Equalities Objective

Environment & Leisure will deliver services that are accessible to all, meet the needs of our customers and communities and do not disadvantage any customer or community group because of Age, Disability, Gender, Race, Religion or Sexual Orientation.

How is Equalities Work organised?

Steve Harcourt, Director, Environment & Health leads on Equalities work for Environment & Leisure

Equalities Support Group

Equalities work within Environment & Leisure is supported by the Equalities Support Group. The  support group is chaired by Celia Carrington, Group Director and is made up of representatives from the six business areas:

• Business Transformation
• Culture & Leisure
• Environment & Health   
• Planning & Economic Development
• Transport

Equalities Action Plans

Environment & Leisure have produced a group action plan and one for each Business area. You can find these here:

Environment & Leisure Action Plan

Leisure & Culture Action Plan

Environment & Health Action Plan

Planning & Economic Development action Plan

Transport Action Plan

Equalities Coalitions

Since 1998 the Council has supported five community based coalitions, encouraging local people who are often not heard, to be given a way to talk with the Council. The five coalitions are: the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Coalition, the Older People’s Coalition, the Disabled People's Coalition (through the Swindon Coalition of Disabled People), the Race Coalition, and the Women’s Coalition.

Each Director has taken responsibility for liaison with one of the coalitions:

Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Coalition-Steve Harcourt

Older People’s Coalition      -                Rod Anderson

Disabled People's Coalition  -                   Dave Potter

Race Coalition                  -                     Paul Blacker

Women’s Coalition           -                        Bill Cotton

Equalities Performance

The Equalities support Group submits a quarterly self assessment on our equalities performance. See the latest assessment here.

Equalities Self Assessment

Comparison with other Directorates

This chart shows how well we are doing against the Generic Equalities Standard for local Government (GES). We committed to reach Level 3 and this was achieved in December 06.

Performance against the Equalities action Plans is reviewed monthly by the Environment & Leisure Senior Management Team as part of the Local Performance Action Review (LPAR).

Environment and Leisure submit an annual report on progress to the Council’s Equalities Advisory Forum. The Advisory Forum membership includes both Councillors and representatives of the Equality coalitions.

You can see our latest report to the Forum here

Want to Comment?

If you want to comment on our Action Plans or any other aspects of the accessibility of our services please contact us at E&Lequalities@Swindon.gov.uk