East Cambridgeshire District Council

Community Engagement

The Council recognises the importance of consultation and community engagement with different audiences, including individual residents, partner organisations and parish councils in the development and implementation of its responsibilities for equality and diversity. Involvement and consultation helps to give minority groups an opportunity to provide input about the provision of services.

Good examples of consultation and community engagement at the Council include:

Impact Assessments

Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments

As part of any effective policy development process, it is important to consider any potential risks to those who will be affected by the policy's aims or by its implementation. The Impact and Needs/Requirements Assessment process (INRA) - also known as an equality impact assessment - helps us to consider any potential risk on different groups.

Single Equality Scheme & Action Plan

The Council's Single Equality Scheme aims to protect the Council against discrimination on the grounds of race, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation and religion or belief. These six strands of equality need to be understood together. It is often the case that inequality and prejudice are perceived and experienced on multiple levels and in this respect, the separation or isolation of different issues can be artificial.

Equal Opportunities Working Group (EOWG)

The Equal Opportunities Working Group (EOWG) consisting of representatives from Management Team, Council Members, UNISON and employees meets once every two months to steer the Council successfully through each stage of the Equality Framework for Local Government.

The role of the group is to:

Equality Framework for Local Government

Since 2001, the Council's progress in mainstreaming equality has been measured against the Equality Standard for Local Government (ESLG). However, over time, the strengths and weaknesses of the standard have become clearer, and in April 2009 the Equality Standard was replaced by the Equality Framework for Local Government to respond to new thinking on equality outcomes and the challenges that local authorities face today.

Completed Impact Assessments

The Council is currently in the process of conducting impact assessments, also known as Impact and Needs/Requirements Assessments (INRAs), on all Council policies and functions to assess their potential level of impact on differential groups within the district.

This INRA process will enable the Council to assess whether its services and functions are meeting the needs and requirements of all members of the local community or whether the Council should adapt current service provision.

Equality & Diversity at East Cambridgeshire District Council

Equality is about treating individuals fairly, supported by legislation designed to promote equality and eliminate discrimination and harassment. Diversity is about the recognition and valuing of difference for the benefit of the Council and the individual. Equality and diversity are not interchangeable but are interdependent. There is no equality of opportunity if difference is not recognised and valued.

As a council we are commited to promoting equality and diversity through our policy and strategy, in providing equal access to our services and to making sure people have equal opportunities in getting jobs and in career development.

The Council's progress in delivering equality and diversity is assessed against the Equality Framework for Local Government. This is a three-level framework developed to mainstream equalities into Council policy and practice at all levels. Find out more about the Equality Framework.