Public Sector Equality Duty - Equalities Data/Information

The Equality Act 210 came into force on 1 October 2010 and brings together over 116 separate pieces of legislation into one single Act. Combined, they make up a new Act that will provide a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for all.

The Act covers nine Protected Characteristics

The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) is supported by"specific duties" to assist public bodies like Harrow Council to achieve the aims of the general duty.

Under the specific duties, the Council must:

• Publish equalities information to demonstrate its compliance with the Equality Duty by the 31st January 2012 and then annually after that; and
• Develop and publish equality objectives by 6 April 2012 and then every four years.

In order to demonstrate our compliance with the above requirements, we have produced 'Our Harrow, Our Story' with a narrative of the services and pejects being delivered by the Council which not only support our Corporate Priorities but address inequality, advance equality and foster good relations.

The documentary is supported by a set of Appendices which tell the whole story.

Futher Information:

Harrow's Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

Housing Evidence Base

The PSED also requires the Council to have 'due regard' which means consciously thinking about the three aims of the general duty as part of the decision‑making process. This means that consideration of equality issues must influence the decisions reached by public bodies - in how they act as employers; how they develop, evaluate and review policy; how they design, deliver and evaluate services, and how they commission and procure from others.

We discharge this requirement by undertaking Equality Impact Assessments which are an integral part of our decision making process.

We have also developed and published our 'Equality Objectives' to comply with the requirement of the PSED.