GCC to work with Equality and Human Rights Commission on future library plan (From Stroud News and Journal)
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GCC to work with Equality and Human Rights Commission on future library plan
3:23pm Friday 2nd December 2011 in News
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) will be working with Gloucestershire County Council to help it with future decision making.
The statutory organisation is the independent regulator for equality and the UKs National Human Rights Institution.
Both Gloucestershire and Somerset Councils will be working with the Commission to ensure that their revised plans for libraries comply with new equality legislation, which was updated this year.
Discussions have already taken place between both council chief executives and the EHRC’s chief executive to confirm their involvement.
The move follows a judge’s ruling which overturned the councils’ decisions on changes to library services on equality grounds.
While both councils are already accomplished in dealing with equalities issues, the ERHC will provide guidance and support to boost both councils’ existing knowledge and experience to help with decision making in future.
Gloucestershire’s Chief Executive, Peter Bungard, said: “We take our equalities duties extremely seriously and I am delighted that such a high profile organisation has agreed to work with us.
“The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the leading authority when it comes to these matters.
“I see this as a real opportunity for us to gain valuable experience that will help shape our decision-making processes from now on.”
Mark Hammond, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: “I’m pleased to be working with both Somerset and Gloucestershire County Councils to help boost their expertise in complying with equality legislation.
“Polices based on a sound knowledge of how decisions may impact on vulnerable groups will help ensure these service users are properly considered if budgets are tightened.”
Gloucestershire is reviewing its position with regards to libraries and a new consultation and equalities assessment will be carried out in the near future.
Shirley Burnham says...
6:33am Sat 3 Dec 11
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to revisit the whole council budget; identify whether the library service is subject to disproportionate cuts and apply themselves to searching for solutions that ensure that children, the elderly, the disadvantaged and the housebound are not deprived of the smaller libraries and mobile services on which they depend.
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This would certainly impress the EHRC that the councils "delight" is not feigned. It would also convince residents and the wider public that they, quite voluntarily, will do everything possible to put matters to rights.
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It would not be a 'climbdown'. No-one would think less of them -- quite the contrary. Their humility and courage would stand out as a beacon to other councils and be a fine example to all.