Helping deliver equality for all

Broxbourne Borough Council values people’s differences - as customers, residents or employees.  We actively work to eliminate barriers that prevent equality and access to service delivery and employment.

Commonly race and disability are highlighted as subjects for discrimination, but our policy covers all themes (identified in the national Equalities Bill), which also includes: sexual orientation, faith, age and gender.

To ensure that our services do not discriminate, we have guidance against which we test our services. This process identifies potential risks of direct or indirect discrimination or prejudice, and tests our policies’ equality lawfulness.

To ensure our services are accessible to the whole community, we continually review and improve them. Here are some examples:

Accessing our building

The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 requires us to take ‘reasonable and practical’ measures to make our public buildings accessible. We have undertaken a programme of ongoing improvements:

Council Offices: The entrance is refurbished on a regular basis to improve public accessibility. The improvements will also provide a significant reduction in energy costs and carbon emissions.

One Stop Shops: Customer comfort is regularly enhanced with improved sign posting and upgrading disabled access.

Stuck for words?

Residents and visitors whose first language is not English can use Language Line; a telephone interpreting service, for over 100 languages.  Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Customers are shown a list of languages (written in that language). Once identified, an interpreted message explains that a telephone interpreter will be provided to help them. People are assisted with their enquiry, can make an appointment or learn more about a service. In addition many staff who can speak a second or third language will come down to reception to talk with customers in their mother tongue.

Information translation services

If you cannot read English you may be losing out on accessing our vital services, for which we provide numerous leaflets. However, key documents can be translated into the community languages that are spoken in the Borough; but any language may be requested.

More about the Council’s most recent equality and diversity programme (2008-2011) can be found in the related links section. You can also pick up a summary document from the council reception or by calling 01992 785555.

Support in the community

The Broxbourne Ethnic Minority Group is a local charity which supports and raises awareness about issues on behalf of the Borough’s ethnic minority citizens. They meet regularly and also liaise with the Council. The group extends a warm welcome to any group or individual interested in its aims and objectives.

Each September the group organises the Celebrating Our Community Festival which in 2009 attracted over 3000 people. This family day out celebrates diversity with multi-ethnic and multi-cultural activities such as music, dance and food.  

Churches Together is another arm of the Broxbourne partnership to deliver equality promoting increased understanding and trust, together as well as bringing a faith perspective to bear on civic and community affairs.

Tackling hate, harassment and discrimination

The Council works through the Community Safety Partnership to tackle hate, racial harassment and domestic violence. As well as supporting procedures to report harassment, we support victims and take action against perpetrators.

Reporting racial harassment

Racial harassment is a crime. If you have witnessed or experienced this:

·         report it to the police on 0845 3300222. They have specialist officers to support you.

Or, if you prefer not to deal with the police, you can:

·         report the incident to the Council; on 01992 785555. Please note, we may need to involve other organisations (including the police) to resolve it.

Complaining to the Council

You can also complain about any discrimination you feel you have experienced from the Council by visiting the 'report it' section.  Forms are also available at Council receptions.