Initial Screening- Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Housing Strategy
Equality Impact Assessment – screening.
Name of Strategy/Policy: BME Housing Strategy
Date of Assessment: 2nd March 2010
Is this a new or updated Policy? New Updated
How is the Strategy/Policy finalised/adopted: Cabinet/Board Delegated
Lead Officer conducting the assessment: Lauren Humber
Job Title:Housing Strategy Officer
Service area:Housing
Contact details: 01604
Others involved in the assessment
Gary Parsons – Housing Strategy and Policy Manager
Identify what the activity is trying to achieve – why is the Policy/activity required
Northampton Borough Council’s Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) housing strategy has been developed as a result of Government statistics, which show BME communities usually have specific housing needs and aspirations.
To identify specific housing needs and aspirations of BME communities
To ensure that the needs of the BME communities are accounted for during Northampton’s future strategic planning.
To provide warm, dry and secure homes in sustainable neighbourhoods for BME groups
Provide BME residents across the borough with a choice of housing that meets their needs.
To ensure easy access to any of our housing services and that every BME resident is treated fairly without discrimination.
Purpose of the Policy/ Activity.
The BME Housing Strategy is designed to provide a framework to ensure that BME communities in Northampton receive appropriate housing-related services. It links into the Council’s Housing Strategy 2010 - 2015 which over-arches all housing-related strategies.
The Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) housing strategy has been developed specifically to look in detail at BME housing needs and aspirations including difficulties accessing Local Authority services.
The production of this Strategy is an action identified in the Council’s overarching Housing Strategy 2010-2015; to Create Resilient and Cohesive Communities and therefore fits within and complements the Housing Strategy and its vision that: We will support well- maintained, affordable and environmentally sustainable homes of all tenures, and neighbourhoods where people choose to live. We will promote access, opportunity and choice for all sections of our community.
The BME Housing Strategy will conclude with action points that will need to be carried out over the next 5 years to improve BME housing needs across the town.
Identify the main beneficiaries or people affected by the issue
All BME residents and their families living in Northampton.
People from other areas migrating into Northampton.
Individual members of staff asked to deliver on actions from the BME Housing Strategy.
Other Housing support agencies in Northampton
What information exists already?
Northampton Housing Strategy BME Housing Strategy 2007 – 2010
Northamptonshire: Study of Black and Minority Ethnic Housing and Support Needs
Equalities Act 2010
Has any consultation been undertaken on this or related issue?
210 face to face peer interviews
BBC Northampton - The inspiration Show and The Asian Show
4 Focus groups
Talk held with the Northampton Women’s Muslim forum
Consultation period for the BME Housing Strategy will be held from 14th May to 6th August 2010 giving everyone a chance to comment on the new strategy.
Talking New Article on NAB
Are any reports or other relevant documents available from our organisation or from partners or other sources?
Yes- all documents and reports available on NBC web site.
Which parts of the activity have the potentialfor adverse impact or to discriminate unlawfully?
The BME Housing Strategy could have an adverse effect on the following.
Religion
Gender
Race
Disability
Sexuality
Age
These will be looking into in more depth on the full EIA assessment.
Could a particular sector of the community be disadvantaged by the strategy/policy.
Yes No
There could possibly be concern that a strategy designed to assist BME communities may alienate non-BME groups.
Smaller BME groups may get less focus and less resources dedicated to them if there is more housing needs in the larger BME groups.
I agree that this policy/activity should not proceed to a full Impact Assessment
Confirmed by:Lauren HumberSigned by:
Date2nd March 2010
Please attach a copy of this screening to the document it relates
Copy to be sent to Policy Team Leader at
Full Impact Assessment - BME Housing Strategy
Full Equality Impact Assessment -Report
1.0 Introduction
1.1 This report is an Equality Impact Assessment undertaken on the BME Housing Strategy. The assessment will look at perceived risk and adverse impact on particular groups. The Action Plan at the end of this report will set out the plans to follow up this assessment.
1.2 This strategy has been produced as a result of Government statistics, which show BME communities usually, have specific housing needs and aspirations including difficulties accessing Local Authority services and generally live in poorer quality housing.
1.3 Northampton has a growing BME population both in respect of numbers of the BME population and the increasing diversity of that population, it is estimated that the BME population has risen from 12% in 2001 to 16% in 2009. Northampton Borough Council recognises that many BME groups may have different housing needs and we wish to address these needs, so we therefore carried out a Housing Needs survey to identify any needs in which the following key issues were highlighted:
- Increase awareness of housing support and advice services amongst BME communities.
- Develop a specialist housing advice service to support BME households in the Private Rented sector.
- Promote low-cost homeownership products
- Build more larger family sized accommodation
- Ensure Housing is available in preferred areas of the town
- BME sensitive design briefs for all future affordable housing schemes
- Review of standards before council properties are offered for re- letting.
- A review of any staff training needs created by the changing and increasing demands on the service from BME households.
- Commitment to build further relationships with BME communities
1.4Northampton Borough Council recognises that some of these issues affect all ethnicity groups not just BME and we will be delivering and monitoring these actions to improve everyone’s housing needs in Northampton.
