A STRATEGY plan designed to ensure equality among the district's "different groups" has been approved by councillors.
During a meeting of the Mole Valley District Council's executive at Pippbrook, the Equality Strategy, which will be implemented until 2018, was unanimously passed with minor amendments.
The policy will seek to "eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation" and "promote equality of opportunity and foster good relations between different groups".
Speaking at the meeting on April 9, Councillor Charles Yarwood (Conservative, Charlwood) said: "The council's Single Equality Scheme was approved by Executive in 2010; it provided a framework to ensure that services were delivered in an accessible and equitable manner to the community.
"In addition the scheme set out how the council would meet its legislative duties under the Equality Act 2010.
"In the period since then, the council has made significant improvements in its approach to equality and diversity.
"Every aspect of the council's service delivery has been assessed, to ensure they are provided in a way that enables every member of the community equal access to the services they needed."
The 2011 Census revealed Mole Valley has a population of 85,375, a six per cent increase from 2001, with 51 per cent of the district's population are female.
The majority of the district's population are white, with only five per cent classifying themselves as from ethnic minorities; nearly double the proportion recorded in 2001.
Among the initiatives to be implemented as part of the strategy is specific training for the Customer Service Unit on working with people who are blind or have other visual impairments.
The strategy also states the council should resolve to develop and maintain a list of staff who speak other languages, and who are available to interpret for non-English speaking customers.
The strategy will be reviewed annually to assure the council is meeting set goals.
The executive also approved the meeting dates for the years 2013-2014, which can be viewed on the council's website at www.molevalley.gov.uk
