Corporate Equality Plan

The Council adopted the 'Equality Standard for Local Government' in July 2002.  One recommendation within the standard is the local authorities have a 'corporate equality plan' to translate the principles of their equality policies into actions and targets.  Monmouthshire's corporate equality plan does this and has been put together following consultation with employees, elected members and the public.  It covers a two-year period (2003 to 2005) and covers a wide range of equality issues, such as disability and ethnicity. 

The Equality Improvement Framework was launched In early 2008.  This replaces the Equality Standard for Local Government and aims to provide a framework to assist public authorities in mainstreaming equality throughout all departments, operations and services.  Monmouthshire County Council will begin implementing the framework once further guidance has been published later this year.

Disability Strategy

The Disability Strategy sets out the Council's commitment to eliminating discrimination on the grounds of disability.  The Strategy is based on the 'social model' of disability that recognises that people are not so much disabled by their impairment, but by the way in which society is organised to exclude them.   The objective of the Disability Strategy is to empower disabled people, both within the organisation and across the authority.  

Race Equality Scheme

Under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, all public authorities were required (by 31st May 2002) to introduce a 'Race Equality Scheme' to set out how they will work to eliminate racism and promote racial equality.  Monmouthshire's scheme was produced in May 2002 and an annual review has taken place to report on what the scheme has achieved in its first year.  It covers a three-year period and will be revised in 2005. 

Racial Incidents procedure

The Council has adopted the Home Office definition of a 'racial incident' as, "any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person".  Our policy and procedure explains that all racist incidents should be reported, recorded and investigated, whether or not a crime has been committed.  The Council is working with the police, CPS and the Victim Support to take action on a multi agency basis to racial incidents (via its Equality in Monmouthshire Group).