Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

County Councillors, in discharging their duties, have responsibilities under the Public Sector Equality Duty, to give "due regard" to the needs of people/groups with protected characteristics when carrying out their role.  The nine protected characteristics are:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation
• And in some situations marriage and civil partnership status.

The County Council is one of the public authorities required to also consider the three general aims of the Public Sector Equality Duty when carrying out its functions.  The aims are:

• To eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimization or other prohibited conduct in relation to those with protected characteristics;
• To advance equality of opportunity for groups with protected characteristics
• To foster good relations between groups who share protected characteristics and those who do not share them.

Many items being considered by Full Council, Cabinet or other Committees will contain Equality Impact Assessments to assist you in fulfilling these responsibilities.

The County Council has agreed Equality Objectives in 2024, as required by the Public Sector Equality Duty, which are supported by a new Equality Strategy which was also agreed.

Both documents can be found within the equality guide.

Briefings and advice can also be made available for County Councillors or specific areas of the Equality Act  2010 including issues around making "reasonable adjustments" for disabled constituents and more detailed support around the Public Sector Equality Duty.

For further information please contact

Jeanette Binns (Equalities Partner, People Services)

Debra Bradshaw (Equalities Advisor, People Services)

Community cohesion is essential for reducing inequalities and making sure everyone has the same chances to thrive. It focuses on working together to solve local problems and address the diverse challenges communities face by using existing services and partnerships. 

The LCC Cohesion and Integration Strategy is aligned and underpinned by the Equality Act and Public Sector Equality Duty, focussing on the elements of “Fostering good relations between groups who share protected characteristics and those who do not share them”.

For further information please see the Community cohesion/integration and hate crime pages on the LCC intranet.

Saeed Sidat, Senior Corporate Equalities, Cohesion and Integration Manager -

saeed.sidat@lancashire.gov.uk  01772 536118

Hate crimes are any crimes that are targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards that person’s: - Disability; race or ethnicity; religion or belief; sexual orientation; transgender identity. This can be committed against a person or property. A victim does not have to be a member of the group at which the hostility is targeted. In fact, anyone could be a victim of a hate crime.

For further information please see the Community cohesion/integration and hate crime pages on the LCC intranet.

Saeed Sidat, Senior Corporate Equalities, Cohesion and Integration Manager -

saeed.sidat@lancashire.gov.uk  01772 536118