PENDLE Council's executive committee will be asked to approve the borough's draft scheme on racial equality on Thursday so that it can be put out for public consultation.

The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 requires the council to have a racial equality scheme in place, which will show how it will go about mainstreaming race equality in to all its functions and policies, how it will assess present and future proposals for their impact on racial equality and arrangements for staff training.

Various local bodies and organisations, including the county council, police, primary care trust, area committees, trade unions and the leisure trust, will be sent a copy for comment and the draft scheme will be put on the website.

A short summary leaflet will also be prepared for distribution to libraries, community centre, health centres, council offices and community groups to invite comments from members of the public.

The scheme consists of the council's race equality values, principles and standards, its race equality strategic aims, how it will meet the criteria of the Race Relations Act, an action plan and timetable, its race equality targets and performance indicators, how it deals with complaints and how it will consult with staff.