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Equality, diversity and inclusion
We're committed to reducing inequality in our borough, and establishing the local area as a place with equality of opportunity, an area of fairness, and an area that is inclusive
Our legal duties and aspirations beyond these requirements
As a Local Authority, Kingston Council must consider how changes to policies and services impact upon those who use them and those who work for them. This legal duty is called the ‘public sector equality duty’, under the Equality Act 2010. It states that all public bodies must have due regard to:
- Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and any other conduct prohibited under the Act
- Advance equality of opportunity between people who share those protected characteristics and those who do not
- Foster good relations between people who share those characteristics and people who do not
Find out more about the Equality Act 2010
The strategy covers all 9 of the protected characteristics outlined in the Equality Act - these are 9 aspects of identity that are legally protected from discrimination:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
In addition, Kingston Council treats Care Experience as a protected characteristic. Care experienced people include anyone who, at any stage in their life, for any length of time (no matter for how short a time period):
- Has been in care
- Is currently in care
- Is from a looked-after background, including adopted children who were previously looked-after. This could be looked after in the UK or Overseas. any resident and strives to ensure that other priority equality groups are also considered.
Read the definitions of each of these protected characteristics
Beyond the protected characteristics
The strategy also sets out how we will consider the wider equality, diversity and inclusion impacts, outside of these protected characteristics - this includes the following priority groups:
Active or veteran armed forces personnel, Gypsy and Irish traveller communities, homeless households and rough sleepers, low-income families, people with experience of the criminal justice system, refugees and asylum seekers and unpaid carers.
Equalities Data
We publish a wide range of local data and information to provide an insight into the borough and how it compares both locally and nationally. This data informs our approach to tackling inequality within the borough and illustrates how we meet our obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty.
We also publish our Gender Pay Gap and Workforce Equality Reports.