Race Equality Scheme

The Race Relations Act places a general duty on a wide range of public authorities to promote race equality. This means we must have due regard for the need to:

a.Eliminate unlawful racial discrimination

b.Promote equality of opportunity; and

c.Promote good relations between people of different racial groups

It also introduced specific duties to help public authorities meet the general duty. The specific duties require us to consider race equality in our policy, service delivery and employment. Our approach to these specific duties is set out in Section 2.

This scheme draws together many of the ways we are integrating race equality into our policies, practices, training and partnership working and sets out our arrangements for responding to our duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and is part of our Corporate Equality Policy. That policy sets out our commitment to equality and diversity and provides overall direction for the organisation.

We see race equality as integral to what we do. For this reason much of our response is found in our day to day practices rather than in a separate and distinct plan.

This scheme is an integral part of achieving our commitments and statutory responsibilities. Where specific actions are required to implement this scheme they are distinctly identified in the Corporate Equality Action Plan.

We recognise that people's views of their ethnicity are based on more than race. It can include culture and religion. These factors should also be considered in meeting the general duty.

Throughout this scheme we use the term "racial group" in its broadest context to include people who define themselves by their race, colour, nationality (including citizenship), religion or beliefs, language or ethnicity.

Our diverse communities play an important part in the social and cultural wellbeing of the city, and make a valuable contribution to the local economy and to local life.

We will to use this scheme to promote the value of diversity and to encourage people to enjoy their own and other cultures and traditions.

We want contributions from a wide range of people and interests and particularly people from our black and minority ethnic communities.

You can download a version the Race Equality Scheme here (114kb)

Documents prepared by Chester City Council are available in large print, Braille, on audio cassette or computer disk. We can also provide information in languages other than English.

Chester City Council is registered with "Language Line" to ensure our services are accessible to all our customers.