Purpose

The
Council is under a statutory duty under the Public Sector Equality
Duty to publish one or more equality objectives every four years.
To date we have fulfilled this requirement through our Inclusion
& Diversity (I&D) Strategy.
 
The
proposed strategy sets out the three elements of our role as a
Council with inclusion and diversity: 
 

1.    
Compliance: how we comply with the Public Sector
Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010 

2.    
Ambition: how we achieve our ambitions for
inclusion as an organisational value (as set out in the Council
Plan) and create an inclusive culture and support a diverse
workforce and district

3.    
Partnership: how we enable inclusion more broadly
in Kirklees
 
The
new strategy builds on the learning and progress made in previous
strategies and sets out priorities that support a wide set of
outcomes for communities in Kirklees and our workforce.
 
The existing Inclusion and
Diversity Strategy is available at
Inclusion and Diversity Strategy 2021-2023 |
Kirklees Council (https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/delivering-services/inclusion-and-diversity-strategy.aspx)
 
An enhanced engagement process
has taken place with both internal and external stakeholders, who
have been instrumental developing the priorities and objectives in
the Strategy. As a broad strategy which touches on many services
and programmes across the organisation, internal stakeholders have
included all departments which are referenced in the strategy
objectives and members of our staff network groups / employee
reference groups. External stakeholders have included KiNETIC,
North Kirklees Interfaith Forum, The Brunswick Centre,
Support2Recovery and Third Sector Leaders.
 
The enhanced engagement and
consultation process has allowed for a multiplicity of views and
experiences to be incorporated into this strategy. External
stakeholders provided feedback on topics such as experiences of
disabled people in Kirklees, loneliness and a lack of social
connectedness in LGBTQ+ communities, and the impact of poverty on
young families.
 

Content

RESOLVED
- That the Inclusion and Diversity Strategy
2024-2027 be approved.