·         To brief Cabinet on the progress made against the Council’s Comprehensive Equality Policy (2007-2010);

·         To seek Cabinet’s approval in the development of a Single Equality Policy that will cover the Council, NHS Herefordshire and Hereford Hospitals Trust; and,

·         To advise Cabinet on the progress made in developing the first joint Disability Equality Scheme (DES) (2009-2012) across the Council, NHS Herefordshire, and Hereford Hospitals Trust.

The Equality and Diversity Manager presented the report. She advised Cabinet of the following:

• The Council’s commitment to equality and diversity was key to working in partnership with the Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Hereford Hospitals Trust (HHT).
• Herefordshire had reached Level 3 of The Equality Standard in Local Government but that this was now moving up to Level 5;
• The target date for achieving Level 5 was now set for 2011;

In answering a Member’s question, the Chief Executive advised that although there was not an equivalent equality and diversity team in the PCT and HHT, the NHS organisations were in the process of agreeing the same single equality policy and were working with the Council’s diversity team to achieve this.

Cabinet was advised that since April 2009, 16 racial incidents had been reported which was deemed to be a low level and that none had been referred to the criminal prosecutor.

A discussion was held on the measurement on achievements in relation to equality standards, how diversity standards were measured and whether standards were measured against achievement rather than just against the process and additionally the need to promote the work of the Equalities and Diversity team.

RESOLVED:   That

(i)                 the progress and work that has been achieved through the Comprehensive Equality Policy be acknowledged;

(ii)               the development of a single equality policy for the Council be agreed; and

(iii)             the progress to date in developing the Disability Equality Scheme and the timescale for publication be acknowledged.