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Essex Equality and Diversity Network

The Essex Equality and Diversity Network was formed in 2007 so that Essex County Council, in partnership with other Local Area Authorities, could develop as a firm basis future governance and joint working arrangements. Eight principles form the basis of the action partners’ work in regard to equality and diversity:
  1. Shared goals and targets – issues that have the most direct impact on the quality of life of our communities can be most effectively addressed by working together.
  2. Added value – diversity and equality outcomes can be better achieved by working together rather than as individual partners.
  3. Subsidiarity – actions should be delivered at the lowest level appropriate to the outcomes sought. Many diversity and equality outcomes are best achieved by working at the most local level possible.
  4. Transparency – solutions should be developed jointly and decisions taken openly with appropriate scrutiny arrangements in place. Partnerships and partners seek to address diversity and equality issues in a way that is open and fully engages all relevant individual partners.
  5. Efficiency – partnerships must be able to take decisions in a timely and effective manner and it is more efficient to address some diversity and equality issues by working in partnership.
  6. Accountability and sovereignty – organisations involved in delivering the LAA have distinct statutory roles and their sovereignty must be respected.
  7. Sustainability – partnership working recognises the importance of diversity and equality issues in improving the quality of life for current and future generations.
  8. Equality and inclusivity – we should seek to reduce inequalities across different parts of the county and partnership working should enable all partners to have a voice.
The network partners meet on a bi-monthly basis to develop actions plans, offer support and advice to partners and partnerships regarding diversity and equality issues, organise the disaggregation of county-wide diversity and equality information to lower geographic areas, and review emerging priorities.