EIA - PO2 Review of Countryside and Opens Spaces

1.What is the name of the savings proposal and its current status?
PO2 Review of Countryside and Opens Spaces
2. Which Service is responsible for this proposal?
Environmental Management
3. Does this proposal impact on other services or other service savings proposals and if so, have you discussed this proposal with the Service Directors from those other services?
No impact on other service proposals
4.Please state the name of the officer leading the EIA
Martin Taylor
5. Who has been involved in undertaking this assessment e.g. list the stakeholder groups which have been involved?
Service Director, SMT
6.What is the scope of this assessment?
  • -what is included in this assessment
  • -does this proposal link to any other proposals (i.e. previous or current). If so, please state

The scope of this assessment looks at whether there are any significant equality issues
from the various options put forward within this proposal.
The impact which the four proposals would have are all broadly the same and are dealt with together in this report (ie EIA has been conducted assuming that all proposals will be implemented unless specifically stated as an exception)
This proposal does not link to any other proposals.
7 a).What does the function currently do?
b).Describe the needs which this service meets?
A TownshipParks and Countryside Rangers Serviceis deployed across the borough providing the following generic duties:
a) Engagement with (and support for) Friends Groups and user groups.
b) Assisting with Township parks and open space development projects / requests.
c) Maintaining visible presence especially in high profile areas and events such as Parks, Hollingworth Lake etc.
d) Liaison with and some supervision of Streets operatives maintaining Parks and Countryside areas.
e) Designing and delivering on the maintenance programme for Countryside and woodland areas.
f) Organising and Supervising Green Volunteer and Community Payback activities
g) Running Ranger-led Community and schools environmental education sessions and events.
Senior Green Space Ranger
Provides the following service provision
Custodian of the Definitive Rights of Way Map (includes duties such as reviewing planning applications) and the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP)
Enforcement of Rights of Way Legislation
Reactive maintenance on RoW network
Capital improvements on RoW network as part of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (RoWIP)
HollingworthLake Visitor Centre
8. What proposed changes do you wish to make?
9. Who are the key stakeholders who may be affected by the proposed changes?
Proposal A Will have an impact on Friends Groups, and other User Groups, the delivery of the maintenance programme. It is also likely to have an impact on the Green Volunteer and Community payback activities.
Proposal B Should not have a noticeable affect as this is purely an internal reorganisation of how work will be done.
Proposal C Members of public will be required to adapt to reduced opening times at Visitor Centre.
Proposal D Affect will be unknown until discussions with third sector take place and assuming this proposal is agreed to by members.
10. What impact will this proposal have on all the protected groups
Race Equality
There are no records kept about visitors to parks or visitor’s centres regarding different racial groups, but the changes proposed will not impact any differently on them.
Disabled People
There are no records kept about visitors to parks or visitor’s centres regarding this group, but the changes proposed will not impact any differently on them. However, there is a facility provided by the Lions Club of Great Britain at the Hollingworth Lake Visitor’s Centre whereby people with mobility issues can make use of motorised wheelchairs. The reduction in hours of Visitor Centre opening would therefore affect the times at which this service could be accessed, and some adjustment of user’s times of visiting may be necessary. This is the same impact as any current user of services provided at the Visitor’s Centre will experience and with information provided as to when these services are available, it is considered that the adverse impacts would be mitigated.
Carers
There are no records kept about visitors to parks or visitor’s centres regarding carers, but the changes proposed will not impact any differently on them.
Gender
There are no records kept about visitors to parks or visitor’s centres regarding gender, but the changes proposed will not impact any differently on persons of different genders.
Older and Younger People
There is a facility provided by the Lions Club of Great Britain at the Hollingworth Lake Visitor’s Centre whereby people with mobility issues can make use of motorised wheelchairs. The reduction in hours of Visitor Centre opening would therefore affect the times at which this service could be accessed, and some adjustment of user’s times of visiting may be necessary. This is the same impact as any current user of services provided at the Visitor’s Centre will experience and with information provided as to when these services are available, it is considered that the adverse impacts would be mitigated. No records are kept about visitors to parks or visitor’s centres regarding these groups, but the changes proposed will not impact any differently on them except possibly as highlighted above.
People who are Socio-Economically Disadvantaged
There are no records kept about visitors to parks or visitor’s centres regarding these groups, but the changes proposed will not impact any differently on them. Comments have been made in the consultation process that parks and countryside areas offer a free source of recreation and enjoyment which is required even more during the austere times which are being experienced by many sections of the community. There is nothing in these proposals which would hinder the enjoyment of these areas for any sections of the community including this particular group.
Religion or Belief
There are no records kept about visitors to parks or visitor’s centres regarding different religion or belief, but the changes proposed will not impact any differently on them.
Sexual Orientation
There are no records kept about visitors to parks or visitor’s centres regarding the sexual orientation of visitors, but the changes proposed will not impact any differently on them.
Gender Reassignment
There are no records kept about visitors to parks or visitor’s centres regarding this group, but the changes proposed will not impact any differently on them.
Pregnant Women or Those on Maternity Leave or Those who have given Birth in the Previous 26 weeks
There are no records kept about visitors to parks or visitor’s centres regarding this group, but the changes proposed will not impact any differently on them.
Marriage or Civil Partnership
There are no records kept about visitors to parks or visitor’s centres regarding this particular group, but the changes proposed will not impact any differently on them.

11. Conclusions and Recommendations

What are the main conclusions from this analysis?

Although the savings proposals described will in some cases reduce the current level of service provided and as a result will have an effect on all members of the public. They do not have a disproportionate impact on any of the protected groups.
What are your recommendations?
What measures (a) have you or (b) do you propose to put in place to mitigate any adverse impacts?
There are not expected to be any adverse impacts on any of the protected groups.Clear information describing changes to existing service provision will be made available to all affected service users. via the council website and other public forums
Effective publicity to ensure that all residents are aware of the changes to the service, when they take effect, and how to access the new service. Steps will be taken to ensure that this information is communicated in appropriate ways to meet the needs of all residents and visitors.
The Service will monitor and review the proposal on an ongoing basis.
What evidence do you have which demonstrates that these measures will be effective?
Previous consultation conducted for phases 1,2,3

12. Please provide details of who you have consulted on the proposals and the methods which you used to consult. State your consultation and inclusion methodology.

The Consultation and Inclusion Methodology Used
The Councilhas made the proposal available on the web site and encourage comments to be sent in by members of the public. Each response received an acknowledgement and a specific response where appropriate. All the comments received have been reported back to members as part of the final decision making process.
Staff
Formal consultation hastaken place with Staff and Trade Unions in line with the appropriate HR procedures as follows
  • SCG – Special Service Group meetings – fortnightly
  • Countryside Officers, Township Rangers, Rights of Way Officers – Fortnightly to three weekly formal meetings
  • Team Briefs - Monthly
  • Section managers meetings – monthly
  • Personal targeted one-to-one interviews will be undertaken as appropriate
Cross-Service
Cross service meeting between EM- Snr Management, EM- Corporate Enforcement & Environmental Quality, EM- Countryside services, PR- Planning Snr Planning Officers, PR-Service Director & PR- Strategic Planning Team Leaders. October and November 11.
Friends of and voluntary Groups
Information Letter sent September to all Friends Groups and all of The Green Volunteers
Friends of friends special meeting – 16th November:-
  • HareHillPark
  • Memorial Park Milnrow
  • Queen's Park
  • BroadfieldPark
  • Rochdale Memorial GDNS
  • TruffetPark
  • King G V
  • Clement RoydPark
  • SpringfieldPark
  • BalderstonePark
  • Alkrington
  • Healey Dell
  • HollingworthLake
  • RochValley
  • St Chads & Packer Spout
  • Hopwood Woods
  • Boarshaw / MiddletonCemetery
  • JubileePark
  • Middleton View
  • Hopwood Recreation Grd
  • Also The Syke Strategic Partnership
Friends of Hollingworth Lake Meeting, including ward members – 17th November
Members of the public
The following consultation methods have been used for non staffing consultation
Middleton Environment Forum 16th November
  • General public via RMBC Consultation Hub and information directed initially to officers within the service.
  • Consultation group meetings to be undertaken with Friends/ Voluntary Groups – discussions will be documented, attendees logged.
  • Smallbridge & Firgorve – 01st December
  • Balderstone and Kirkholt Area Forum -Tuesday 13 December 2011
  • Central Rochdale Area Forum - Thursday 8 December 2011 Sparth Area Forum - Wednesday 7 December 2011

13. Produce an action plan detailing the mitigation measures that you propose to put in place to address any adverse impacts.

An action plan is currently being developed which has been informed by the consultation process.

Possible Adverse Impact / Mitigation Measure
Possible limited access to motorised wheelchair facility at Hollingworth Lake Visitor’s Centre / Information provided through various channels regarding times when this service is available. Changes to these times resulting from the proposals would affect all users of the Visitor’s centre and not just specific groups using this particular facility. Also, possible arrangements could be made to enable café staff to help people to access this service because it is envisaged that the café remains open even when the RMBC information desk is closed.

14. Equality impact analysis sign off by the Equality Impact Assessment Board for the Cabinet Meeting

Name / Position / Date
Andy Zuntz
/ Executive Director / 18th January 2012
Name / Position / Date
Cheryl Eastwood
/ Executive Director / 18th January 2012