Equality Impact Assessment Template

Compulsory for all proposals

Throughout this document we use the word ‘proposal’ to refer to what we are assessing. In this context, the term includes the different things that we do, including strategies, functions, procedures, practices, policies, initiatives and projects.

Wrexham County Borough Council has developed this template with support from the Equality and Human Rights Commission template and the Welsh Local Government Association.

This template covers all equality assessment needs from initial screening to a full Impact Assessment, by following the 6 steps:

1. Screening the equality needs of the policy

2. Data collection and evidence

3. Involvement and consultation

4. Assessing impact and strengthening the policy

5. Procurement and partnerships

6. Monitoring, evaluating and reviewing

The aim of an equality impact assessment (EIA) is to ensure that equality issues have been consciously considered throughout the decision making processes of the work we do.

The EIA highlights any areas of risk and maximises the benefits of proposals in terms of equality. It therefore helps to ensure we have considered everyone affected by the proposal. It also helps us to meet our requirements under the general equality duties.

There is a requirement under Human Rights legislation for Local Authorities to consider Human Rights in developing proposals. Our approach to EIAs will help us to strengthen our work to promote equality. It will also help to identify and address any potential discriminatory effects before introducing something new or changing way we work and reduce the risk of potential legal challenges.

When carrying out an EIA you should consider both the negative and positive consequences of your proposals. If a project is designed for a specific group, you also need to think about what potential effects it could have on other areas of equality.

Department / Environment
Responsible Officer / Del Solari
e-mail address /
Full job title / Resources Services Manager
Rationale:
Why is this proposal being considered?
What need is being addressed? / Part of the Reshaping Services Agenda. This is part of a budget reduction programme for the Environment Department.
Aim:
What is the intended outcome of the proposal? / Transferral of Rural Public Conveniences to Community Councils or closure if Community Councils don’t wish to take on the responsibility.
How:
How will the policy be delivered, by whom and by when? / Wrexham County Borough Council’s Environment Department will carry out the reduction in the budget by offering the management of the rural toilets to the Community Councils by 1st April 2014. If the Community Councils don’t want to take them on, they will be closed and removed.
Who:
Who are the people likely to be affected by this proposal?
How have you consulted with the people who are likely to be affected? / Local community and visitors to the area.
If the Community Council’s take over the management of the toilets, then users shouldn’t be greatly affected. If they are closed, there will be a minimal impact on the Community, as usage is very low for the toilets.
Public consultation as part of Re-shaping Services undertaken, after 12th November Board meeting. The results of the public consultation will be fed into the January 14th Executive Board meeting
Measures:
How will you know you have achieved your aims?
What are your measures / indicators of success? / The budget will have been reduced by £18,000
Success would be defined as the budget reduction achieved, without a major reduction in local community and visitor satisfaction .
Identify any other policy or decision [internal or external] that may affect your proposal e.g Welfare Reforms / N/A

Screening Tool

As part of our annual Equality Return we have to evidence what we have actively done to support people with Protected Characteristics within our services, and also evidence where we may have a negative impact what we are doing to reduce the impact.

Please place a ‘+’ or ‘-‘symbol in every box to indicate whether your proposal with have a positive or negative affect any of the protected characteristics. If there is no impact at all place ‘n/a’. If there is a positive and negative effect indicate both:

Carers / Age
CYP
-18 / Age
Adults
18+ / Disability / Gender / Sex / Pregnancy and Maternity / Race/ Ethnicity / Religion or Belief / Sexual Orientation / Marriage and Civil Partnership / Gender Reassignment
Q1
Would this proposal significantly affect how functions are delivered to any of these groups? / No / No / No / No / No / No / No / No / No / No / No / No
Q2
Would this discriminate any of these groups? / No / No / No / Possibly / No / Possibly / No / No / No / No / No
Q3
Would this proposal advance the equality of opportunity for these groups? / No / No / No / No / No / No / No / No / No / No / No
Q4
Would this promote good relations between these groups and the wider community? / N/A / No / No / No / No / No / No / No / No / No

Where you have identified a positive impact (+) above, please describe this:

Where you have identified no impact (n/a) above, please describe this:

If you have indicated a possible negative effect on any Protected Characteristic then please complete the relevant sections of the Matrix below. You need to consider:

What is the likely scale of the impact and how this can be reduced?

If the Community Councils are willing to accept the cost of managing the toilets, then there should not be a major impact on the protected groups, as the service will continue. The quality of the toilet buildings is poor and investment is required, which the County Borough is not able to provide. If they are closed, there maybe an impact on pregnant women and disabled people, in particular, however, impact is likely to be minimal, as usage is very low for the toilets.

Who are the people who are likely to be affected by this proposal?

Visitors and local community.

Equality Impact Assessment

/ List what information have you used to identify these issues e.g. consultation, stakeholder involvement, reports, data … / Based on the information you have gathered give a summary of key issues that have been identified. / How will we mitigate these issues to improve the service? / Who is responsible officer for delivering the mitigation? / Which other departments will you work with to achieve this? / By when / Service Plan Reference /
Carers
Age CYP -18
Age Adult +18
Disability / Usage survey of the toilets carried out in June/July, 2013 / Low usage and poor quality of toilet buildings. / If the Community Council takes over the toilets, the service will continue. If the Welsh Government public facility grant scheme continues, we could facilitate local businesses to enter the scheme to provide toilets, in areas where they are closed. / Del Solari / Assets and Economic Development / 1st April, 2014
Gender / Sex / N/A
Pregnancy and Maternity / Usage survey of the toilets carried out in June/July, 2013 / Low usage and poor quality of toilet buildings. / See above / See above / See above / See above / See above
Race/ Ethnicity
Religion or Belief
Sexual Orientation
Marriage and Civil Partnership / N/A
Gender Reassignment / N/A

Please complete this text box within 12 months of implementation of the proposal:

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