Equality and Diversity at Dartford
Dartford Borough Council is committed to eliminating discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity, both as a provider of services and as an employer. The Council recognises that diversity is an asset to the Borough and that equality of opportunity is important to all regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief or any other factor.
Individuals and groups with diverse backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles and experiences live and work in the Borough, and the Council will ensure that everyone in Dartford can fully participate in the social, cultural and economic wealth of the Borough.
- Our commitment is outlined in more depth in the Comprehensive Equality Policy (incorporating the Race Equality Scheme and Procurement Equality Standard)
- The specific actions we will take to achieve our goals are outlined in the Corporate Equality Action Plan
We have rigorous systems in place for ensuring that equality and diversity is taken into account across all services and in the development of Council policies, practices and procedures.
- Several services have already completed Equality Impact Assessments as part of an ongoing corporate assessment programme.
- Equality Review 2006/07
If you would like more information on this, or any other aspect of our equalities agenda, please contact us.
Race Equality
The Council, as a public authority, has a general statutory duty under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 (RRA) to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and to actively promote racial equality.
- We have reviewed and updated our Race Equality Scheme and our race equality action plan (contained within the Corporate Equality Action Plan), which sets out the main actions the Council will take meet the duty.
The Council is committed to working closely in partnership with the North West Kent Racial Equality Council (REC) and other local black and minority ethnic groups towards a just society which gives everyone an equal chance to learn, work and live free from racial prejudice, harassment, discrimination and violence.
The REC provides free and confidential advice to victims of racial discrimination and racial harassment, and can be contacted at info@nwkrec.com
Disability Equality
The Council has produced a Disability Equality Scheme and action plan in response to the new duties introduced under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005. We involved disabled people and organisations through the Dartford and Gravesham Disability Equality Reference Group which consists of representatives from a wide range of local groups.
Gender Equality
The Council has adopted a new Gender Equality Scheme for 2007.
We want to hear from you
We welcome any comments or views you have on our Comprehensive Equality Policy, Corporate Equality Action Plan, Disability Equality Scheme and Equality Impact Assessments. Your opinions are important to us and will contribute to the reviews and amendments we make to these schemes.
To a make a comment, please contact the Corporate Policy team at corporate.policy@dartford.gov.uk or telephone 01322 343268.
