Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Somerset
Somerset is a county rich in opportunity, offering exceptional natural beauty, major developments such as Hinkley Point and the Gravity site in Bridgwater, and a thriving arts, food, and hospitality sector. These strengths are underpinned by our commitment to welcoming and including everyone.
We believe that tackling inequality, challenging discrimination, and promoting inclusion are essential to building a fair, cohesive and prosperous community. Somerset Council is committed to leading by example, working collaboratively, investing in communities, and responding to feedback to improve services.
By placing fairness at the heart of our work, and promoting equality of opportunity and community cohesion, we aim to create a more inclusive future for all.
Bill Revans and Duncan Sharkey
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Somerset Council
At Somerset Council, we are committed to creating a fairer, more inclusive county where everyone feels respected, represented and able to thrive.
We embed equality, diversity and inclusion into everything we do—from how we design services and make decisions, to how we support our workforce and engage with communities.
We work in partnership with local organisations and community groups to understand and respond to the diverse needs of Somerset’s residents.
These pages provide insight and understanding about our Equality Objectives, use of Equality impact assessments , our workforce equality data and how we engage communities with partnership working,
The Equality Act 2010
The act covers nine protected characteristics, which cannot be used as a reason to treat people unfairly. Every person has one or more of the protected characteristics, so the act protects everyone against unfair treatment. The protected characteristics are:
- age
- disability
- gender reassignment
- marriage and civil partnership
- pregnancy and maternity
- race
- religion or belief
- sex
- sexual orientation
Carers are protected through association with disability but is not one of the nine protected characteristics.
The Equality Act sets out the different ways in which it is unlawful to treat someone, such as direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, victimisation and failing to make a reasonable adjustment for a disabled person.
The Act prohibits unfair treatment in the workplace, when providing goods, facilities and services, when exercising public functions, in the disposal and management of premises, in education and by associations (such as private clubs).
Equality duties
The General Equality Duty
The Equality Act 2010 also places proactive duties on public authorities, these are called the General Equality Duties. These duties apply to all of the protected characteristics:
- eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
- advance equality of opportunity between people from different groups
- foster good relations between people from different groups
The Specific Equality Duties
The General Equality Duties are supported by two specific duties. These are two duties that ask public authorities to publish information to evidence their compliance with the General Duties and produce objectives to evidence how they will promote and meet the General Equality Duties.
Somerset Equality Objectives 2024 to 2026
- Work across council services and with external partners to deliver a minimum of 2 initiatives that will improve people access to information and services who are otherwise digitally excluded by December 2025
- By 2025, and by working with partners from across the County, improve access to, and information about, public amenities and services for those residents who are otherwise excluded by disability
- A reduction of 15% in the number of cases of school-based peer-on-peer discrimination by April 2026
- Work towards being an Anti-Racist organisation, with a review of progress by December 2025
Monitoring Approach
The Council will, every 6 months, produce an update report, demonstrating the progress that has been made against the council’s objectives, identifying the actions that have been delivered, or are being delivered. The report should also set out what work will be undertaken over the next 6 months.
Somerset Council's Equality Workforce Report
The Workforce Equalities Report provides an overview of the Council’s performance in terms of equalities in relation to employment. It includes workforce data collected and some summary notes where applicable.
• Annual Equality Report 2025 (including Gender Pay Gap)
• Annual Equalities Report 2024
• Somerset Council Gender Pay Gap 2022
Equality Framework for Local Government Peer Assessment
This assessment has highlighted the progress made within the organisation, often in ways that are not immediately visible.
Examples include effective staff support through timely reasonable adjustments, nationally acclaimed initiatives like those in the Quantock Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the valuable contributions of the Rough Sleeper Nursing Team.
As a newly established authority, we acknowledge that there remains work to be done. In some areas, consistency is yet to be achieved; in others, processes are still being refined. Nevertheless, we are dedicated to continuous improvement and delivering the highest standards possible with available resources, serving all who visit, work, or reside in Somerset.
Equality Framework for Local Government (opens in new window)