Equal Opportunities Policy
Hogsthorpe Parish Council
Equal Opportunities Policy
The aim of this policy is to communicate the commitment of the Council and its staff to the promotion and quality of opportunity in Hogsthorpe Parish Council.
It is our policy to provide equality of membership to all, irrespective of:
• Gender, including gender reassignment
• Marital or civil partnership status
• Having or not having dependents
• Religious belief or political opinion
• Race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins)
• Disability
• Sexual orientation
• Age
We are opposed to all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination. All members of the Council and its staff will be treated fairly and will not be discriminated against on any of the above grounds. Decisions on membership, selection of office, training or any other benefit be made objectively, without unlawful discrimination, and based on aptitude and ability.
We recognize that the provision of equal opportunities in all our activities will benefit the Council and its staff. Our equal opportunities policy will help members to develop their full potential and the talents and resources of the members will be utilized fully to maximize the effectiveness of the organization.
Hogsthorpe Parish Council recognizes that there is a statutory duty to implement an equal opportunities. This policy applies to applicants for employment, volunteers and members of the Council alike.
Hogsthorpe Parish Council is committed to the principles and practices of equality. Hogsthorpe Parish Council values the diversity of the local population. We want our services, facilities and recourses to be accessible and useful to every citizen regardless of gender, age, ethnic origin, religious belief, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other individual characteristic which may unfairly affect a person’s opportunity in life.
Equal Commitments
We are committed to:
• Promoting equality or opportunity for all persons
• Promoting a good and harmonious learning environment in which all men and women are treated with respect and dignity and in which no form of intimidation or harassment is tolerated.
• Preventing occurrences of unlawful discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment and victimization.
• Fulfilling all our legal obligations under the equality legislation and associated codes of practice.
• Complying with our own equal opportunities policy and associated policies.
• Taking lawful affirmative or positive action, where appropriate.
• Breaches of our equal opportunities policy will be regarded as misconduct and could lead to termination of membership.
This policy is fully supported by the Chair and the Committees and has been adopted.
Implementation
The Chair and the Committees have specific responsibilities for the effective implementation of this policy. We expect all members to abide by the policy and help to create the equality environment which is objective. In order to implement this policy, we shall:
• Communicate the policy to members by issuing a copy of this document to all its members.
• Hogsthorpe Parish Council will endeavor through appropriate training to ensure that it will not consciously, or unconsciously, discriminate in the selection or recruitment of applicants for membership to the Council.
• Incorporate specific and appropriate duties in respect of implementing the equal opportunities policy into roles and responsibilities of the Council.
• Incorporate equal opportunities notices into general communications practices.
• Ensure that adequate resources are made available to fulfil the objectives of the policy.
Monitoring And Review
We will establish appropriate monitoring systems to assist the effective implementation of our equal opportunities policy. The effectiveness of the equal opportunities policy will be reviewed every 4 years and action taken as necessary.
Complaints
Any complaints will be dealt with in accordance with the Council’s Complaint Procedure.
ADOPTED on 19 January 2023 REVIEWED: 1st February 2024