Celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion for all
At Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) we aim to be fair and accessible when we deliver, design and evaluate services, buy services from others, develop policies, and when we consider the needs of our employees.
We are committed to adhering to equality legislation requirements. Mole Valley District Council, and any organisations that have been contracted to carry out public functions on our behalf, must have 'due regard' to the three aims of the Public Sector Equality Duty, as set out in the Equality Act 2010:
- eliminate unlawful discrimination and harassment
- advance equality of opportunity between people with protected characteristics (age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race and ethnicity, religion and belief, sex, sexual orientation, and marriage and civil partnership)
- foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not
Equality Impact Assessments
To demonstrate that we, as an employer and as a service provider, have considered the three aims of the equality duty as part of our decision making processes, we publish Equality Impact Assessments. These impact assessments are undertaken when policies and services are being introduced or reviewed (see 'Downloads').
Equality Policy Statement and Equality Objectives
MVDC's Equality Policy Statement sets out our commitment to equality and diversity (see 'Downloads'). Our Equality Policy Statement document incorporates our Equality Objectives - every four years we publish one or more equality objectives we want to achieve in relation to the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Member Equality Champions
At its meeting on Tuesday 8 February 2022, Mole Valley District Council’s Cabinet confirmed the appointments of Councillor Raj Haque as Member Champion for ethnic minority groups and Councillor Elsie Rosam as Member Champion for people with disabilities.
Both Members will act as symbols of Mole Valley District Council’s (MVDC’s) commitment to celebrating diversity and inclusion for individuals and groups with the ‘protected characteristics’ they represent.
Councillor Jehangir – or Raj – Haque, moved to England in 1971. He has been a councillor since 2010 and was Chairman of the Council from 2018-19. Councillor Haque said of his appointment: “It is an honour to have been chosen as MVDC’s champion for ethnic minorities, a role I will perform to the best of my ability. I look forward to representing and promoting the interests of all ethnic minorities on this council, which has been so welcoming to me during my time as a councillor.”
Councillor Elsie Rosam trained as a psychodynamic counsellor and has volunteered for both MyTime, which supports young carers, and Dorking Minds, a charity which aims to help young people take control of their mental health. Councillor Rosam said: “I am honoured to have been appointed to this important role which reflects the commitment of the whole Council to support and include people with every kind of disability, both mental and physical. I look forward to working with community groups and the council to put that commitment into practice”
Councillor Paul Kennedy, Cabinet Member for Internal Services, which includes responsibility for equality and community relations, said: “These two roles confirm our collective commitment to being diverse and inclusive as a Council and our ambition to secure equality for all. I am delighted that Councillors Haque and Rosam have agreed to support us in that work and, in particular, to help develop stronger relationships with people from ethnic minorities and those with disabilities.”