Equalities
Equalities underpins the Vision and Aims of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and is vital to achieving them.
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council’s Vision - “By 2010 Merthyr Tydfil will be a safe, healthy and exciting place to live and visit. Our ambition is to become a sustainable, confident County Borough that recognises and promotes equality of opportunity and where people want to achieve in all aspects of their life, through work, leisure and learning. Our Vision is to be recognised as a vibrant, thriving regional centre for the valleys.”
In 2002, the Welsh Assembly Government introduced the Wales Programme for Improvement to improve public services. This Programme required Councils to “take action to promote equality of opportunity and access for all people, regardless of their gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or language preference”. MTCBC is committed to these goals and is working to achieve them.
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Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council works with other agencies and organisations, nationally and within the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, to promote equality and diversity.
MTCBC works with the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), VALREC (the Valleys Race Equality Council), Menter Iaith and a range of groups working with disabled people. In addition, MTCBC is a member of the Multi-Agency Forum (MAF). The MAF brings different organisations together to work for greater equality and diversity in the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough. The MAF is currently in the process of reviewing its work.
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A Generic Equality Standard (GES) will be formally adopted by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2004. This Standard is a measure of achievement in promoting equality and diversity. It builds upon the Commission for Racial Equality’s ‘Race Equality Means Quality’ by taking a wider approach that includes gender, disability and Welsh Language as well as race.
The GES develops a comprehensive framework that puts Equalities into service delivery and employment across all policies and functions. It is a means of combating the institutional processes which lead to discrimination and which form part of the culture and administration within organisations.
There are five levels of the Standard to be achieved over the next few years. Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council aims to achieve Level 2 by April 2005.
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In order to progress Equalities within MTCBC, an Equalities Team has been established. The team is based in Improvement Planning and work with representatives of all services within MTCBC.
The team will produce and put into action a Comprehensive Equality Plan that commits MTCBC to achieving equality in race, disability, gender and the Welsh Language through:
- Undertaking impact/needs assessment (these will define whether there is any adverse impact in terms of gender, disability, race or Welsh Language and put plans in place to address any gaps)
- Systematic consultation
- Progress monitoring
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The key themes within the Comprehensive Equality Plan will be :
- Equality of Opportunity – ensuring fair and equal access to all services and employment opportunities
- Social Inclusion – ensuring that no-one is disadvantaged by circumstances of poverty, housing, geography, language, cultural or social background
- Sustainability – an improved quality of life now and for the generations to come
- Welsh Language – enabling and promoting the Welsh Language across the County Borough
This Corporate Equalities Plan will become an integral part of an overall Social Justice Strategy for the County Borough.
Corporate Equal Opportunities Policy 143K
Disability Equalities Scheme 2006-2009 326K
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For any queries or for further information, please contact :
Miss Angharad Hobson
Improvement Planning
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8AN.
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