Equality information

You are here

Every year we publish information to demonstrate our compliance with the public sector equality duty (PSED) as required under the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011. PSED is an important lever for ensuring that public bodies take account of equality when conducting their day-to-day work. When delivering their services and performing their functions, bodies subject to the PSED must have due regard to the need to:

  • eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act;
  • advance equality of opportunity between people who share a 'protected characteristic' and those who do not;
  • foster good relations between people who share a 'protected characteristic' and those who do not.

Publishing information about Equality

To show that they meet their Equality Act duties in full, all councils must publish relevant information on a regular basis. Ipswich Borough Council updates this information via its website throughout the year.

The equality information that the Council has to publish relates to people who share a relevant 'protected characteristic' (see below) and who are:

  • affected by the Council's policies and practices (for example, service users)
  • employees (for authorities with more than 150 staff)

Protected characteristics

The duty covers the following eight 'protected characteristics': age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.  It also covers marriage and civil partnership, but not for all aspects of the duty.  Equality and Human Rights Commission definitions of the 'Protected Characteristics can be found on the Equality and Human Rights Commission website.

Service users and employees

The Council completes Equality Impact Assessments (EQIA) for policies, procedures and practices that have an impact on the customers and employees.

Councillors consider the equality and diversity implications of the Council's policies and services as part of the decision making process, this is done via each committee and executive report completed by officers.

The Council's Corporate Plan: Building a Better Ipswich 2017, provides the vision, priorities and objectives to improve the quality of life for all residents.

For further information on Equality and Diversity please get in touch using the contact details displayed on this page.

Contact Details

Ipswich Borough Council,
Equality and Diversity,
Grafton House,
15-17 Russell Road,
Ipswich,
IP1 2DE

Telephone icon

01473 432224