Decision details

Cabinet considered the head of corporate services’ report on a proposal to adopt a diversity and inclusion strategy.  The Corporate Plan included an aspiration for the council to work in an open and inclusive way.  The council had also approved a motion relating to diversity and inclusion, and had published a diversity and social campaign calendar on its website.  The diversity and inclusion strategy continued this work. 

Cabinet noted that the Joint Scrutiny Committee had welcomed the strategy and had suggested improvements.  The public consultation response had been strong also.  Suggestions had been taken into account in the strategy presented to Cabinet. 

The Cabinet member for community engagement reported that it was important for the council to increase inclusivity and make the council’s services easier to access.   The strategy had been developed to do this by creating an environment where everybody felt that they belonged, that their voice would be heard, and their differences recognised and accepted.  The strategy would drive improvements in the council’s services to make it easier for everyone to use them. 

Cabinet welcomed the strategy, noting that an action plan would be developed to implement it.  It was important to review service provision to ensure that services were easily accessible by everyone. 

RESOLVED to:

(a)    note the consultation responses received, including comments from Joint Scrutiny Committee; and

(b)    adopt the Joint Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils, as set out at Appendix 1 to the head of corporate services’ report to Cabinet on 2 December 2022.