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 / Darren Williams
e-mail address /
Full job title / Network & Infrastructure 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? / To encourage more Community Councils to take over responsibility for the funding of existing School Crossing Patrols.
Under existing legislation the delivery function of the service cannot be transferred and must remain with the Local Highway Authority.
As part of this review, risk assessments are being undertaken on existing patrol sites to determine the level of risk of removal if Community Councils are unwilling to fund.
Copies of the risk assessment have been forwarded to affected Community Councils to help inform deliberations.
How:
How will the policy be delivered, by whom and by when? / Wrexham County Borough Council’s Environment Department will carry out consultation with Community Councils and other interested groups including impacted Schools.
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? / The impact will depend entirely on whether Community Councils are prepared to fund these positions and subsequently the outcomes of the risk assessment.
Subject to the outcomes of the risk assessment exercise, existing sites may be considered no longer necessary on the basis that they do not meet the current guidance. This will have an impact on existing WCBC staff and those who utilise the service (i.e. school children and members of the local community, particularly the more vulnerable)
A meeting has been held in October with all School Crossing Patrols to provide details on the exercise the Council is currently undertaking with the Community Councils.
Further meetings will be arranged with staff members following completion of the consultation exercise with the relevant Community Councils.
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.
Consultation letters have been sent to those schools that would be affected by the cessation of the School Crossing Patrol service.
Measures:
How will you know you have achieved your aims?
What are your measures / indicators of success? / The budget will have been reduced by £77,000
Success would be defined as the budget reduction achieved (i.e. Community Councils fund the School Crossing Patrol Service)
Identify any other policy or decision [internal or external] that may affect your proposale.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 proposalwith have a positive or negative affect any of theprotected 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 proposalsignificantly affect how functions are delivered to any of these groups? / N/A / - / N/A / - / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A
Q2
Would this discriminate any of these groups? / N/A / Yes / N/A / Yes / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A
Q3
Would this proposal advance the equality of opportunity for these groups? / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A
Q4
Would this promote good relations between these groups and the wider community? / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A / N/A

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 therelevantsections of the Matrix below. You need to consider:

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

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

Parents/carers and children

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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 / N/A
Age CYP -18 / Consultation letters have been sent to all schools affected seeking a collective view on the proposals from those likely to be affected. / Irrespective of the outcomes of the consultation and risk assessment exercise, this is a frontline service which is clearly visible and there will be perceived concerns regarding any changes.
Road accidents are sporadic in nature. No matter what measures are provided, there will always be an element of risk. / The Council is proactively implementing measures to improve safety outside schools
(i.e. 20mph speed limits) / Darren Williams / Education / 2014
Age Adult +18 / N/A
Disability / It is widely accepted that those with mobility impairments benefit from the provision of this service. No data to support / Any reductions in the provision of the School Crossing Patrol Service could potentially impact on social mobility for this particular group. / The Council is proactively implementing measures to improve safety outside schools (i.e. 20mph zones). / Darren Williams / N/A / 2014
Gender / Sex / N/A
Pregnancy and Maternity / N/A
Race/ Ethnicity / N/A
Religion or Belief / N/A
Sexual Orientation / N/A
Marriage and Civil Partnership / N/A
Gender Reassignment / N/A

Please complete this text box within12 months of implementation of the proposal:

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