- Conference
- 2007 Local Government Service Group Conference
- Date
- 22 February 2007
- Decision
- Carried
Conference applauds the fact that the equality duties on race, disability and gender require local authorities to promote equality of opportunity and eliminate discrimination for service users and staff, rather than wait for individuals to complain. Existing practices and any changes to employment or service delivery must be assessed to examine their impact on equality – giving branches a new opportunity to negotiate and organise.
However, Conference believes that it is imperative to learn from the introduction of the race equality duty and the failure of many local authorities to implement it. We must ensure that the three new duties are fully implemented and deliver the right outcomes in local government. Mainstreaming equality is the way forward.
Until now, English and Welsh branches have been able to use compliance with the Equality Standard for Local Government as a lever to move the equalities agenda forward. It is not a statutory requirement on authorities to adopt the Standard but 90% of authorities have done so.
The Equality Standard has been revised to include the new equality duties and anti discrimination and equal treatment for sexual orientation, religion, belief and age. The revised Standard has also strengthened consultation with unions and introduced an independent assessment process.
With compliance with the Equality Standard as a Best Value Performance Indicator, councils’ action or inaction can affect their Comprehensive Performance Assessment.
The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill 2006 proposes to abolish Best Value reviews and introduce a risk assessment framework. The number of national performance indicators will be cut to 200. Conference believes that the Equality Standard will have more effect in mainstreaming equalities if compliance continues to be assessed.
Conference calls on the Service Group Executive to:
1Lobby for the Standard to be retained as a national target or set as a specific local improvement target through Local Area Agreements
2Work with the self-organised groups to ensure that branches receive guidance to enable them to negotiate implementation of the equality duties