Building Control

Community and Living

Council and Democracy

Emergency Planning

Environmental Health

Leisure and Culture

Planning and Growth

Recycling and Waste

Rushcliffe Oaks Crematorium

Transport and Streets

Working for RBC

Appendix F - Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan 2025/26

Rushcliffe Borough Council Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan 2025/26

Make sure our conversations with our communities are inclusive and ensuring information on our website and in our communications is clear and accessible

Make sure our conversations with our communities are inclusive and ensuring information on our website and in our communications is clear and accessible
Action	Lead	Timescale	Progress
Consider options to support and/or deliver events focussed on supporting different communities in the Borough	Derek Hayden	March 2026	Lunar New Year event on 1 February – Bingham Arena – Jubilee Hall £20k UKSPF in 2025/26 allocated to enhanced events programme. Lunar New Year event in 2026 – continue to grow and develop event to meet increasing demand/interest – February 2026
Produce information leaflets such as bin calendars in others languages e.g. Cantonese (languages required to be identified via data on residents and engagement with local groups)	Ed Palmer	March 2026	Recycling leaflets produced in alternative languages for new housing estate in Bingham and Edwalton Establish links with relevant groups e.g. Hong Kong Notts
Refresh to comms strategy to include more on engagement	Ed Palmer	May 2025	Communication and Engagement Strategy going to Cabinet in May Completed EIA to inform development of strategy
The Council aims for its digital communications to align with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018	Ed Palmer	Ongoing?	Shaw Trust accreditation earned for website accessibility in 2025 Continually assessing where RBC can update digital content in line with sector accessibility standards and best practice.

Support Councillors to lead on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion by building their knowledge and awareness through training

Support Councillors to lead on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion by building their knowledge and awareness through training
Action	Lead	Timescale	Progress
Develop EDI training for Councillors	Charlotte Caven-Atack	March 2026	May 2025 – 24 councillors completed EDI training
Include diversity of Cllrs when doing annual diversity report to Corporate Overview Group	Charlotte Caven-Atack	May 2028	Not collected from May 2024 election – to be done for next election.
Update inclusive language guide for staff and councillors	Ed Palmer	Summer 2025	HR reviewed and updated wording and Communications updated document to be circulated.

Identify ways to engage more young people in democracy

Identify ways to engage more young people in democracy
Action	Lead	Timescale	Progress
Work with NCC on the development of their Youth Forum	Charlotte Caven-Atack	March 2026	Successful event hosted by RBC in early 2024 New member of youth parliament has been in post for 12 months Youth forum has 5 members now and have support from NCC – RBC officers approached to offer additional support EMCCA youth forum has also been established and promoted to Rushcliffe residents.

Support residents to access all Council services equally and undertake consultation with community groups, residents and elected members to ensure voices are heard and listened to

Support residents to access all Council services equally and undertake consultation with community groups, residents and elected members to ensure voices are heard and listened to
Action	Lead	Timescale	Progress
Refresh of Play Strategy and improvements to Bridgford Rd play area – more inclusive play and safe space for women and girls	Derek Hayden	March 2026	An additional £25k now included in the capital programme to support inclusive play provision in West Bridgford over next 3 years. West Bridgford play area enhancements in 2025/26 planned for September 2025.
Review of West Bridgford public realm and improvements proposed to make more accessible – relocating street furniture and removal of some barriers	Catherine Evans	May 2025	Work completed and positive feedback received from local groups.
Conduct bi-annual residents survey	Charlotte Caven-Atack	October 2024	% of people who believe they belong to their local area: 76% 2024 79% 2021 82% 2018 To be reviewed further and picked up through the Communication and Engagement Strategy.
Re-start the Rushcliffe Community Cohesion Network Group to better link up with, support and respond to our local communities’ needs	Derek Hayden	March 2026	Speak to Notts County Council to understand work being done by them e.g. Community Friendly Nottinghamshire (October 2025) Compile list of relevant local groups and make contact (March 2026)
Continue working with the Active Rushcliffe Health Partnership, which helps organisations and services work together to deliver projects supporting high priority groups, such as disability, BAME, women and girls (including pregnancy and maternity).	Derek Hayden	March 2026	Agreed Arena light up plan which is being implemented across the year – completed December 2024 Delivery of dementia and carers annual event – complete April 2025 Delivery of women and girls golf programme – Oct 2025 Continue support pan disability league and expansion at Gresham – Mar 2026

