Events

Events review

Latest Equality South West Event:

'A Fairer South West - The Equality Bill Explained'

Event Review

The aim of this regional event was to inform people about the new Bill and provide an opportunity to debate the content and make recommendations to the RIEP Equality Programme Board and feedback to the Government Equalities Office. This event was hugely over subscribed and well attended with Key Note speakers Alan Jones, Chief Executive of Somerset County Council, Amanda Ariss, Chief Executive of the Equality and Diversity Forum and Jonathan Rees, Director General of the Government Equalities Office providing delegates with valuable information on the Equality Bill.

Programme

  • The final programme from the day is available here: Programme

Presentations

  • Local Government and the Bill: Alan Jones' presentation is available here: Alan Jones
  • Overview of the Equality Bill: Amanda Ariss' presentation is available here: Amanda Ariss
  • The Progress of the Bill and Consultation: Jonathan Rees' presentation is available here: Jonathan Rees

Feedback

All of the delegates were given delegate packs which contained feedback forms to rate the venue, catering, programme, speakers and workshops. Equality South West have collated that feedback which is available here: Feedback

Workshops

Workshop A: Key issues for Local Government

This session outlined the key issues for consideration by local authorities and their partners. The session looked at the introduction of the socio-economic duty, and age discrimination against the under 18’s. The session was designed to give delegates opportunities to discuss how the issues will impact on what is already being delivered and how new developments will need to be incorporated into the delivery of services.

Workshop B: Potential impact / benefit to Public Sector

Attendees at this workshop had the opportunity to discuss the potential impacts and benefits that the new Equality Bill will have to the Public Sector.

Workshop C: Potential impact / benefit to Private Sector

Attendees at this workshop had the opportunity to discuss the potential impacts and benefits that the new Equality Bill will have to the Private Sector. This was an opportunity to discuss the implications to small Business – both positive and not so positive.

Workshop D: Potential impact / benefit to Third Sector

What impact will the new legislation have on the third sector: as a provider of public services; as a recipient of public services; and as the voice of community groups and those most often discriminated against? This workshop gave delegates the chance to discuss with others the implications of the proposals as they stand, both positive and not so positive. Will the focus on outcomes rather than process help or hinder? What are the issues for Third sector organisations arising from a single duty covering all the strands? These are just some of the questions this workshop examined.

Workshop E: Procurement

ESW, like others, are keen to ensure that public authorities build equality considerations into their procurement processes, where this will contribute to the achievement of their equality objectives. In turn, it is essential that providers of procured services understand the principles of equality and can respond to the requests of the public sector through the procurement process. This workshop considered issues for procurement for those involved in both ends of the process.

Workshop F: New Public Duty

This workshop explored the changes in Public Duty from the current duties and the extension to cover other equality strands.

Workshop G: LAA’s and PSA15

This workshop provided delegates with an opportunity to explore the impact that the Equality Bill will have on Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs), Local Area Agreements (LAAs) and the Governments Public Service Agreement on Equality, PSA 15.