Councillors yesterday welcomed and approved a report outlining Highland Council’s aims to demonstrate continuing commitments to advance and mainstream equality in day-to-day work.
A report is required to be submitted every two years by local authorities, education authorities and licensing boards, displaying how they mainstream equality into their work.
The celebration comes after Highland Council has worked closely with local partners towards an outcome improvement plan, focused on tackling equality and promoting equality of opportunity.
The Mainstreaming Equality and Equality Outcomes Progress 2017 – 2019 report highlighted the diverse population across the region, welcoming all faiths, nationalities and backgrounds of people who wish to utilise the Highlands as a place in which to live, study, work or visit.
A strategic goal has been set to protect the vulnerable in the community, whilst promoting fairness and diversity, alongside reducing inequality, poverty and discrimination.
Councillor John Finlayson, chairman of the Council’s Care, Learning and Housing Committee said: “The report shows that we are continuing to make improvements that are mainstreaming equality into the work of the Council, Education and Licensing Board and the impacts of these improvements are having a positive effect on our service users, staff and communities.
“We must continue to promote our work on equality by raising awareness among staff and members.”