Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council

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The Equality Standard for Local Government

The Council has made a commitment to work towards achieving all 5 levels in the Equality Standard for Local Government. The Council has already achieved Levels 1, 2 and 3 and is now working towards achieving Level 4.

What is it?

The Equality Standard for Local Government (ESLG) has been developed through a partnership between the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Employers’ Organisation for Local Government, with assistance from the Audit Commission.

The ESLG provides a performance management framework for Oldham Council to deliver positive changes in a comprehensive and consistent manner.

Progress against the standard is a Best Value Performance Indicator for the Council and involves the organisation progressing through five levels:

• Level 1: Commitment to a comprehensive equality policy
• Level 2: Assessment and consultation
• Level 3: Setting equality objectives and targets
• Level 4: Information systems and monitoring against targets
• Level 5: Achieving and reviewing outcomes

The ESLG provides a framework for integrating all the equality related initiatives that the Council is undertaking to provide a systematic way of developing an anti-discriminatory approach to service delivery and employment. The approach will ensure that equalities are effectively mainstreamed across all departments and services.

What benefits are hoped to be achieved from working towards the ESLG?

By working towards the Standard it is hoped that it will:

• provide a systematic framework for the mainstreaming of equalities
• help the Council meet its obligations under the law
• integrate equalities policies and objectives with Best Value
• encourage the development of anti-discriminatory practice appropriate to local circumstances.
• provide a basis for tackling forms of institutionalised discrimination.
• provide a framework for improving performance, over time.

How does it work?

Achievement of a level within the ESLG will be based on an assessment of the whole authority. The essence of this is that the Council will only be able to claim the lowest level achieved within it.

The Equality Standard for Local Government Validation Group is responsible for assessing the portfolio of evidence forwarded by Departments each year. Membership of the Validation Groups includes representatives from neighbouring local authorities, members of the councils various workers forums and representatives from local voluntary’s sector organisations such as Oldham’s Race Equality Partnership.

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