Kingston Upon Hull City Council Corporate Equalities Plan 2005/08 The Next Steps 2006/07 1 The Next Steps Corporate Equalities Plan 2005/6 The Next Steps 2006/07 Contents 1. Foreword 2. Introduction 3. Hull City Council’s Vision and Strategic Priorities – where does equalities fit? 4. What will equality look like when we have it? – our vision for equality and diversity 5. How does this Plan link to all the other Plans the City Council has? • How did we decide what to put in the Plan? • Consultation • Government standards • What’s not in the Plan? 6. Relationship of the Corporate Equalities Plan to the Race Equality Scheme 7. Relationship of the Corporate Equalities Plan to the Disability Equality Scheme 8. Our resources for equalities work 9. Our contractors 10. Our partnerships 11. Structure of the Plan 12. Performance indicators which are about equalities actions 14. Monitoring of the Plan – keeping track of how we are doing 15 . How will our customers and other partners know if we have done what we say we will do? 2 The Next Steps Corporate Equalities Plan 2005/6 16 Timetable for publication and updating of the Plan Equalities Action Plan 1. Consultation, Community Development and Scrutiny 2. Employment and Training 3. Leadership and Corporate Commitment 4. Service Delivery and Customer Care Appendices 1. Diagram of how Plans relate to each other 2. Involved in consultation 3. Legislation 4. Performance Indicators about Equalities Actions 3 The Next Steps Corporate Equalities Plan 2005/6 1. Foreword To be completed 4 The Next Steps Corporate Equalities Plan 2005/6 2. Introduction Hull City Council is committed to treating people fairly, with dignity and respect. Everyone who lives or works in or visits this City, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, age or faith should experience high quality services and customer care from the City Council and all of it’s staff. As a community leader, an employer and a provider of services to people in Hull, the City Council is determined to make significant improvement. Part of this improvement is about being aware of the diverse range of needs people have as well as their different aspirations. This Plan is a reflection of that determination to improve. Equality is about everyone. It is not about treating everyone the same – it’s about ensuring people aren’t treated unfairly or given less opportunities and choices because of who they are. It is about making reasonable changes to suit different needs so that there is a level playing field. It is also about removing barriers that we have put up - often without meaning to. Some groups of people are more disadvantaged than others and need specific attention. In order to make the commitment to treating people fairly a reality, the City Council is adopting a systematic approach to improving. There is collective ownership from both Members and the Corporate and Senior Management Teams to improve. In consultation with members of the public, they asked that the Plan be clear, easily understandable and above all, achievable. The Plan is quite long – it is difficult to avoid this due to the requirements set by Government and the law. But it is also lengthy because we have again put into it the main priorities that came from customer consultation. This Corporate Equalities Plan 2006/07 – The Next Steps , outlines the actions we need to take for the second phase of the City Council’s journey to Equality and the continuation of our process of systematic improvement. 5 The Next Steps Corporate Equalities Plan 2005/6 3. Hull City Council’s Vision and Strategic Priorities – where do equalities fit? The Local Government Act (2000) made the community leadership role a statutory one for all local authorities. The Act gave local authorities a new power to “promote well-being”, which enables local decisions to made regarding social, economic and environmental improvements. In its community leadership role the City Council embraces and welcomes the diversity within the City and recognises the rich contribution that different people make to the life of a city which is currently at an exciting turning point of regeneration and renewal. Community leadership is about establishing a collective and shared vision, good political and managerial relationships, collective focus on things that matter and genuine engagement with communities, listening to many voices in order to drive change and ensure quality services. Equalities is at the heart of what the City Council aims to do. It is the ‘golden thread’ that runs through all of our work. We recognise that our Vision statement and list of strategic priorities, as set out below, are not truly achievable unless we positively face equality issues and treat all people fairly. Hull City Council Vision, Mission, Values Statement for the Authority A City Vision Kingston upon Hull is a unique, vibrant European city, rich in culture and confidence, where people are proud to live, learn, work, play, visit and invest. The City Council’s Mission The City Council will strive to secure a positive and sustainable future for the city. This will be achieved through decisive leadership, consultation, the development of inclusive and meaningful partnerships and the support of active and empowered communities. The City Council is committed to:- 1. Providing the good quality services that people need. 2. Actively seeking to develop worthwhile and sustainable partnerships at a local, national and international level. 3. Developing the full potential of the city and its people by being outward looking, enhancing its image, celebrating its achievements and building on the pride people have in their communities. 4. Promoting social inclusion and effecting an urban renaissance. 5. Rejuvenating the city’s economy and environment. 6 The Next Steps Corporate Equalities Plan 2005/6 6. Supporting individuals and communities to create safe and healthy environments in which they can flourish. 7. Learning from others and seeking best practice (e.g. responding effectively to the challenges posed by the Corporate Governance Inspection). Core Values Communicating openly and honestly. Putting people and communities at the heart of everything we do. Ensuring people are treated equally and that difference is valued. Valuing and investing in people as the City Council’s key resource. Encouraging local democracy and public accountability. Being responsive to changing aspirations, priorities and opportunities. Striving for excellence. Concentrating on outcomes, not process. Contributing to and taking an interest in all new initiatives within the city. 7 The Next Steps Corporate Equalities Plan 2005/6 4. What will equality look like when we have it? – Our vision for equality and diversity Kingston upon Hull City Council values the increasing diversity of the communities and people of the City of Hull. We not only recognise the strengths that diversity brings but also the barriers that can prevent full inclusion and engagement in the life of the City. Therefore, in accordance with its core values the Council is committed to raising the quality of life in Hull by improving the well-being of all of its people in all of the communities, putting people and communities at the heart of everything it does. Recognising and meeting the needs of diversity is about everyone having fair access to the Council’s services. This may mean that for some groups specific provisions are made in order to support them to gain access e.g. make adaptations, hold an event on a particular day or time of day, put on ‘women only’ swimming sessions because some women feel embarrassment swimming with men, or translate a pamphlet into a language other than English. It’s about finding out how we can best tailor services to meet individual needs and differences. In ensuring that people are treated fairly, equally, with respect and that difference is valued we are committed to ensuring that no-one is disadvantaged by virtue of their race, disability, gender, sexuality, age, religious beliefs, income level, where they live, health status or family circumstances. In pursuing our values of open and honest communication, and encouraging local democracy and accountability we are committed to the principles of fairness and equality which will underpin all of our policies, procedures and practices. The Council is committed to developing the full potential of the City and its people, promoting inclusion and access and supporting individuals and communities to create safe and healthy environments in which they can live and thrive. The City Council will ensure that its customer services and information are accessible to all - equality and diversity is about excellent customer care. In providing a better customer experience we will recognise and cater for difference, this includes employing staff who reflect our customer’s differences. What will Equality look like when we have it? – our Vision Diversity is seen as strength ••• Everyone will feel valued and treated with respect. ••• Residents will feel that all parts of the community get on together. ••• People`s differences are understood and respected ••• Everyone will have similar life opportunities in work, education, training, housing and leisure and the opportunity to achieve their potential. ••• No one group of people will be treated more favourably than another. 8 The Next Steps Corporate Equalities Plan 2005/6 ••• Everyone will equally be able to access and use services and information in ways appropriate to their needs and satisfaction levels will be similar. ••• Services will be provided in ways that are sensitive to, and reflective of, a person’s culture ••• We will understand the make up, needs and satisfaction levels of our communities and workforce. ••• Everyone will have equality of opportunity to participate in decision-making for the community. ••• The make up of the Councils workforce will represent the community we serve in terms of the whole workforce and in the seniority of posts held.