Equality and diversity

Our commitment

Valuing diversity is one of the four core values of Tower Hamlets Council.  We will promote diversity and equality in everything we do to improve the quality of life for everyone living, working and visiting Tower Hamlets.  The borough’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths and assets.  We will build upon this by working with the Tower Hamlets Partnership to provide accessible and responsive services that enable everyone to take part in the social, cultural and economic wealth of the borough.  Achieving this is central to delivering the Council’s vision, is linked to our Strategic Plan priorities and objectives and forms a driving force within the Community Plan and key to creating a cohesive community.

Our aims and values

As a service provider we will:

• Promote equality of opportunity and eliminate discrimination in the planning and delivery of our services in terms of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, health and income status
• Promote good relations between communities and address negative stereotyping of any groups
• Ensure that all residents have equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process
• Tackle harassment relating to a person’s age, disability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, health and income status

As an employer we will:

• Develop review and promote policies and practices that ensure equality of opportunity and eliminate discrimination for our workforce in all areas of employment (including recruitment, retention, learning and development, promotion, grievance, disciplinary and retirement)
• Ensure that our workforce reflects the diverse nature of the borough

We will comply with:

• the Equal Pay Act 1970 (pdf, 275kb)
• the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (pdf, 1.8mb)
• the Race Relations Act 1976 (pdf, 1.2mb)
• the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 (pdf, 124 kb)
• the Disability Discrimination Act 1995
• the Disability Discrimination (Amendment) Act 2005 (pdf, 553kb)
• the Human Rights Act 1998
• the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 (pdf, 138 kb)
• the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 (pdf, 68 kb)
• the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 (pdf, 46kb)
• the Equality Act 2006 (pdf, 393 kb)
• the Equality Bill 2009 (pdf, 1mb)

We will recognise our community leadership role and use this to work towards a cohesive community in which inequality is tackled and equality promoted.

Contact us:

Scrutiny and Equality Team
Chief Executive’s Directorate
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 2BG

Tel: 020 7364 4521
Fax: 020 7364 4208