The Policy and Engagement Officer introduced the report setting out the draft Corporate Equality Scheme 2024 – 2028 following the results of the consultation that had taken place.

The Chair invited Members to make comments which included:

·         Pleased to see the equality scheme be introduced and hoped one day it was not needed;

·         could the Council offer training to staff and external parties to educate the borough on what they should be doing to provide better equality?;

·         not all neurodiverse people knew they were neurodiverse so we should ensure all of our documents were catered for every individual; and

·         how did the Council encourage external companies it employed to follow the same scheme?

The Policy and Engagement Officer responded to points raised and said that there was a budget for training staff internally on equality and diversity issues.

The Director of Resources confirmed that an external company that carried out works on behalf of the Council would have to show that they were able to follow the equality and diversity scheme through the beginning stages of the procurement process.

Councillor Charles Gibson proposed the recommendation, and this was seconded by Councillor Lloyd Bowen.

Resolved:

(1)   That the Corporate Equality Scheme 2024 – 2028, at Appendix I, be adopted.