Stage 1: Scope of the Equality Impact Assessment
** NB. It is important that your Equality Champion (See Corporate, Equality and Young People on WySpace for a current list) is aware that the EIA is being undertaken, and is kept updated throughout the entire process **
1. What is being assessed? (Title or description of the policy, strategy, service, function (this includes reports to Cabinet as appropriate)).And who implements this policy, strategy, service or function?
The emerging Delivery & Site Allocations Document for Town Centres and Managing Development (Development Plan Document). This document is also known as the DSA.
Previously the DSA has been made up of three draft documents;
1) The Wycombe Development Framework Goes Site Specific: Preferred Options Site Allocations DPD, February 2007
2) Delivering the Strategy for Wycombe: Delivery & Site Allocations Update Consultation DPD, June 2009
3) Wycombe Delivery & Site Allocations Document: Delivering the Strategy for Wycombe, June 2010 Update
These documents have now been consolidated into one document, taking into account changes to the planning system at a national and regional level. This document will be subject to further public consultation followed by submission to central government in spring 2012.
The DSA is produced by the Planning Policy team, within Planning & Sustainability.
The DSA is implemented by anyone / organisation who delivers development and services within the district (public, private and voluntary sectors).
2. What is the purpose? (A short statement about its aim or objectives)
The DSA is the second document to be produced as part of the Wycombe Development Framework. The DSA sets out site specific proposals for the three town centre centres in the district up to 2026, including the High Wycombe town centre masterplan, together with a series of key policies to manage development across the District. The DSA is intended to translate the high level policies of the Core Strategy into more detailed policies and site-specific allocations that will enable development to be delivered. It also addresses the infrastructure needed to support development.
The DSA no longer includes proposals and policies relating to housing and employment land issues outside of the town centres. The Council’s current position on these issues is set out in Position Statement on Housing and Land for Business (July 2011). The purpose of the Position Statement is to inform planning decisions until such time as these policy areas are reviewed through the forthcoming review of the Wycombe Development Framework Core Strategy.
3. Who is affected? (The people it covers)
Everyone who lives, works or visits in the district.
4. Are there any other organisations involved in delivery? (Other agencies, Voluntary sector)
The delivery of sites allocated within the DSA will mainly be undertaken by private developers.
Supporting agencies for delivery include:
· Buckinghamshire County Council
· Highways Agency
· Public transport providers
· Other public service providers
· Registered Social Landlords.
5. What are the external drivers for change? (i.e. Legal, National Policy, Partnership, etc)
The 2004 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act introduced a new system of “plan-making” for local planning authorities, with a system of Local Development Frameworks (LDF). LDFs consist of a series of documents that set out the policies and proposals for the use of land and form part of the Development Plan for the district. The DSA is the second document to be produced within the Wycombe Development Framework. The programme for the delivery of the Wycombe Development Framework is set out in our Local Development Scheme.
In May 2009 the South East Plan was adopted and now constitutes the Regional Spatial Strategy for South East England and part of the statutory development plan for all Districts in the region, including Wycombe. As part of the development plan, the South East Plan now sets the framework for the Wycombe Development Framework.
The national coalition government is progressing the abolition of regional spatial strategies (the South East Plan) including the removal of Regional and District level housing targets, through the Localism Bill which is expected to be finalised in autumn 2011. In light of this, in December 2010 WDC Cabinet agreed the work programme for the WDF which included a longer-term review of the adopted Wycombe Core Strategy to take into account the implications of these changes, particularly in relation to housing targets. This was further ratified by Cabinet in June 2011. These decisions changed the scope of what should be covered in the DSA to exclude issues relating to housing targets and other strategic housing issues, and for these issues to be covered in a future review of the Core Strategy.
6. Does the service, or the way you implement it, affect the public, Members or staff directly?
Yes. The public will be affected by the level, location and type of development planned for the district to 2026.
7. Does it affect how other services are provided?
Yes. The Development Plan will guide how and where services are delivered throughout the district to 2026. Service providers should have regard to the Development Plan when planning for the delivery of services.
8. Is there information e.g. survey data or complaints that suggest that it is affecting particular groups of people?
Extensive public consultation has been undertaken on the development of the DSA. Development will affect everyone in the areas where it is delivered.
9. Does it have employment implications? (eg Recruitment policy)
Yes. The DSA allocates sites for employment use and some housing/mixed use sites on existing/previous employment sites within the town centres.
If you have answered ‘yes’ to one or more of questions 6,7,8 or 9 you will need to carry out a full Equality Impact Assessment.
10. Using the assessment in Questions 6-9 above, should a full assessment be carried out?YES
11. What is the justification for the decision about full assessment? (Please provide details)
The DSA has significant implications for the future of the District and its residents. The DSA plans for new development within the district to 2026 which will have an impact on both current & future residents and those who work in or visit the district.
If the answer to Q10 is ‘yes’ stages 2-4 of the assessment must be completed within 3 months. If applicable, it will also need to be completed in line with the rolling 3 year plan. Head of Service sign off will be required after Stage 4 only.
If the answer to Q10 is ‘no’ the EIA will need to go through the challenge process and needs to be sent to Claire Hook, Equality Officer at . Then, if following the challenge process
a) it is agreed with the Equality Officer that no further Stages need to be completed please ensure that your Head of Service signs off the assessment (below) and returns it to the Equality Officer for publication.
OR
b) it is agreed with the Equality Officer that Stages 2-4 need to be completed there is no need for Head of Service sign off at this until Stages 2-4 have been completed.
12. Who undertook this assessment?Name: Sarah Corben
Job Title: Planning Policy Officer
Phone: 01494 421581
Email:
This preliminary impact assessment was approved by the following Head of Service:
Name:
Date:
NB Heads of Service are responsible for ensuring that the EIA accurately reflects the service area and has been completed in line with the rolling 3 year programme.
Stage 2: Information Gathering
All residents of (and visitors to) the district will be users of and/or directly/indirectly affected by the proposals contained within the DSA. Service providers and developers (private sector) will also be affected by the proposals.
The main sources of information on current & future residents of the district (including age and ethnicity) are:
· The Census, which is carried out every 10 years (results of the 2011 census will be available in 2012)
· The Registrar General’s Mid-Year Population projections (produced annually)
· WDC-produced District & Ward-based Fact Files also set out information on demographics and users at a more local level.
· Updated population projections are currently being undertaken by BCC on a county-wide basis
Regular monitoring is undertaken of development within the district and is reported annually through the Annual Monitoring Report (AMR). As part of preparing the DSA a range of other technical studies have been undertaken to understand needs and issues, and these help inform the proposals contained within the DSA.
The Council has developed a database which records details of planning & land agents and their clients and private developers who operate within the district. A Planning Agents Panel is operation which meets quarterly to discuss issues affecting the operations of the Council and the private sector. A Planning Forum also meets annually to discuss service issues.
The database also records details of service providers (public & private) who operate within the district. These organisations have been consulted through the development of the DSA.
2. Please describe the groups and / or mechanisms you use to engage / consult with service users?
Procedures for consultation on Local Development Framework documents are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004 as amended by the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 plus further amendments in 2009. The Statement of Community Involvement, which was adopted by the Council in October 2006, sets out how the Council will consult on the Local Development Framework in the context of these regulations.
The DSA has been subject to extensive public consultation as part of the “Imagine the Future” consultation process on the Local Development Framework. The following consultations have been undertaken:
· February 2007 – Preferred Options consultation on the “The Wycombe Development Framework Goes Site Specific: Preferred Options Site Allocations DPD”
· June 2009 – Public consultation on “Delivering the Strategy for Wycombe: Delivery & Site Allocations Update Consultation DPD”
· June 2010 – Update on “Wycombe Delivery & Site Allocations Document: Delivering the Strategy for Wycombe, June 2010 Update”
Further public consultation will be undertaken on the DSA in September-October 2011.
Key groups included within the consultation include:
- Those who live and/or work in the district
- Parish and town councils, and local ward members (District & County)
- Resident and amenity groups
- Professional service users – landowners, developers, land agents, planning agents
- Service providers – County & District Local Authority service providers, public sector bodies, strategic transport providers
- Statutory consultees including national, regional and local government bodies
During the Imagine the Future consultations an extensive database of consultees (including statutory consultees) has been developed which is used as the basis for contacting stakeholders and interested parties. Parish and town councils and community and amenity groups are also used to promote consultations.
Publicity of the consultation and proposals is also undertaken through newsletter distribution to residents, local newspaper coverage, public exhibitions and workshops. The Council website has also been developed to be more customer focused. A consultation webpage was developed where all the relevant consultation materials could be viewed and downloaded. Hard copies of the consultation materials have also been made available to view at the Council offices in High Wycombe, area information offices in Marlow and Princes Risborough and at local libraries across the district.
The consultation process undertaken for the DSA has been subject to a separate EIA.
3. Is this ongoing? (if not please give reasons why)
Certain stages and timescales of the consultation process are set by government regulations (as mentioned above). The Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) sets out the procedures and requirements for consultation on the DSA.
Further consultation on the DSA is proposed for September-October 2011. A statutory six-week period of consultation will be undertaken by the Council when it publishes the Proposed Submission version of the DSA (anticipated to be spring 2012). The document will then be subject to a Public Examination undertaken by an independent government-appointed Inspector.
Once the finalised DSA is adopted the Council (anticipated to be early 2013) there will be no further consultation.
4. Have you done any work to understand the impacts of your service/ policy/ review on these user groups? This may include any consultation/ research / studies you have used.
Representations received as part of the consultation process have been taken into account during the refining of policy.
Some more detailed targeted consultation has been undertaken where policy proposals may affect a particular user group or individuals specifically (usually location specific).
5. Is there any further consultation or research planned?
As part of the regulations governing the production of Local Development Frameworks, the DSA will be published as a Proposed Submission version with a statutory six-week consultation period for further representations to be submitted (anticipated to be spring 2012). After this the DSA will be subject to a Public Examination led by a Planning Inspector. See also response to Q6.
Additional evidence / research to inform the DSA may be produced for the Examination in Public.
6. If there are gaps in your knowledge are there any experts/relevant groups that can be contacted to get further views or evidence on these issues?
The public consultation in September 2011 aims to identify and address the remaining key issues put forward by stakeholders before the DSA is finalised. Any additional evidence base will be published at this time.
6a. If Yes, please list them and explain how you will obtain their views:
7. Do you need to carry out further research?
No, subject to further detail / guidance from Government on housing requirements.
7a.If yes give details:
Stage 3: Making a Judgement (Analysis)
Age / 1. Consideration has been given to the provision of play facilities through the development of the Open Space Framework and standards, through specific requirements on individual sites, and through the provision of new open space sites in the Desborough area