Item 13 - Equality Outcomes and Mainstreaming Report 2025-2029
West Dunbartonshire Council · 21 May 2025
Back to Corporate Services Committee — 21 May 2025 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by Chief Officers – Citizen, Culture and Facilities; People & Technology Corporate Services Committee: 21 May 2025 Subject: Equality Outcomes & Mainstreaming Report 2025-2029 1 Purpose 1 This report updates on progress on our 2021-2025 Equality Outcomes and Mainstreaming Report, and details Equality Outcomes and Mainstreaming areas for 2025-2029. 2 Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that Committee: notes progress made since 2021. notes proposals contained in the draft 2025-2029 report 3 Background 3.1 Since 2013, the Scottish Government has required public bodies to develop and publish Equality Outcomes at least every four years to support delivery of the Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010. 3.2 As in previous years, we plan to publish the draft report by 30 April 2025 to ensure compliance and present it for formal approval at the Corporate Services Committee of 21 May 2025. 3.3 Delivery of the outcomes and supporting activity will be managed through the service plans in each service area, and the overall position and progress monitored through the Councillor-chaired Equality & Diversity Working Group (EDWG). This group’s remit is to develop, agree and progress the corporate Equalities Strategy. 3.4 Council services have been fully involved in the development of the report and have offered advice and evidence of progress in emerging action areas. After outcomes are agreed, a revised Equalities Scorecard with identified Actions and Performance Indicators will be created. Services are already considering indicative Actions and Indicators, which integrate with existing activities. 3.5 Consultation was undertaken with West Dunbartonshire Equality Forum (WDEF), a partnership group involving community organisations with a focus on equalities, in November 2024 and March 2025 to identify evidence of progress and priorities for future years. Other sources such as Citizens Panel and Budget Conversation data as well as a wide range of national evidence sources have also shaped the report. ITEM 13
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3.6 Equality Outcomes can be altered during the four-year life of reports, but this has rarely been required. 3.7 Local Authorities, Education Authorities and Licensing Boards are all required to produce at least two Equality Outcomes each and Mainstreaming Reports. The reported is structured to reflect these requirements but also to demonstrate how in practice work and agendas overlap. 4 Main Issues 4.1 The Scottish Government is clear that Equality and Human Rights is of even great importance due to the Covid-19 pandemic, cost of living crisis and public sector funding reductions. Evidence shows that historically disadvantaged groups, including women, severely disabled people, and people from Black Minority Ethnic background, were likely to be disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. We also know that young adults, and families and children already in poverty were more likely to be negatively affected. 4.2 The report details progress made on the 2021-2025 Equality Outcomes and highlights that while the pandemic brought some areas into sharper focus, for example the need for increased digital inclusion, it also meant progress in other areas, such as education, was more difficult to measure. 4.3 During the first two years of the plan positive progress was made across all areas but the impact of the pandemic meant that progress across the second two years was mixed. There was notable progress in increasing the participation of underrepresented groups and on meeting the accommodation needs of Gypsy travellers. 4.4 Reducing occupational segregation remains a challenge, with positive partnership working underway which focuses on the role of education and community in changing commonly held views on gender traditional roles. 4.5 In terms of mainstreaming equality, increasing digital inclusion will remain a priority. This links to wider work underway in the organisation around empowerment of our citizens. 4.6 The revised set of Outcomes and Mainstreaming priorities for 2025-29 address the priorities noted above, covering employment diversity, occupation segregation, community empowerment, educational attainment and accessible and inclusive communication. 5 People Implications 5.1 There are no people implications resulting directly from this report. Work to implement the plan will be carried out by the services themselves as part of regular activity.
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6 Financial & Procurement Implications 6.1 There are no direct financial or procurement implications associated with this report. 7 Risk Analysis 7.1 Failure to have a coherent approach to equality supported by strong leadership would undermine the efforts to reduce inequalities in West Dunbartonshire. The report details stretching but realistic, Equality Outcomes and mainstreaming objectives designed to meet these challenges, add value to other work, for example tacking child poverty, and ensure legal compliance. 8 Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) 8.1 EIA 1225: A detailed EIA has been completed and notes a range of potentially positive impacts for a range of protected groups. No negative impacts are indicated. The Equality Outcome set focuses on the protected groups of Sex, Ethnicity, Age and Disability. We anticipate positive impacts especially for women, including younger women people aged 16-34, disabled people and people from ethnic minorities groups that are currently underrepresented in our engagement with communities. Education Outcomes should have positive impacts for males, disabled young people, and for pupils from some ethnic groups. Licensing Outcomes focus on increasing participation for the groups noted above, and on removing barriers for groups to entering licensed trades and/or better engagement with the Licensing system. Our mainstreaming actions cover a review of our approach to accessible communication, and to employment equality and diversity and these are of benefit to the Council. Education Services and the Licensing Board. Outcomes and mainstreaming are designed to complement and add value to each other. UNCRC rights especially participation and provision are supported by the Outcomes and Mainstreaming goals. Fairer Scotland Duty and Scottish Consumer Duty effectively crosscut with work on participation and employment diversity in the plan. 9 Consultation 9.1 All service areas have been involved in development of the report and participate in the EDWG. Protected groups have been involved through the WDEF in identifying areas of focus.
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10 Strategic Assessment 10.1 Equality is a key underpinning principle in delivering the strategic vision and mission of the Council. 10.2 The proposals benefit all the people of West Dunbartonshire, by supporting equality and fairness for all, through advancing the public sector equality duty, including eliminating discrimination, advancing equality of opportunity and fostering good relations between groups. Amanda Graham Chief Officer, Citizen, Culture and Facilities Victoria Rogers Chief Officer, People and Technology 25 April 2025 Person(s) to Contact: Nicola Docherty nicola.docherty@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Ric Rea Ricardo.rea@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Appendices: Appendix 1: Draft Equality Outcomes & Mainstreaming Report 2025-2029 Appendix 2: 2021-25 Scorecard Report Appendix 3: Equality Impact Assessment 1225 Background Papers: Equality Outcomes & Mainstreaming Report 2021-2025 Equality Outcomes & Mainstreaming Report; interim progress report 2021-2023 Wards Affected: All wards