Appendix A
The Equality Standard For Local Government
The Equality Standard for Local Government was the result of a partnership between the
- Commission for Racial Equality (CRE)
- Disability Rights Commission (DRC)
- Equal Opportunities Commission (EOP) and
- the Employers' Organisation (EO) for local government.
The Audit Commission also supported the work.
The Standard is designed to:
- provide a systematic framework for the mainstreaming of equality
- help local authorities to meet their obligations under the law
- integrate equality policies and objectives with Best Value
- encourage the development of anti-discrimination practice appropriate to local circumstances
- provide a basis for tackling all forms of institutionalised discrimination
- over time, provide a framework for improving performance
The Equality Standard has been designed to integrate with existing initiatives to provide local authorities with a consistent and systematic framework through which they can incorporate equality within all stages of the performance management process.
While the Standard does not have statutory authority or an independent assessment process, its use by local authorities will be assessed through mechanisms established under various Government initiatives:
- Best Value performance plans;
- guidance on Best Value and Beacon status;
- Best Value performance indicators; especially those BVPI's on equalities;
- Best Value reviews;
- scrutiny by the local community;
- community strategy process.
Following the principles adopted by the Government for the modernisation of local government, the Standard seeks to encourage a local response to local circumstances while securing an approach that will ensure continuous improvement in equality practice. To do this, a major objective for the Standard is the creation of a system within local government that will secure equality as a corporate goal and ensure that equality is considered as part of all aspects of work within and across local government. To do this, the Standard places considerable emphasis on the establishment of key processes within the local authority. These are set out in the Standard as five levels of achievement:
- Level 1: commitment to a Comprehensive Equality Policy (CEP);
- Level 2: assessment and consultation;
- Level 3: setting equality objectives and targets;
- Level 4: information systems and monitoring against targets;
- Level 5: achieving and reviewing outcomes.
The Standard and Performance Measures
The Standard has been designed to bring equality into the mainstream of policy making within local government. However, it is recognised that the Standard needs to accommodate those equality performance measures and statutory duties that are mandatory and binding on all local authorities. It can do so by requiring local authorities to include them as part of their policy (at Level 1) or as part of action planning (at Level 3) or as part of information systems and monitoring (at Level 4). In this way, the Standard can be easily adapted to take account of changing national requirements through the law or through the creation of equality performance indicators. This approach also allows measures to be introduced to speed up the implementation of an equality policy when required. For instance, it will be possible through performance indicators to establish a timetable for the achievement of certain levels within the Standard.
Working corporately in the management of equalities
A corporate approach to the implementation of equal opportunity issues is essential. This is recognised in the 'Best Value' process where equality is included as a Corporate Health Indicator.
Working on equality with the whole Community
The Standard builds on the principles of equality, leadership and community involvement. These are seen as central features of modern local government.
Successful implementation of the Standard will depend on a partnership between the council and the community and should involve:
| Councillors | - to provide leadership and
support - to ensure resources are available - to engage with the local community - to provide a scrutiny role |
| Managers/employees/trade unions | - to work towards speedy
implementation - to organise and participate in training - to challenge existing cultures and traditions - to engage with the community |
| Community/voluntary sector | - to work with the equality planning
process - to participate in scrutiny - to extend knowledge of the Equality Standard within the community |
Working in Partnership - Community Leadership in Equality
Increasingly, local authorities work through partnership arrangements in the delivery of a range of services and initiatives. Through its community leadership role, local authorities should work to promote the Equality Standard as a basis for partnership and should encourage partners to adopt the Standard as means of assessment in partnership programmes. The monitoring of partnership involvement with the Standard should be undertaken as part of the local authority's commitment to the Standard. Where partnerships are involved in the contracting out of work, local authorities should operate within the regulations to ensure that contracts meet equal opportunity criteria and are effectively monitored.
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