They were helped by:

• The Employers’ Organisations for Local Government
• The Local Government Association
• Some Local Authorities

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What is the equality standard?

It is designed to make sure that all local authorities genuinely and effectively consider disability, gender and race equality at all levels of council policy, procedure, services and practice. This means that local authorities have a way to make sure everything they do fits with equality legislation, comprehensive assessment, inspection and best value processes. It goes across all departments within Plymouth City Council to make sure that equality issues are included at all levels and at all times.

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How is progress against the equality standard for Local Government monitored and measured?

The equality standard for Local Government is measured by best value indicator 2a that shows:

'The Level (if any) of the equality standard for Local Government to which the local authority conforms'.

Progress is measure in five levels, summarised as:

1. Level one: commitment to a comprehensive equalities policy
2. Level two: assessment and consultation
3. Level three: setting equalities objectives and targets
4. Level four: information systems and monitoring
5. Level five: achieving and reviewing outcomes

Within each level there are four areas of activity and all of these have to be supported by evidence:

• Activity area requirement
• Corporate commitment evidence via Departmental Management Team minutes to improve equalities at corporate and departmental level
• Community development, consultation and scrutiny consulting with staff and the local community on policies to meet the requirements of each level of the equality standard
• Service delivery and customer care, develop a corporate equalities plan stating how departments will meet requirements of our Corporate Equalities Policy
• Employment and training ensuring our recruitment and employment practices are fair, accessible and that they comply with equalities legislation

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What does the equality standard for Local Government mean for Plymouth City Council?

We have already achieved level one of the equality standard for Local Government by:

• gaining commitment from the Corporate Management Team and Cabinet to implement the equality standard for Local Government
• having Race Relations and Community Cohesion Corporate Group in place, which is chaired by the Director for Community Services, it comprises of senior staff from each of the departments and some specific services, representatives from the Plymouth Racial Equality Council, and support from the Social Inclusion Unit, The Race Relations and Community Cohesion Corporate Group oversees the implementation of the equality standard for Local Government, and meets on a monthly basis
• departments represented on the Race Relations and Community Cohesion Corporate Group have given their commitment to meeting all requirements under level one of the equality standard for Local Government, in relation to delivering services and employment
• having a Disability Discrimination Act Working Group, this is chaired by the Head of Asset Management, and comprises of relevant Plymouth City Council officers, it meets on a quarterly basis to look at service delivery issues in relation to disability access for the community
• having an Equalities and Community Cohesion officer in place (based in the Social Inclusion Unit) who is leading on the implementation of the equality standard for Local Government
• developing a Corporate Equalities Policy, that details our vision and commitment to equalities, this is currently undergoing external consultation.
• achieving a commitment to developing a corporate equality plan that will show how the equality standard for Local Government will be implemented across the council, and progress made against the five levels
• developing an equalities impact assessment process, this is will be used to assess key council policies and plans against the six equality strands. Equality objectives resulting from this will influence service planning

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Where can you get more information about the equality standard for Local Government?

You can contact the Equalities and Community Cohesion Officer on 01752 304321 or email inclusion@plymouth.gov.uk.

Information is also available on the Local Government Employers (LGE) website.

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