The Resources and Fire & Rescue Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Friday 12 June 2026. The committee considered a call-in request regarding the decision to consult on the proposed decommissioning of the Council's Equalities Service. The committee voted to proceed with the consultation.

Call In: Decision to Consult on the Proposed Decommissioning of the Council's Equalities Service

The committee considered a call-in request concerning the decision made on 22 May 2026 to consult on the proposal to cease externally commissioning an equalities service, currently provided by the Equalities and Inclusion Partnership (EQuIP). The call-in was initiated by Councillors Boad, Feeney, Scott, and McAllister, who raised concerns that the decision appeared predetermined and that EQuIP had been singled out for review without a comparative assessment of other commissioned voluntary-sector services.

Arguments presented against the original decision highlighted that consultation must be genuine and that the published material suggested the outcome was already settled, with alternative options already rejected. It was also argued that a fair review would consider all commissioned voluntary-sector services together, rather than pre-emptively targeting EQuIP, which is described as the smallest service but experiencing rising demand.

The committee voted on whether to refer the matter back to the decision-maker for reconsideration. The decision was carried with six votes in favour, two against, and two abstentions. This means the committee decided to proceed with the consultation, with the original decision-maker to be informed of the committee's concerns.

The proposed decommissioning of the equalities service stems from financial pressures facing Warwickshire County Council and a stated lack of priority for funding an external equalities service. The service, which costs £135,372 annually, provides support for discrimination and hate crime, delivers equalities training, and engages in community cohesion activities. The consultation process is planned to last 16 weeks, with a final decision expected from the Cabinet before the end of 2026.

The Equality Act 2010¹ sets out the protected characteristics that the service aims to uphold, including age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED)² requires public authorities to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

The report noted that the consultation process itself would be subject to an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) to ensure it was conducted in an inclusive manner, with provisions for alternative formats and outreach to seldom-heard groups. A separate, draft EIA was also prepared to assess the potential impacts of ceasing to commission the service.

The meeting concluded at 16:02.