“WE need to demonstrate to the public that we are doing our best and considering equalities in all our projects” – that’s the message from a councillor for Wokingham Borough Council (WBC).

Liberal Democrats councillor Sarah Kerr is set to ask members from across parties to join her in demanding the authority shows its compliance with equality impact assessments in the future.

This comes after a number of concerns were raised by Cllr Kerr and other residents about whether visually impaired people were properly considered when Market Place was being redeveloped.

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Cllr Kerr told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Councils are supposed to show their compliance with equality assessments – they need to show they have considered equalities in their process.

“I have found that doesn’t seem to be the case at our council – there were points in the Market Place redevelopment which were a problem.

“I spoke with the head of governance (at WBC) to see if we could put something in place.

“The whole point of this motion is to ensure that they are done where necessary.

“We need to demonstrate to the public that we are doing our best and considering equalities in all our projects.”

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The Lib Dem councillor hopes councillors will support a motion which will see the assessment reports are “easily accessible” on the council’s website if it is approved.

Conservative council leader Cllr John Halsall is set to second the motion, and he told the LDRS: “It is the sort of thing we are already doing anyway – we already do what the motion says so it is just reaffirming what we do.”

Other measures included in the motion would see newly elected members undertake equalities training as part of their induction, with executive members also having to participate in the sessions.

Labour councillor Andy Croy added: “The council does equality assessments but these have been tick box exercises rather than meaningful assessments leading to meaningful responses.

“For example in the town centre, it just wasn’t taken into account at a sufficient level.”

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Councillors are set to vote on the motion at a WBC meeting on Thursday, July 18.