Calderdale Council’s ongoing commitment to equality, diversity, fairness and inclusion is highlighted in a report to be discussed by Cabinet Members.
The Council values the rich diversity of our communities, and has a priority to reduce inequalities for its employees and local people.
Its equality objectives 2021-2025 help to achieve this, and progress is reported to Cabinet every year.
The ‘Everyone Different Everyone Matters: Meeting the Equality Duty Report 2023’ will be presented at the next Cabinet meeting on Monday 11 March 2024. This will include updates on key achievements and the current position on the gender and ethnicity pay gaps.
Cllr Jenny Lynn, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, said:
“Calderdale is a kind place with a long tradition of togetherness. Reflecting this, the Council values and is committed to meeting the needs of all our diverse communities and ensuring fair and equitable services and policies for all.
“We have made good progress on equality and diversity, but we won’t stop there. We know that further work is always needed to ensure everyone’s voices are heard.”
The Meeting the Equality Duty Report include examples of actions taken by the Council and its partner organisations to ensure that services are fair, inclusive and accessible, such as:
- Reducing the average gender pay gap (the differences in average pay between men and women) from 1.7% to -0.4%, building on the progress of previous years. This effectively removes the gap and ensures that female employees receive the same pay as male counterparts in the Council.
- Reducing the average ethnicity pay gap from 1.6% to 0.7%.
- Taking action to enforce the correct use of disabled parking bays in the car parks at Brighouse and Todmorden sports centres. Disabled customers raised concerns about people misusing the bays. The Council is committed to ensuring inclusive facilities for everyone.
- Providing physical activity opportunities in an inclusive and accessible space for people with issues such as drug and alcohol addiction, in partnership with The Basement Recovery Project and West Yorkshire Police. Residents wanted to gradually improve their physical fitness in a non-threatening, close-to-home setting. Their health, self-confidence, daily structure and connections with other people are improving as a result of the new opportunities.
- Providing more choice to people receiving direct payments (where people make their own arrangements to meet their care and support needs). A new ‘Look Book’ is helping families to easily see what opportunities are available to them, and more activities have been added following their feedback, including drama-based activities and support to get into work.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet meeting will be held on Monday 11 March at Halifax Town Hall from 3pm. The meeting can also be viewed online at https://calderdale.public-i.tv/core/portal/home(external link)
The Vision 2024 for Calderdale aspires to create a place where you can realise your potential whoever you are, whether your voice has been heard or unheard in the past. April 2024 marks Calderdale’s 50th birthday and there are just two months to go! Get involved on X with #VisionCdale2024 and find out more at www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision