Equality impact Assessment form (Part 1)Screening

Name of function:

Clean Neighbourhoods Environmental Protection Act Waste & Street Cleansing

Name and telephone number of officers completing assessment:

Frank Etheridge x6219
Nic Martlew x6218

Date completed:

06/04/2009
Section one: Identify your aims and objectives

The purpose of an Equality Impact Assessment is to improve the work of the Council by making sure it does not discriminate and that, where possible, it promotes equality. It is a way to make sure individuals and teams think carefully about the likely impact of their work on people in Reigate & Banstead and take action to improve strategies, policies, procedures, projects and functions where appropriate.

Consider the following questions with regard to your strategy/policy/procedure/project/function:

·  How will it be put into practice and who will be responsible for it?

·  Who are the key stakeholders?

·  What are you trying to achieve and for whom?

What is the main aim or purpose of the function?

Protection of public health and the environment

List the main activities or objectives of the /function

(for strategies list the main policy areas):

Public Health
Cleanliness of Land

Who are main beneficiaries of the function and in what way?

Public as their health is protected
Public, business and commerce in the receipt of advice and information
Protection of environment for residence, commerce and visitors.
Section two: Consider data and research

A vital part of the process is exploring any available data and relevant research. This will help to form an opinion on the implications a strategy/policy/procedure/project/function may have in relation to equality and diversity.

Data can be statistical information from formal audits, consultation exercises (both external and internal), and surveys. Qualitative and quantitative data can be used. This may include service performance information, workforce profiles, local population and census data.

·  Statistical data can be found in the About the Borough section of The Knowledge under Facts and figures

·  Consultation data can be found in the About the Borough section under Consultations

Where data is limited or not available managers should identify this as a limitation and devise action plans to overcome this. This may be achieved by contacting specialist organisations, representatives from the respective equality groups, and by further research of existing regional and national data.

What data is available to help inform the EIA?

Statistical data for the Borough – Equalities Information Sheets.
Statistical data for Borough – National Indicator 195
MORI survey in connection Public perception of cleanliness
Customer feedback from public

Are there any gaps which may require further research or consultation?

None identified.


Section three: Assess the impact on equality target groups

Assess where you think that the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function could have a negative impact on any of the equality target groups i.e. it could disadvantage them or where it could have a positive impact or contribute to promoting equality, equal opportunities or improving relations within equality target groups.

Consider the following:

·  publicity, including design, distribution, accessible communications issues

·  physical access

·  location, geography

·  poverty, deprivation and social exclusion issues

·  employment

·  safety

·  direct discrimination: does the strategy, policy or project intentionally exclude a particular equality category? Is this justified?

·  indirect discrimination: does the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function affect some equality categories disproportionately? Is this justified? Is the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function or its outcomes (such as the services provided) likely to be equally accessed by all? Are there barriers that might inhibit or restrict access to the service for some people?

This section can be difficult to answer in areas where there is little or no information but lack of data should not be a reason to halt the process. Please continue to complete this form.

Using the table below, take each one of the equality target groups and predict the likely impact on people from these groups. Impact can be positive, negative, direct or indirect. You do not have to complete all the boxes. Only those where there is a disproportionate or greater impact either way.

/ Positive impact (itcould benefit) / Neutral / Negative impact
(it could disadvantage) /

Reason

/

Gender

/ Women / X /
High Low
/ Services supplied regardless of gender.
Men / X /
High Low
/ As above
Transgendered Men/Women / X /
High Low
/ As above

Race

The categories used in the Race section are those used in the 2001 census. Consideration should be given to the needs of specific communities within the broad categories. / Asian /
High Low
/ Accessible communication may be an issue where English not the first language, particularly ability to read it.
Black /
High Low
Mixed race /
High Low
White people /
High Low
Chinese people /
High Low
Other - specify /
High Low

Disability

Long term health impairment could include, mental health problems, asthma, heart conditions, chronic fatigue etc. / Physical /
High Low
/ Main offices are Earlswood Depot. We do not expect public to visit
Customer interaction is in the Customer Services in Reception and Helpshops all of which are DDA compliant.
Other areas of contact include access by Internet, Post and Fax.
Refer to EIA for Council’s Website
Sensory /
High Low
/ Neutral as we have measures in place to deal with this, including can be :
Appropriate font sizes;
File formats that can be read by computers;
Web authoring to assist reading software;
Use of dictaphones for partially sighted;
DAT operation explained in images as well as text;
Enlarged documents
Audio tapes
Learning /
High Low
/ Use of audio tapes;
Personal assistance;
Dictaphones;
Long Term Health Impairment /
High Low
/ The website provides remote access to information and Council Services. This is a benefit to those unable to physically move location easily due to a health impairment.
Sexual orientation / Lesbians, gay men and bisexuals /
High Low
/ The service has not been directed to any specific group based on their sexual orientation, no impact expected
We have arrangements in place to rapidly remove graffiti which may be offensive on sexual orientation grounds grounds

Age

/ Older people (50 +) /
High Low
/ Where due to age or age related conditions we provide additional assistance, such as visiting where normally we would not.
Alternative investigative techniques would be considered.
Younger people
(17-25), and children /

High Low

/ Should be positive benefit as policies seek to deliver better education and youth facilities.
Religion and belief
Faith groups cover a wide range of groupings, the most common of which are Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, and Sikhs. Consider faith categories individually and collectively when considering positive and negative impacts. / Faith groups /

High Low

/ Services are provided to all respecting their religion or belief. We have arrangements in place to rapidly remove graffiti which may be offensive on faith grounds

If you have indicated there is a potential negative impact on any group, are these Legal, Intentional and of a High Impact?

Legal? - i.e. not discriminatory under anti-discriminatory legislation?

If uncertain contact Legal Services Yes No
Intended? – i.e. can be justified in terms of legislation

e.g. Concessionary fares over 60s Yes No

High impact? – i.e. if is or may be discriminatory

against some groups. Yes No

Is the negative impact

NOT INTENDED and/or of HIGH IMPACT and/or ILLEGAL?

·  If yes, a full assessment is required. Please complete the Equality impact assessment form Part Two: Full assessment.

·  If no, complete the rest of this form below and consider if completing the Equality impact assessment form Part Two: Full assessment would be helpful in making a thorough assessment.

Section four: Improvement planning

It is important to consider any influence the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function is having, or could potentially have, on the individual strands of equality. The strategy/policy/procedure/project/function should be examined for its effectiveness in:

·  promoting equality

·  eliminating discrimination

·  achieving equity

Could you minimise or remove any low negative impact or improve the positive impact of the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function and if so how?

Analysis must be undertaken with the strategic objectives of the Council in mind and the questions should reflect legal requirements, the emerging Local Development Framework and population needs.

Use the table below to record how you could minimise or remove any low negative impact or improve the positive impact of the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function:

Issue / Action /
Disability: Learning & Sensory – improving dissemination of information. / To consider the use of MP3 audio files for disseminating information, via internet and by other means.
General staff awareness of facilities. / Provision of refresher training/ circulation of accessibility document.
Disability: Physical / To accommodate disabilities we would arrange a “one to one” visit by a representative of the service
Race / Learning: Legal Documentation / Some translation can be carried out however for legal documents then these must be presented in English. However, we could use a document with a paragraph advising the recipient to obtain assistance in multiple languages to accompany the notice – a proforma already exists. Facilities exit within the council to provide translations and alternative formats on request

If there is no evidence that the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function promotes equality, equal opportunities or improved relations – could it be adapted so that it does? How?

N/A
Section five: Monitoring and reviewing

What data do you have which monitors the impact of the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function on minority groups?

We have some limited data in from customer survey in connection with the Borough Surveys.
Conducting and attending community events and providing regular road-shows for the purpose of customer contact and supplying educational literature.
Close liaison with the Local Community Action Planning Team.

How is this data used?

The customer survey is used to alter service provision. Any additional questions would also do the same.

If there is no data, please explain how you intend to continue monitoring the impact of this strategy/policy/procedure/project/function:

Please send a copy of the completed form to the Equalities Steering Group, via Lorraine Hatton at .

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