Equality and diversity policy

As set out in previous sections, this policy is an executive responsibility of Cabinet, and sits within the portfolio held by the Cabinet Member for Environment.

Oversight of the policy, its implementation and monitoring rests with Senior Leadership Team, supported by Corporate Equality Group, which is chaired by a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

We assess and monitor our progress against the purpose of this policy by:

• regular reports to the Cabinet Member for Environment and the Senior Leadership Team
• the activity of Corporate Equality Group, which leads the equality work of the organisation and co-ordinates a range of activities to help North Tyneside Council fulfil its equality duties in accordance with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Equality Duty
• the inclusion and delivery of actions within our directorate plans that contribute to the achievement of the commitments made in this policy and the corporate equality objectives and service actions identified in the Annual Equality and Diversity Review
• our equality impact assessment process to ensure we properly consider the potential impact of operational, and Cabinet and Full Council decisions on protected groups
• the identification of the equality and engagement implications of the decisions recommended in our delegated, Cabinet and Full Council reports
• managing any potential equality risks through our Corporate Strategic Risk Register
• publication of equality data as required by government, including Gender Pay Gap reporting
• dealing with any complaints[1] of discrimination, harassment and victimisation, seriously, promptly and confidentially and ensuring that any person who feels they have suffered any form of discrimination by North Tyneside Council is given guidance in making a complaint
• publication on our website of our Annual Equality and Diversity Review, which reports progress reports against our Corporate Equality Objectives and directorate equality actions. The review is evaluated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to check accessibility and compliance with the Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Equality Duty

[1] In relation to specific types of complaints:

• employee complaints - should an employee have any complaint in respect of their treatment in relation to this policy, this should be taken up through internal processes, such as our disciplinary processes
• public complaints - information on how to make a complaint can be found in our libraries, leisure centres, Community Hubs and Quadrant headquarters
• complaints about the behaviour of an Elected Member - read information on how to make a complaint about an Elected Member who has not acted in accordance with the Members Code of Conduct.