Equality Outcomes 2017 – 2021

We Asked

As per Appendix 1, we asked how strongly people agreed or not with the proposed overarching equality outcomes and how accessible Comhairle services were. This was to assist with the development of the Comhairle’s Equality Outcomes for 2017-21 which were identified from initial consultation with Comhairle services and Third sector and equality groups.

You Said

As per Appendix 2, 34 responses to the public consultation were received.  The responses were aligned to the Equality Outcomes priorities and analysed, as follows:

  1. Make the Western Isles a better place to live and work: 61.8% strongly agree, 20.6% agree;
  2. Improved standard of independent living and opportunities to remain residents of the Western Isles: 70.6% strongly agree, 17.7% agree;
  3. The Comhairle is recognized as an equal opportunity employer with an employee profile reflective of the authority area: 31.3% strongly agree, 28.1% agree;
  4. Equal opportunity to high quality learning and teaching in all educational settings to develop skills for lifelong learning and working: 42.4% strongly agree, 36.4% agree; and
  5. People in Western Isles will have equal opportunity to access and shape our public services: 41.2% strongly agree, 26.5% agree

We Did

Of the Key Themes: We Did

We have further developed the over-arching outcomes and proposed appropriate actions and measures which will demonstrate our progress towards meeting the Equality Outcomes.  The actions and measures will be revisited when the Comhairle’s Local Outcome Improvement Plan is developed and the Corporate Strategy is published to ensure they work together.

Of the Key Themes: We Did Not Do

We did not consider issues that did not have an impact on equality matters or where decisions have already been taken or on allocation of more money to specific services e.g. comments that concern the look of the town centre do not impact a person’s ability to live or work in the area; comments concerning the opening hours of ISL have already been considered through the Comhairle’s democratic process.

Related

Appendix 1 CE Equality Outcome Consultation Survey (66.6kB) (Opens in a new window or downloads a file)
Appendix 2 CE Equality Outcome Consultation Responses (251.6kB) (Opens in a new window or downloads a file)
Equality and Diversity




  • Contact
  • Equality and Diversity
  • equalities@cne-siar.gov.uk
  • Chief Executive’s Department
    Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
    Sandwick Road, Stornoway
    Isle of Lewis
    HS1 2BW

Equalities Monitoring

Please complete our Equalities Monitoring Form:

Equalities Monitoring Form

This is used by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to provide essential statistical information about who participates in our consultations.

The data is managed confidentially, is not personally attributable, and is processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

Overview

In Scotland, the Public sector Equality Duty says that public authorities such as Colleges, Health and Social Care Partnerships, Local Councils and Health Boards must think about how they can make things more equitable for different groups.  The over-arching equality outcomes proposed have been identified after considering evidence available at a local and national level across the functions of the Comhairle.

Why We Are Consulting

We are asking for your views to help us develop and prioritize our equality outcomes and actions for all those who are living, working and learning throughout the Outer Hebrides within this period of public sector constraint. Whilst this is a challenging period for the public sector, particularly in managing community expectations with fewer resources, this may also provide opportunities for exploring new ways of delivering services.  In order to consolidate our outcomes and develop our actions we would like to consult with a diverse range of individuals and organizations’ in particular relating to age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnerships. Various interest groups, such as: DESG, the Access Panels, ESOL Co-ordinator, Local Area Co-ordinator (Learning Disability), Catch 23, etc., have been sign posted to the survey and asked to share within their networks.  

What Happens Next

Your feedback is important and will help us to understand and work to ensure that our outcomes are as best as possible for all residents of the Outer Hebrides.  Please complete the feedback survey at the link provided below by 31 March 2017.

https://www.surveymoz.com/s/Z8PM5/.