Equality policy

At Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council we are committed to providing equality of opportunity for everyone we provide services to and to the people we employ and do business with.

We value the wide diversity of our communities and the benefits this brings. We will always consider this when providing services to the public, working with partners and in our role as an employer.

Our Equality Policy provides a framework for ensuring that we live this commitment in everything we do, whilst complying with our statutory duties under relevant Equalities Legislation and Codes of Practice.

Following the re-integration of housing services back into the council in February 2017 after the decision to wind-up the council’s Arms Length Management Organisation, the council has a new opportunity to bring together the best from each organisation. We have now set five new, clear equality objectives, against which we will measure our success in achieving our equality outcomes, together as one organisation.

To accompany our Equality Policy we have published an Equality Scheme which explains in detail what actions we will take to achieve our equality objectives.

Our commitment to equality is reflected by the high-level membership of our corporate Equality Steering Group. This includes the Executive Director for Housing and Communities, the Executive Member for Policy and Culture and Heads of Service drawn from all areas of the council. The Steering Group takes the strategic lead on equality and diversity within the council, being responsible for setting and reviewing the policy, ensuring appropriate consultation takes place in setting the equality objectives and in regular monitoring of progress against the targets set. Importantly the steering group makes sure that our equality objectives flow through all areas of our organisation and that employees are clear about the council’s commitment to being fair and inclusive in everything we do.