Next week, 4 September, Cabinet will be asked to endorse the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan for 2024-2026.
Building on the foundation of our Council Plan, this action plan aims to embed EDI principles to support the development of a more inclusive culture for our employees, communities and partners.
The EDI Action Plan outlines several key objectives and initiatives, including:
- Creating an inclusive workforce: The plan aims to develop a workforce that is inclusive and represents the diverse communities we serve. This includes understanding any barriers and fostering a culture where all employees feel valued and supported.
- Promoting equality and eliminating discrimination: We’re committed to a zero-tolerance approach to discriminatory behaviour, calling it out and providing a safe environment for our workforce to be themselves and flourish in and outside work.
- Enhancing accessibility and opportunities: Ensure our services are effective, efficient, and responsive to individual needs, so all residents can access services easily and have opportunities to improve their outcomes. This includes our recent agreement to formally acknowledge the experiences of care leavers as a protected characteristic in the borough, so that they have the same opportunities as all young people in Barnsley.
- Monitoring and reporting: We’ll publish annual reports on pay gaps for gender, ethnicity, and disability, and use key performance indicators to monitor workforce diversity.
Cllr Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Core Services, said: “We take pride in being an inclusive employer and we’re working hard to make Barnsley a place where all communities can come together and thrive.
"We value the difference that a diverse workforce brings and the importance to our communities of seeing themselves and others represented in our workforce. Our EDI Action Plan is a testament to our dedication to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our services."
You can read the report on our website.