2.0 Background
2.1 The BME Housing Strategy is designed to provide a framework to ensure that BME communities in Northampton receive appropriate housing-related services. It will link into the Council’s Housing Strategy 2010- 2015, which over-arches all housing-related strategies and links with a wide range of other local strategies and plans.
2.2 The BME Housing Strategy could have an adverse effect on the following.
Religion
Gender
Race
Disability
Sexuality
Age
2.3 The main perceived problems identified are:
There could possibly be concern that a strategy designed to assist BME communities may alienate non-BME groups.
Smaller BME groups may get less focus and less resources dedicated to them if there is more housing needs in the larger BME groups.
2.4The BME Action Plan 2010 – 2013, is delivering the actions identified within the BME Housing Strategy. These key actions will be taken forward by different Housing departments and are subject to funding and viability. This action plan will be monitored closely by the Housing Strategy Steering Panel. (HSSP)
3.0 Baseline data and research
3.1 The strategy has been developed from the results of a BME Housing Needs Survey, which was carried out by a specialist consultant; Ecotec. Three research methods were used in order to gain the best possible snap shot of Northampton’s BME population and their needs.
3.2Stage one was a desktop review of all available contextual information and data; including Office of National Statistics (ONS), National Census of Population (CENSUS),Congress of Racial Equality(CRE), Continuous Recording system (CORE), data held by the Council e.g. details of service users etc, data from partner organisation e.g. tenant makeup and a literature review of the national, regional and local divers.
3.3Stage two was Semi- Structured interviews done by peer interviewers, in which they completed 210 questionnaires. These questionnaires asked 40 questions relating to:
- Current accommodation
- Current neighbourhood
- Future Housing needs
- Emerging new households
- Support needs
- Access to Housing Services
- Household Makeup
3.4Ecotec used the secondary data to determine how many people from each ethnicity group we needed to complete a proportion of questionnaires. Using the census figures to reflect the increased populations of Black African and White Other groups the numbers of interviews obtained were as follows:
Irish / 15 / Bangladeshi / 15White Other / 44 / Black Caribbean / 29
Mixed ethnic groups / 17 / Black African / 35
Indian / 28 / Chinese / 8
Pakistani / 8 / Other / 11
3.5Stage three was the focus groups and five in depth interviews largely conducted by telephone but with one face to face. The people used in this stage were a mixture of male and female and different age ranges. Those taking part were recruited from those who had completed the main survey and were selected because they fell into one or more of the groups who seemed of most interest e.g. Black African, Other White, renting privately or being dissatisfied with services they had received.
3.6For the purpose of this research Gypsies and travellers were not included within this research as a Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment was commissioned in 2008 to identify the needs of this community in Northamptonshire.
3.7 Full use will been made of existing forums for consultation with partners and other stakeholders during the development of the strategy, and these forums will also provide the basis for on-going discussion of new issues or data etc.
3.8The strategy document contains details of how to feed back comments to the Council, and the ‘MyHome’ newsletter will provide opportunity to feed back on a regular basis.
4.0 BME Housing Action Plan
PRIORITY 1: Improve Housing Services, Advice & InfoNo. / Objective / Milestones & Actions / Monitoring & Progress / Lead person
Start / Finish / Monitored by
1.1 / Increase awareness of housing support and advice services amongst BME communities. / Work in partnership with other support agencies in order to spread the load of expectation but also create awareness and impart reliable information. / September
2010 / March 2011 / HSSP / Housing Solutions Manager
1.2 / Focus on offering housing advice and service information to the newer ethnicities. / September 2010 / March 2012 / HSSP / Housing Solutions Manager
1.3 / Increase publicity through targeted campaigns and through BME group specific literature. / September
2010 / January 2011 / HEAP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager
1.4 / When communicating with tenants, make best use of the tenant profile information to maximise awareness and access to services / September 2010 / March 2011 / HEAP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager
1.5 / Develop a specialist housing advice service to support BME households in the Private Rented sector. / Promote housing advice services through BME group specific literature including website improvements / September 2010 / March 2011 / HEAP / Housing Solutions Manager
1.6
1.7 / Write a private sector housing strategy the aims of which will include improving private sector housing standards from BME residents and non-BME residents. / September 2010 / Feb 2011 / HSSP / Housing Strategy Manager
1.8 / Carry out a stock condition survey of Private rented accommodation. / April 2010 / July 2010 / HSSP / Housing solutions Manger
1.9 / Target landlords in specific BME community areas with literature on their rights and duties. / September 2010 / December 2010 / HSSP / Housing solutions Manger
1.10 / Provide new BME Households through the CBL System into the Private Rented Sector with detailed information on their rights / September 2010 / December 2010 / HSSP / Housing solutions Manger
1.11 / Review of standards before council properties are offered for re- letting. / To carry out a review of Northampton’s re-lettable standards and these to be monitored closely by Property Maintenance Manager. / June 2010 / Mar 2011
Ongoing / HSSP / Property Maintenance Manager/ Housing Service Manager
1.12 / To achieving decent homes standards by 2014. / September 2010 / 2014 / HSSP / Housing Asset Manager
PRIORITY 2: Increase Choice
No. / Objective / Milestones & Actions / Monitoring & Progress / Lead person
Start / Finish / Monitored by
2.1 / Promote low-cost homeownership products / Produce a leaflet explaining in plain English for BME resident and non-BME residents how Shared ownership works and explain other affordable products that are available. / September 2010 / January 2011 / HSSP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager
2.2 / Targeted publicity campaigns and the productionof BME group-specific literature / September 2010 / January
2011 / HSSP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager
2.3 / Ensure Northampton Borough council’s web page on Shared ownership is explained in easy terms and is easily accessible. / August 2010 / January 2011 / HEAP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager
2.4 / Work in partnership with other agencies to produce a resource pack about home ownership and home maintenance / September 2010 / January 2011 / HSSP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager
2.5 / Ensure Housing is available in preferred areas of the town / Build more larger properties in desirable locations / September 2010 / April 2013 / HSSP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager
2.6 / Improve the poorer council estates so they become more desirable as a location to settle. / September 2010 / April 2013 / HSSP /
Housing Services Manager
2.7 / BME sensitive design briefs for all future affordable housing schemes / Development of BME sensitive designbriefs for application to allfuture affordable housing schemes / September 2010 / September 2011 / HSSP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager2.8 / All housing designed for households from minority ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds should follow the principles and guidance set out in NHF Accommodating Diversity – Housing Design in Multicultural Society. / September 2010 / September 2011 / HSSP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager
PRIORITY 3: Looking Ahead
No. / Objective / Milestones & Actions / Monitoring & Progress / Lead person
Start / Finish / Monitored by
3.1 / Build more larger family sized accommodation / Development of planning policies, which ensure that a proportion of new developments are provided as larger properties. / September 2010 /
April 2011
/ HSSP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager3.2 / To build more larger council owned homes or work in partnership with Housing Associations to build larger homes / September 2010 / April 2013 / HSSP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager
3.3 / Develop a programme to increase the supply of affordable homes in the Borough. / September 2010 / April 2013 / HSSP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager
3.4 / A review of any staff training needs created by the changing and increasing demands on the service from BME households. / Training for all frontline housing staff that focuses on dealing with BME housing issues, including interpreting and translating guidance. / September 2010 / May 2011 / HEAP / HR
3.5 / Working in partnership with other organisations to ensure that they deal with BME housing needs efficiently and without discrimination. / September 2010 / January 2011 / HSSP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager
3.6 / Commitment to build further relationships with BME communities / Making sure this document and any further BME focused material is consulted on with all the BME communities. / May 2010 / August 2010 / HSSP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager
3.7 / Expand the BME housing forum / April 2010 / May 2010 / HSSP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager
3.8 / Improve signage in the One Stop Shop. / September 2010 / March 2011 / HSSP / Housing Strategy and Performance Manager
5.0 Consultation
5.1The reason we are carrying out consultation on this document is to inform, publicise and promote interest in this piece of work but to also publicise evidence which backs up why we have written this document and concluded on the key actions we think need addressing.
5.2 Consultation will help to identify and bring together individuals views about housing in Northampton
5.3Consultation will help uncover the extent to which local communities and relevant other stakeholder groups agree with the identified priorities of the
BME Housing Strategy.
5.4 Consultation can help target resources by informing a problem solving approach to devising local solutions to local problems. Communities are often more flexible and creative in problem solving, solution focusing and implementation. Some of there creative ideas could help solve key actions.
5.5Consultation was carried out while developing the strategy making people aware that the Housing Needs Survey is being carried out by Northampton Borough Council and to try and get people involved.
5.6 We have already done the following:
210 face to face peer interviews
Interviews on BBC Northampton - The inspiration Show and The Asian Show
4 Focus groups
Talk held with the Northampton Women’s Muslim forum
Talking New Article on NAB
Made key contacts including community leaders in each BME community.
5.7Consultation period for the BME Housing Strategy will be held from 14th May to 6th August 2010 giving everyone a chance to comment on the new strategy.
5.8We plan to follow the consultation toolkit. The tool kit is broken down into eight steps:
Step 1 - Defining your project aims and objectives
Step 2 - Resourcing your consultation
Step 3 - The level and method of consultation required
Step 4 - Identifying with whom to consult
Step 5 - making sure your consultation is inclusive
Step 6 - Planning your consultation
Step 7 - Using the results
Step 8 - Evalution of your consultation
5.9 Once all comments have been received at the end of the consultation process we plan to evaluate this and amend the strategy to suit the end user. (The people we have consulted with).
6.0 Results of the consultation
(Insert at end of consultation period)
7.0 Assessment of impact on particular groups
7.1 Religion
7.1.1 There could possibly be concern that the strategy may have adverse impact because there is no provision for the preference of some religious beliefs to have separate living rooms for males and females. However, with the limited stock available and high demand for housing, granting such a preference would create an adverse impact on those applicants with caring responsibilities who require large family-sized properties.