COUNCIL CONSULTS ON NEW EQUALITY SCHEME

Ards Borough Council is inviting comments from groups and members of the public on its revised draft Equality Scheme, the document which sets out how it intends to promote equality.

The revised and updated Equality Scheme has been developed in line with recently published guidance from the Equality Commission and is now open for consultation with the aim of obtaining as wide a range of views as possible and identifying any parts of the scheme and its associated action plan which can be amended to further promote equality of opportunity.

To date over 100 organisations have received copies of the scheme and the Council would now like to hear the views of any other interested groups or individuals. The views of community groups, staff and their representatives, and organisations representing any of the Section 75 categories would be particularly welcome. The Section 75 categories are people of different religious beliefs, political opinion, racial origin, age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, people with and without a disability and those with or without dependants.

Copies of the draft Equality Scheme are available from Sarah Teer, Equality/Compliance Officer with the Council, Tel: 028 9182 4075, E: sarah.teer@ards-council.gov.uk and can also be viewed and downloaded here . Face to face meetings can be arranged and the Equality Scheme is available in alternative formats on request. The closing date for receipt of comments is Friday 30th December 2011.