WARRINGTON Borough Council has been praised for its efforts to combat discrimination and promote equal treatment in services and employment.
The council has been awarded Level 3 of the Equality Standard, following a rigorous two day inspection by external assessors.
Assessors praised the council’s “strong” submission and the positive culture and clear leadership shown throughout the organisation.
The Equality Standard for local government recognises the importance of fair and equal treatment in local government services and employment.
It has been developed as a tool to enable local authorities to incorporate age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation into council policy and practice at all levels.
Councils report what level of the standard they have reached as they progress from level one up to level five, with external assessments carried out at levels three and five.
The assessors found evidence of strong processes in place that ensured that all council services were accessible to all members of the community.
Chief executive Diana Terris (pictured) said: “I would like to thank our staff for all their hard work in gaining the Level 3 accreditation. It would not have been possible without their passion and commitment to providing fair access to services and equal employment opportunities for everyone.”
Ian Marks, leader of the council, said: “Obtaining Level 3 of the Equality Standard is a fantastic achievement and will help to maintain our excellent standards. This accreditation also demonstrates our commitment to continuously improving our services.”
