Hertsmere Borough Council

Encouraging a fair and inclusive community

We need your help to make sure that we treat people from different groups fairly and equally. The information you provide is voluntary and absolutely confidential.

The council is committed to tackling inequality and protecting vulnerable people. We also have a legal responsibility to meet the objectives below:
1. Prevent unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
2. Advance equality between everybody, including younger/older people, disabled/non disabled etc
3. Foster good relations between communities, tackling prejudice and promoting understanding.

We also have specific duties to monitor how we are meeting these objectives for nine groups which have been identified by the government. The groups are: race, sex (gender), disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, maternity/pregnancy, religion/belief, age and marriage/civil partnership.

Your impressions of Hertsmere

Do you think everyone in Hertsmere has equal opportunities for things like employment, education, health care, housing, transport and personal safety?

Yes

Unsure

Don't know/no opinion

2.	What do you think are the main issues and challenges for particular groups or communities in Hertsmere?

While in Hertsmere have you (or someone you know) ever been treated unfairly or experienced discrimination or harassment because of your age, gender, race, disability, sexuality, background, religion or belief?

Yes

4.	If you are comfortable doing so, please briefly describe the situation. What do you think could be done to prevent this happening in the future?

5.	Below is a list of services Hertsmere Borough Council provides and/or contributes towards. Please tell us what you think needs to be done to improve access to these services for different groups of people (for example, people with disabilities and people of different backgrounds, ages, genders, sexualities, ethnicities and so on). In other words how can we make it easier for different people to use the services or how can they be improved so that they reach people from different groups who need it?
	Benefits, council tax discounts and charges
	Community centres
	Community safety and reducing anti-social behaviour
	Council employment and recruitment advertising
	Customer services and council information
	Housing and homelessness services
	Leisure services (including museums, sports, clubs and leisure centres)
	Open spaces and parks
	Use of council property
	Parking
	Providing information (for example through Hertsmere News magazine, www.hertsmere.gov.uk, Facebook and Twitter
	Rubbish, waste and recycling
	Street cleansing and grounds maintenance
	Supporting voluntary and community organisations, ie Citizens Advice Bureau, volunteering
	Activities for young people
	Activities for older people
	Other (please specify)
	None

In Hertsmere we try to promote good relations between people; reduce discrimination and prejudice; ensure everyone has equal opportunities for things like employment, education, housing and health care and encourage people from different groups and backgrounds to get involved in the decisions the council makes.

Do you have any ideas about what more could be done in Hertsmere to:

6.	Promote good relations between people

7.	Reduce discrimination and prejudice

8.	Ensure everyone has equal opportunities for things like employment, education, housing and health care

9.	Encourage people from different groups and backgrounds to get involved in the decisions Hertsmere makes

Thank you for your contribution. We will be updating our website - www.hertsmere.gov.uk - with information about how we used your ideas and opinions and what we are proposing to do to improve equality and diversity in Hertsmere and make it a fairer place to live.