Bournemouth Town Council’s Equalities Policy will be discussed at full council after Reform councillors voted to remove wording about equal access to council services for all residents. A removed section from Bournemouth Town Council's Equalities Policy will be raised at full council. The change was agreed by Reform councillors during a finance committee meeting, and it affects wording which said council services should remain accessible and available to all residents on an equal basis. Councillor Jeff Hanna said the Town Clerk had advised that the recommended policy used standard wording f
A removed section from Bournemouth Town Council's Equalities Policy will be raised at full council.
The change was agreed by Reform councillors during a finance committee meeting, and it affects wording which said council services should remain accessible and available to all residents on an equal basis.
Councillor Jeff Hanna said the Town Clerk had advised that the recommended policy used standard wording from legislation, and said similar protections were included by BCP Council when proposals are considered.
Councillor Hanna said he intends to raise the matter on September 24, so the council can consider restoring the section and show support for "every resident, whatever their gender, age, disability, race or ethnicity".
Councillor Kieron Franklin said claims that the council had removed protections from disabled people, older residents, women or ethnic minorities were "simply untrue", because the change applied to an internal policy.
He said the committee "did not, and could not" remove rights under the Equality Act 2010, adding that residents retain the same legal protections and that Bournemouth Town Council will follow the law.
