Decision

That Cabinet
recommends to Council:
 

1.      that the
list of Policy Framework documents set out in Torbay
Council’s Constitution be updated to include the Inclusion
Strategy for Torbay for 2025 – 2030 and that the Strategy be
approved; and
 

2.      subject to
1. above, the Inclusion Strategy for Torbay for 2025 – 2030
action plan as set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report be
approved.

Reasons for the decision

Under our Public
Sector Equality Duty, the Council must publish one or more equality
objectives every four years.  The
Inclusion Strategy aims to holistically bring together the
Council’s work on inclusion and its equality objectives into
one overarching document to support the Council to meet its Public
Sector Equality Duty.

Alternative options considered

An alternative option
would be to not progress with an Inclusion Strategy or publish
refreshed equality objectives.
 
This was not deemed to
be a suitable option.  The Council had a
legal obligation to publish equality objectives.  Under the Public Sector Equality Duty, it was
important that the Council promoted and fully embedded inclusion. A
strategic and joined up approach would help to achieve this.