Support our employees on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion by building their knowledge and awareness through training to enable them to better support each other and our residents

Support our employees on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion by building their knowledge and awareness through training to enable them to better support each other and our residents
Action	Lead	Timescale	Progress
Neuro-diversity training at Leadership Forum and then possibly lead onto additional work reviewing policies, work space etc	Jo Wilkinson	March 2026	Awaiting further proposal from Training provider for additional work on neurodiversity
Supporting employee policy now has a number of supporting policies with more to be developed	Jo Wilkinson	March 2026	Got documents in place but will keep under review Bereavement Guide For Employees Domestic Abuse Guide For Employees 2023 Domestic Abuse Support Leaflet Managing Traumatic Events Guide For Employees Menopause Guide For Employees Supporting Employees Policy May 2023 Terminal Illness Guide For Employees Unpaid Carers Guide For Employees And Managers Carer Passport Log New Employee Health Support Action Plan Nov 2020 Wellness Action Plan (WAP) February 2020 Emotional Wellbeing Evaluation Form Feb 2020 Neurodiversity guide Reasonable adjustments guide (neurodiversity) Working with me plan (neurodiversity)
Take action so our Employee Liaison Group reflects the make up of our workforce and are empowered to take a leading role on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion	Jo Wilkinson	March 2026	Review training options for ELG members to assist with this role (October 2025) Speak to East Midlands Council about what others have done on this (December 2025)

Support local businesses including training of existing and new staff, business advice and networking opportunities

Support local businesses including training of existing and new staff, business advice and networking opportunities
Action	Lead	Timescale	Progress
Launch of high street funding to include improvements to accessibility	Catherine Evans	April 2025	10 grants approved with 6 further applications received (end of May)
Work with Visit Notts on accessible tourism work and training for businesses	Catherine Evans	March 2026	Meeting with training providers to review options for training for businesses (September 2025) Delivery of training (January/February 2026)

Ensure our policies, strategies and plans are inclusive and we are responding to the latest guidance and learning from best practice from others

Ensure our policies, strategies and plans are inclusive and we are responding to the latest guidance and learning from best practice from others
Action	Lead	Timescale	Progress
Continue to carry out Equality Impact Assessments during the development of services and policies to identify how impacts can be avoided, reduced or mitigated. To ensure all policies, projects and service decisions consider all equalities implications at the start	Jo Wilkinson	December 2025	New process established Training to be rolled out – May 2026 Catherine Evans and Jo Wilkinson to attend future leadership forum to share new process
Enhanced duty on sexual harassment in the workplace expected before end of 2024. Likely to include: Risk assessments - WIP Training - WIP Lone working Internal events Power imbalance HR updated complaints and harassment policy as well as whistleblowing	Jo Wilkinson	April 2025	The Law is now in place and RBC have a policy as well as an e learning package for all staff. A risk assessment is nearing completion which will ensure people know mechanism for reporting and support available. In addition the law is now being broaden to all forms of harassment not just sexual harassment.
Review our recruitment processes so they are accessible and help to attract the best talent.	Jo Wilkinson	March 2026	Action already taken: Accept CV’s with a shortened application form Guaranteed interviews for Reservists, People with disabilities and Care Leavers if meet essential criteria Actions for 2025/26: Benchmarking our application form against other LA’s – September 2025 Develop videos to demonstrate the range of jobs on offer at RBC – January 2026 Involvement in the National Recruitment Campaign alongside EMC – ongoing through 2025/26
Strengthen our policies and training in procurement so we work with suppliers who share our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and support us to tackle inequalities	Sara Pregon	March 2026	Procurement Strategy to be rewritten and EDI to be included with social value – March 2026 Draft procurement Strategy to be shared with EDI steering group for ideas and input – December 2025
Be an active participant in the East Midlands Council's EDI networking meetings	Jo Wilkinson	March 2026	-

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion