Equality Impact Assessment Recording Form
This is a new and important process that will require different perspectives to be considered and, in some cases, difficult decisions may need to be made about policy and service delivery.
Whilst it is necessary to identify a lead officer, it is advised that they do not undertake the impact assessment on their own, but set up a group comprising a diverse range of staff responsible for delivery the service, there may also be an opportunity to include a customer, stakeholder, partner or critical friend to get a more rounded understanding of the full implications of the policy, practice, service or function.
For more information on carrying out the assessment please refer to the guidance notes or contact the Equalities and Diversity Officer or your Department's Equality Champion.
STEP1 Equality Impact Assessment Team
Name of Policy:Housing and Economic Development Strategy 2015 - 2020
Assessment Team Leader Name:Allison Westray-Chapman
Directorate Responsible: GrowthService Area: Housing Strategy Economic Development
Other members of the assessment team:
Name / Position / Area of ExpertiseAllison Westray-Chapman / AD Economic Growth / Economic development
Sarah Chapman / Housing strategy and Enabling Manager / Housing Strategy
Jessica Clayton / Partnership Performance and Sustainability Officer / Statistical Analysis
STEP2 Identifying the aims/objectives of the policy, practice, service or function
Questions1 / What are the main aims and objectives or purpose of the policy, practice, service or function?
The Strategy provides a strategic framework for the council to meet its statutory duties as the Housing Authority to plan, assess and meet housing need in the area and to meet the corporate plan target to enhance and improve the wealth profile, wellbeing and quality of life for the communities of Bolsover District
The Strategic Priorities are:
- Supporting enterprise: Maintaining and Growing the business base
- Maximising employment, skills and training opportunities
- Enabling Housing Growth
- Unlocking the potential of major employment and housing sites
- Town Centres: realise the vitality and viability of town centres
- Developing the rural and visitor economy
- Enabling people to live in and sustain their own homes
- Prevent and reduce homelessness
- Inequalities
- Welfare reform
- Design quality
- Marketing
- Health
The Strategy will seek to provide a spatial picture of the key hot spot areas and identify opportunities for targeted work in those areas together with an overview of action required to meet the housing and economic growth and needs across the whole district.
2 / Are there any associated services, policies or procedures? Yes
If ‘Yes’ please list below
- Local Plan
- Growth Strategy
- Sustainable Communities Strategy
- HRA Business Plan
- HRA Asset Management Strategy
- Emerging Core Strategy
- Local Investment Plan
- HMA Private Sector Housing Strategy
- Homelessness Strategy
- Allocations and Lettings Policy
- Tenancy Strategy
- Gypsy and Traveller Assessment 2014 (Derbyshire and East Staffordshire)
- Safeguarding Adults
- Safeguarding Children
- Adaptations Policy
- Procurement policy
- Corporate Plan
- DCC Economic Strategy
- NPPF – national planning policy framework
- SCR and D2N2 Economic Plans
3 / Who is affected by this policy, practice, service or function, or by the way it is carried out? i.e. Who are the internal and external
customers, groups, communities or any other stakeholders?
Those affected by the Strategy include:
- Residents
- Social Tenants
- Owner occupiers
- First time buyers
- Households with support needs
- Private rented tenants
- Developers and private builders
- Partner delivery agencies
- Registered providers
- Local Businesses
- Tourists/visitors
4 / Who implements, carries out or delivers the policy, practice, service or function? Please state where more than one person, team,
department or body? – and include any outside organisations who deliver under procurement arrangements etc.
- Housing Strategy and Enabling Team
- Economic Development Team
- Housing Options Team
- Environmental Health Private Sector Housing Team
- Housing ServicesPlanning services
- Private sector landlords
- Registered providers
- Derbyshire CC, including Children Services and Supporting People Team
- Sheffield City Region (Growth Hub)
- D2N2 (Growth Hub)
- Partnership working with CBC and BDC
- Partner agencies, such as Women’s Aid, Groundwork Creswell, Probation Services, Citizens Advice Bureau
- Homes and Communities Agency (HCA)
- Developers
5 / Is the policy, practice, service or function affected by external drivers for change? e.g. new legislation, national policy, external
inspection etc.
Housing Policy and EconomicGrowth is a key area of government policy and this drives much of the work of Strategic Housing and Economic Development.
The Plan for Growth was written by theDepartment for Business Innovation and Skills(BIS) and recognises that the UK has a number of strengths that need to be built upon for growth to occur
Strategic Economic Plan – A Focused 10 Year Plan for Private Sector Growth 2015-2025 – March 2014, this plan was written by SCR in response to the Government’s request for LEPs to submit plans for growth for their areas
The UK’s Most Inspirational Postcode: D2N2’s Strategic Economic Plan was also written in response to the government’s request for LEP’s and in this plan SCR set out the issues faced in the area, how they are going to tackle those issues, and also what they felt they needed from the Government in order to be able to achieve that.
National Planning Policy Framework which sets out the governments planning policies for England and how it is expected to be applied.
Derbyshire Economic Strategy Statement (DESS) The DESS brings together the ambitions and growth objectives of all the local authorities, private and third sector partners across Derbyshire and sets out the opportunities to drive economic growth.
Specific areas of housing strategy are also heavily legislated and influenced by case law, for example Homelessness and the allocationsand lettings of council homes.
Laying the Foundations: A Housing Strategy for England 2011 - The aim was to help drive local economies and create jobs by unblocking the housing market and stimulating house building.
The Localism Act - introduced a number of significant reforms which impacted significantly on the way we as a council work with partners to deliver housing. Changes to policy included;
- changes to the HRA financing system, and;
- Welfare Reforms
- Homelessness Strategy
- Allocations and Lettings policy, and
- Tenancy Strategy
6 / What existing or previous inspections of the policy, practice, service or function are there? E.g. Best Value Inspections, policy reviews, research into the effects of a policy or practice.
.
7 / How is information about the policy, practice, service or function publicised?
The Strategy is a public document and has been prepared in consultation with members, residents and stakeholders. The final strategy will be made available onthe council’s website and will be circulated to partners and stakeholders.
Housing Strategy and Economic Development work has been and will be promoted at stakeholder and partner events. At an appropriate time the strategy will be formally launched.
Staff from the two services attend at whole range of meetings with partners and stakeholders where information about our service is relayed.
STEP 3 Equality Impact Assessment
Although this form is set out under the six strands of equality we are focusing on (race, disability, gender, age, religion and belief and sexuality), consider any impacts/barriers that might cross over between race/disability, gender/religion and belief, sexuality/age etc. or all three. Use the boxes on the next couple of pages to indicate where the policy, practice, service or function could have a positive or negative impact for different groups and your reasons.
Race
This question looks broadly at adverse impacts/barriers in terms of race, whilst the next page considers adverse impacts/barriers which may be particular to people from one ethnic group.
Question 9 considers impact/barriers for different ethnic groups within the five broad census headings.
8 / Identify an adverse impacts/barriers of the policy or procedure on people who may be disadvantaged because of their race9 / Broad categories used in 2001 census / The Bolsover Population is predominantly white British according to the latest Census (2011) figures. Therefore the Ethic groups are relatively small. This makes up 3.7% of the Bolsover Population. On this basis firstly, it would seem reasonable to consider any adverse impacts/barriers of the Economic Development and Housing Strategy on all Ethnic Groups and then secondly, identify any particular groups where there is a specific impact/barrier, which will be detailed below.
An assumption is made here that within these smaller groups there may be a potential language barrier, therefore language needs should be addressed as they arise in terms of the strategy and accessing housing and or employment related support.
- Asian or Asian British
- Black or Black British
- Chinese
- Dual Heritage
- White
- Any other people
Again, here an assumption is made here that within these smaller groups there may be a potential language barrier in therefore language needs should be addressed as they arise in terms of accessing service and accessing relevant information.
- Gypsies and Travellers
- Asylum Seekers and Refugees
10 / Where do you think improvements could be made for people of different racial groups?
- The website does not have facilities for those whose first language is not English, however there is Google translate action to re direct too if appropriate. Also there are contact details for the translation service on the website.
- The strategy is written in English but can be ordered translated in a different language to alleviate the language barrier.
Gender
It is worthwhile remembering that women and men have different priorities in relation to what services they want and different needs for how these are provided. Men-only or women-only delivery for some services could be an option.
11 / Identify any adverse impact/barriers of policy, practice, service or function on people who may be disadvantaged because of their gender.Women / No impact/barriers because of gender
Men / No impact/barriers because of gender
Transgender / No impact/barriers because of gender
12 / Where do you think improvements could be made for people experiencing disadvantage because of their gender?
If any of the above are suffering from Domestic Violence/Hate crime DCC has recently announced cuts in its Adult Social Care Housing Related Support funding (formerly supporting people budget) housing related support and homeless prevention projects locally, including tenancy support to young people, people with mental health and complex needs and householdsaffected by domestic abuse. However as part of the Housing and Economic Development Strategy We are currently working closely with partners locally at Derbyshire County Council to remodel many of the services and ensure that Bolsover still benefits from the resources available and is able to continue offering quality services as a direct service provider.
Disability
All service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities, including physical features of premises, so it is advisable to anticipate any adjustments that may be required. Consider the barriers faced by different groups of people with disabilities as listed in the boxes below. Note also that changes to legislation mean that conditions such as MS, HIV and cancer are now included under the DDA from the time of diagnosis.
13 / Identify any adverse impact/barriers of policy, practice, service or function on people who may be disadvantaged because of their disability.Disability in Bolsover is particularly high amongst male groups 25.4% of the male population which ranks Bolsover the 4th highest (ONS 2011) which spans across both physical and mental disability.
People with physical or mobility impairments / Where a homelessness duty has been accepted it may take longer to find suitable accommodation for someone with particular housing needs, such as adaptations. The strategy will promote and help support people with a physical or mobility impairment to help them live independently, for example striving to build lifetime homes and extra care housing.
May have an impact on job opportunitiesas decreases the employment options available, however the strategy willbe maximising employment, skills and training opportunities which people within this category may be able to take advantage of.In addition to this, where possible employment support will be provided through the use of available and relevant external funding opportunities.
People with sensory impairments (hearing, visual and speech) / People with sensory impairments may find it harder to access the services provided. However, specialist sign language providers and translators have been used in the past where these were required.
The website is installed with Browse Aloud which allows people with a visual impairment to access website data. Documents can be converted to a Braille document if required.
People who use mental health services / The Housing service and employment programmes within the council work with partner agencies to support those with complex needs, including mental health problems.
People with learning disabilities / The Housing service work with partner agencies to support those with complex needs, including those with learning disabilities.
People who have a non-visible condition such as epilepsy or diabetes / N/a
14 / Where do you think improvements could be made for people experiencing disadvantage because of their disability?
Part of the Strategy is to continue working with partner/voluntary organisation to support people with disabilitiesand complex needs.
Age
When answers the following questions consider the needs of the wider age range of District
15 / Identify any adverse impact/barriers of policy, practice, service or function on people who may be disadvantaged because of their age.0-9 / Legally, people under the age of 16 are supported through DCC Children’s Services, rather than the council
10-15 / Legally, people under the age of 16 are supported through DCC Children’s Services, rather than the council.
16-19 / 16 and 17 years are generally classed as vulnerable young people and under the Derbyshire Wide Protocol for 16 and 17 year olds will more than likely be supported by DCC’s Children’s Services, should they become homeless, need housing support or advice. If there is no duty owed by Social Care, the housing options team will continue to provide advice and support and may have a duty to find accommodation.
The strategy identifies employment barriers for young people and as such sets out actions with young people to create skills and training for employment (this could also be through the education curriculum).
20-29 / The strategy identifies issues around young people accessing suitable accommodation and as such sets out actions which support young people into suitable and sustainable housing.
New legislations regarding the under occupation charge (bedroom tax) for social tenants could cause rent arrears therefore becoming unaffordable and creating poverty, the strategy identifies this issue and as such sets out actions and by working with the Housing service to make best use of housing stock for tenants affected.
The strategy identifies employment barriers and as such sets out actions to create skills and training for employment.
30-44 / Barriers to housing for under 35’s affected by the Government changes to the Local Housing Allowance.
Under occupation charge (bedroom tax) – see above
45-59 / Under occupation charge (bedroom tax) - see above
Unemployment – people of this age group who are unemployed can sometimes find it difficult to find new employment due to their age, or can struggle to re-train themselves for a change in employment
60-64 / The strategy identifies housing for older people as a particular challenge for the council and as such the action plan sets out a number of actions that will deliver housing and housing support services to older people.
Unemployment – people of this age group who are unemployed can sometimes find it difficult to find new employment due to their age, or can struggle to re-train themselves for a change in employment.
65-74 / As above
75-over / As above
16 / Where do you think improvements could be made for people experiencing disadvantage because of their age?
Religion and Belief