Equality and Diversity
The Improvement and Development Agency has approved the District Council as having reached the Achieving Level of the Equality Framework for Local Government.
Equality and diversity is increasingly being recognised as an important issue in East Lindsey. Understanding that communities in the District have diverse needs is fundamental to our capacity to deliver services that benefit everybody.
We are required by law to identify and address issues that arise as a result of a person’s ethnic origin, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief in providing its services. We recognise our legislative duties but more than that the benefits that will accrue in promoting a cohesive community that draws on and develops the talents and skills of all people living in our District.
Equality is not considered by the Council to be simply a matter of discrimination on the grounds of race, gender or disability, our approach to equality also includes:
- Equality of opportunity - Treating everyone with courtesy and respect, acknowledging the diversity of our staff and customers; ensuring there is no discrimination in the delivery of services or employment practices.
- Social inclusion - Developing a culture whereby services and decisions take into account the diverse needs of our community, promoting community cohesion and reducing exclusion.
- Rurality - Developing services that recognise the rural character of much of the District and the problems of accessibility that come with this.
- Deprivation - Recognising the acute difficulties posed by deprivation in certain areas.
Providing equality means understanding that a ‘one size fits all’ model will often not apply. Success for us in improving the quality of life for all people living, visiting and working in the District can only be achieved by recognising diversity and acting equitably. These pages outline how the Council intends to promote equality.
