NEATH PORT TALBOT Council has given updates on its strategic equality plan with an annual review being presented to members.
The council’s strategic equality plan which ran from 2020- 24 is the fourth version of the plan from the authority which is designed to promote equality of opportunity, tackle discrimination, and create a “fairer and more equitable Neath Port Talbot.”
The report was given at a recent cabinet meeting and described how the council was delivering services in line with targets as well as its public sector equality duty.
It highlighted work which has been carried out such as the creation of a tackling poverty team as well as the offer of accessible meeting rooms in Port Talbot Civic Centre and the recruitment of 33 mental health champions.
The report said it had also worked with local schools to provide access to work experience as well as signing the Unison anti-racism charter to demonstrate commitment to “addressing any racial disparities in recruitment, in promotions, in training opportunities, in employment”.
Other notable points included the council being awarded the Womenspire Fair Play Employer Award for its achievements around gender equality in the workplace with primary school and secondary school attendance rates also noted as increasing.
Speaking at the meeting Cllr Simon Knoyle said: “It’s a look back at 2023-24 of course and if you look at progress made you can see some incredibly tangible and notable achievements that have been presented through the papers.”
The annual report was later approved by cabinet members at the meeting with the next version of the plan now set to cover the period of 2024-28.
