The background to the scheme is the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. The law places a duty on the Council to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination, and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups. Under that law, which came into force in April 2001, the Council must consider the effect of race relations on all its functions.
The current scheme sets out the work that the Council has carried out since 1998 to improve its approach to racial equality. It also sets out the actions the Council will take to meet the general duty.