A to Z Index:

Equality

Multi-equality scheme

Aberdeenshire Council is developing a multi-equality scheme to ensure that no one is treated differently because of their age, disability, gender or gender reassignment, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, or their sexual orientation.

A questionnaire has been designed to find out your opinions on council services in your area and what you think could be done to make services better for you. It is for anyone living in Aberdeenshire, and is completely confidential.

To complete the questionnaire please click here

An easy read version of the questionnaire is also available to download and complete.

Race Equality Scheme 2008-2011

The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 places a general duty on public authorities to promote race equality. The 2000 Act also required Aberdeenshire Council to produce a Race Equality Scheme (and the Aberdeenshire Council Education Service to produce a Race Equality Policy) and Action Plan by 30th November 2002 and to review the Scheme and the Education Policy every 3 years.

Our revised Race Equality Scheme (including Education Policy) highlights some of the key actions taken to promote race equality in Aberdeenshire from 2005 to 2008. It also includes an Action Plan for 2008-2011.

Alternative formats

If you require any of the documents below in an alternative format (e.g. hard copy, large print) or as a Word document on CD-ROM for use with spoken text software please contact the Policy Officer (Equalities) on 01224 664414.

Gender Equality Scheme 2007-2010

The Equality Act 2006, which came into force on 6 April 2007, amended the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and created a new general duty for all public authorities to promote gender equality. To meet these requirements, Aberdeenshire Council has developed a Gender Equality Scheme for 2007 – 2010. The Scheme outlines the Council's gender equality objectives and a detailed Action Plan for achieving those objectives. This Scheme also meets the additional need of the Council as an educational authority to have an education gender equality scheme.

Gender Equality Action Plan (2007-2010): First Year Progress Report

On 28 June 2007, the Aberdeenshire Council’s Policy and Resources Committee considered and approved a 3-year Gender Equality Scheme including the Education Service Gender Equality Scheme for 2007 – 2010.The attached report and appendices detail progress on implementation of the 2007 -2010 Gender Equality Action Plan from July 2007 to September 2008, and further work programmed for the second year of the Scheme.

Gender Equality Scheme Annual Report 2009

 

Disability Equality Scheme 2006-2009

The Disability Equality Duty (DED), which came into force on 4 December 2006, places a duty on the public sector in Scotland to promote disability equality. In addition, many public sector organisations in Scotland are required to develop a Disability Equality Scheme (DES), with the involvement of disabled people.

Aberdeenshire Council has worked with North East Scotland disability groups and individuals to develop the support the authority provides for its residents and employees.

The scheme will be reviewed and revised every three years and will have a strong focus on ensuring even greater involvement by disabled people in this process.

Disability Equality Scheme Annual Report 2008

The report and appendices below summarise progress made during 2008 towards implementing the Disability Equality Action Plan (2006 -2009) as well as the priorities for further action during 2009.

Disablilty Equality Scheme Annual Report 2007

Disablilty Equality Scheme

Race Equality Scheme 2005-2008

Aberdeenshire Council has reviwed and revised its original Race Equality Scheme of 2002-2005. More effort has been made to ensure the involvement and contribution of the local minority ethnic communities, the local minority ethnic voluntary infrastructure and our statutory partner organisations in producing the 2005 – 2008 Race Equality Scheme

The new Scheme also details many of the achievements made since November 2002. It is more focused and captures the rapid changing demographic, cultural and socio-economic map of Aberdeenshire and the North East of Scotland, which is a direct result of both global economic changes and the recent enlargement of the European Union.

Equality Impact Assessments

Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process where we consider how our policies, decisions or activities may impact either positively, negatively or neutrally on individuals, groups or sectors of the community.

EIAs help to ensure that Aberdeenshire Council does not discriminate and allows the Council to promote equality and good relations between groups.

Aberdeenshire Councilk Strategic priorities

The Strategic Priorities set a clear direction for the Council for four years (2007-2011), guiding policy development, ensuring that resources are allocated appropriately and effectively, and promoting continuous improvement so that Aberdeenshire becomes the best Council.

Other Equality Impact Assessments

Aberdeenshire Council employment Equality & Diversity monitoring information

The Personnel Service undertakes monitoring of both applicants and employees and has recently introduced new Equality and Diversity monitoring forms which cover all 6 equality strands: race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation and religion or belief.

Data is collected on job applicants, employees and leavers. The employee data includes information on those employees who raise a grievance or who are disciplined. In the near future, this information will include the profile of employees who apply for training and development, as well as those who participate in training and our development and review schemes. 

This information collected assists the council to meet legislative requirement and to identify and eliminate any kind of discrimination within our employment practice. Furthermore it works towards ensuring that the principles within the Equality strategy and policies actually become a reality for everybody who works for, or applies for employment in the Council.