Argyll and Bute Council Equalities Outcomes Consultation (Chris Carr)
Argyll and Bute Council · 6 December 2024
Back to Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership - Management Committee — 6 December 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Argyll and Bute Council’s Equality Outcomes 2025- 2029 CHRIS CARR OD PROJECT OFFICER
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Background We need to review / update our equality outcomes Lessons learned from previous outcomes We need actions, otherwise the outcomes slip people’s minds Actions make it easier to get information from Services; if they have signed up to specific actions, which will make compiling the mainstreaming reports easier We have to publish the new outcomes in our mainstreaming report 2025 We need to consult with relevant groups as part of their development Report has to be published by end April 2025
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Links to the LOIP Inclusion, equality and inequalities are woven throughout the Argyll and Bute Outcomes Improvement Plan Want our equality outcomes and actions to be as complementary as possible Suggested Equality Outcomes probably link most closely to the ABOIP’s ‘Community Wellbeing’ outcome Worth noting CPP and Council’s work around equality and fairness take a broader view than I am here Equality Outcomes relate specifically to the protected characteristics referred to in the Equality Act 2010
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL EHRC guidance We should have three aims in mind when setting equality outcomes and action plans: eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and other prohibited conduct under the Act advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who don't focus good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who don’t.
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Equality Outcomes can be: Short-, medium-, or long term Can carry outcomes over from one four-year period to another but must be reviewed. Internally or externally focused EHRC suggests good practice is to have a mixture. We’re going for a mix.
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL In creating possible themes: Looked at council priorities Refugees Engagement with communities around local issues UNCRC Looked at areas of work where links can be made: Workforce / HR Community Engagement Strategy Data Advisory group UNCRC implementation Violence Against Women / Equally Safe Horizon scanning Inclusive Communications
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL So far… Talked to officers about Refugees Education Violence Against Women / Gender Based Violence UNCRC Incorporation HR / workforce Papers to our Departmental Management Teams Reaching out to other Services Presentation to Equality Forum Launch of public consultation
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Proposed themes Accessibility Safer communities Awareness raising Strengthening strategic links Refugees Equality of opportunity
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL 1. We make access to information and services easier for people with protected characteristics. Relates to our duties to: Advance equality of opportunity; foster good relations. Relates to: All protected characteristics. The reasons why we are suggesting this outcome: We want services to be as accessible as possible to people with protected characteristics. Encourages more inclusive communication. Links to one of the council’s priorities which refers to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and ensuring views of children and young people are considered in decision making. United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child requires us to produce child-friendly documents. Also aligns with other areas of work, for example our British Sign Language plan.
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL 2: Our communities are safe for, and welcoming to, people with protected characteristics. Relates to our duties to: Advance equality of opportunity, foster good relations. Relates to all protected characteristics. The reasons why we are suggesting this outcome: Covers activities carried out by the council and the Education authority which ensure people can access safer spaces. Areas it ties into include the prevention gender-based violence and work carried out by Education to prevent bullying in schools.
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL 3: We raise awareness of issues and challenges faced by people with protected characteristics along with ways to overcome them. Relates to our duty to: Foster good relations; advance equality of opportunity. Relates to all protected characteristics. The reasons why we are suggesting this outcome: Awareness raising keeps issues and challenges associated with protected characteristics in the public eye. It helps people to understand each other better. Enables us to better accommodate one another’s needs and preferences.
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL 4: Argyll and Bute is a welcoming place for New Scots to come to and settle in. Relates to our duty to: Foster good relations; advance equality of opportunity. Relates to all protected characteristics with particular focus on ethnicity. The reasons why we are suggesting this outcome: We want to ensure refugees feel welcome in Argyll and Bute and supported to settle here. The work with our refugee communities has been identified by the Council’s administration as one of its priorities. Ties in with SG’s New Scots Integration Strategy
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL 5: We ensure people with protected characteristics are enabled to progress. Relates to our duty to: advance equality of opportunity. Relates to all protected characteristics. The reasons why we are suggesting this outcome: We aim to close gaps between different groups so that people with protected characteristics have equity of access to opportunities to progress, whether this be in schools or in our workplaces.
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL 6: Our work relating to equalities and people with protected characteristics is coordinated across the organisation and strategically aligned. Relates to our duty to: advance equality of opportunity; foster good relations; eliminate discrimination. Relates to all protected characteristics. The reasons why we are suggesting this outcome: Focuses on how the different parts of our organisation work together. The council (including the Education authority) does a lot of good work around equalities and with disadvantaged groups, but the work isn’t always linked together. Ensures different parts of the organisation have greater awareness of what is going on elsewhere. Achieve more consistency across the organisation.
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Actions Actions need to have specific link to equality groups We’re linking to existing/planned areas of work, but linking actions to the equality outcomes will ensure that actions are considered through an equality lens. We are asking Services to consider what they can contribute by way of actions to the delivery of the outcomes. Can you think of anything you would like to see delivered Bear in mind we must be realistic about what we can deliver.
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Next steps Complete the public consultation Analysis findings and identify amendments Continue to identify actions which will underpin the outcomes
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Bute • Helensburgh • Islay • Oban • Mull • Campbeltown • Iona • Dunoon • Tiree • Lochgilphead • Seil … Classification: OFFICIAL Questions Do you agree/disagree with the general themes? Do you agree/disagree with the wording of the outcomes? Do you have any other comments?