Have your say on Equalities Charter

Hastings Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), of which Hastings Borough Council is a member, is looking to refresh and renew the Equalities Charter with input from the local community.

The current charter was drafted in 2012 and the council, with the LSP, wants to ensure it better reflects the diverse community within the town. The charter will help ensure that the response and recovery from the pandemic benefits the breadth of the local community.

The LSP discussed the draft charter at their meeting in September, where partners commented and committed to it.

The draft charter will be on the council's website until Christmas. Local groups and community organisations who would like to discuss the charter at meetings are invited to get in touch - email consultation@hastings.gov.uk. Based on feedback, it is hoped a revised charter will be taken back to the LSP in early 2022 for approval.

Carole Dixon, Chair of Hastings Local Strategic Partnership, said: "Given the challenges of the pandemic it is a good time to collectively refresh our equalities commitments to our town through a revised Charter.  We encourage partners and residents to have their say and look forward to continuing to work together to support the breadth of our local communities that makes Hastings special, unique and vibrant."

Cllr Judy Rogers, lead councillor for Equalities, said: "This is the start of a really interesting journey. We are looking forward to engaging with the many diverse communities that Hastings is home to and hearing your views on this charter."

The draft charter is available on the Consultation section of the website. Comments should be sent to consultation@hastings.gov.uk.

Note to editors:
The Local Strategic Partnership is made up of members representing organisations playing a lead role in the town. These include Hastings Borough Council, East Sussex County Council, education providers, business leaders and community organisations. More information is available online at Hastings Local Strategic Partnership.