Equality Impact Assessment
EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Landscape Architecture Service
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Equality Impact Assessment
EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Name of the function or function being assessed: Landscape Architecture
Directorate
CLC
Date Impact Assessment completed
December 2008
Is this a policy or function?
Policy 
Function
X
Is this a new or existing policy or function?
New 
Existing
X
Names and roles of the people carrying out the Impact Assessment:
(Explain why the members of the impact assessment team were selected i.e. the knowledge
and experience they bring to the process).
1. Colin Stuart - Head of Parks & Open Spaces: Head of Service, significant experience
of managing parks and landscape services, responsible for implementing any service
change arising from this assessment through the Service/Team Planning process.
2. Oscar Ford – Parks Strategy & Business Development Manager: Line Manager for
the Landscape Team through the Landscape Development Manager. Project leader
for this assessment.
3. Ros Brewer – Landscape Development Manager: Responsible for managing and
developing the Landscape Team and the related services.
Service Head
Jamie Blake
Signature
Date
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If you have any questions regarding this form please call the Equalities Team on 020 7364
4723.
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Equality Impact Assessment
SECTION 1
AIMS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FUNCTION
Identifying the aims of the function
What is the function?
The provision of public realm landscape design and associated scheme management
What is the aim, objective, or purpose of the function?
To deliver landscape improvements at parks and other public realm spaces: Projects and
objectives are determined by the availability of funding, with improvement sites being
prioritised in the context of the Council’s Open Space Strategy (2006).
Rationale behind the function and its delivery
(Please state the underlying function objectives which underpin this service and what they
are trying to achieve).
Are there associated objectives of the function? If so, what are they?
To improve the quality and accessibility of public spaces making them fit for the purposes of
the user. Associated outcomes include improvements in the health, wealth and well-being of
local people and the development and protection of a more diverse environment supporting
a wide range of plants and animals.
What outcomes do we want to achieve from this function?
Delivery of landscape improvements in a safe, cost effective and timely fashion that meet or
exceed the needs and aspirations of residents and other users.
What factors could contribute/detract from the outcomes?
Funding constraints or pre-requisites that may vary from the core objectives or priorities.
Inadequate knowledge or understanding of needs.
Mid-programme changes to funding or priorities.
Market forces affecting the availability or cost of equipment, materials or services.
Climatic conditions.
Human resource issues.
Information Technology constraints.
Who is affected by the function? Who is intended to benefit from it and how?
Who are the main stakeholders in relation to this function?
Everyone that lives in works in or visits the borough.
Funder body target groups.
What outcomes would other stakeholders want from this function?
N/A?
Are there any groups, which might be expected to benefit from the intended outcomes but
which do not?
There is an unequal distribution of open space across the borough. In general terms the
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Equality Impact Assessment
areas of highest deprivation also tend to be areas with the lowest open space provision.
The landscape improvement programme has been prioritised to reflect this inequity and to
target resources towards areas that are deficient in terms of quality and accessibility,
however, it cannot address the fundamental issue of the lack of open space in some areas.
The groups most affected by this are those that have the highest proportion of people that
are unemployed or on low incomes, in poor health, or with reduced life expectancy.
Promotion of good relations between different communities
(How does the function or function contribute to better Community Cohesion?)
How do you promote good relations between different communities you serve based on
mutual understanding and respect?
Parks and open spaces provide an opportunity for communities to meet and share activities.
They are free at the point of use and are in theory available for anyone to enjoy.
Improving the accessibility and quality of spaces is likely to increase the opportunity for
stronger communities to develop.
Improvements to local public spaces can provide a focus for the local community and bring
people together through consultation processes and through the provision of new or
improved facilities and activities.
What opportunities are there for positive cross cultural contact between these communities
to take place e.g. between younger and older people, or between people of different religious
faiths?
Well designed spaces can support activity and use across age groups, religious groups, and
different cultures. Opportunities include both passive recreation and active use such a
sports, play and cultural events.
(Specifically identify the relevance of the aims of the function to the equality target
groups and the Council’s duty to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination, promote
equality of opportunity and good relations between people of different racial groups).
The design of spaces is important. It helps to ensure that they are accessible, physically and
psychologically safe to use, interesting and diverse, with a range of opportunities for the
whole community to enjoy.
Research shows that women and people from BEM backgrounds tend to be more sensitive
to perceived security threats. Through the design process it is possible to improve the visual
and physical conditions of open space to make it more welcoming.
The Landscape Architect service seeks, through the expertise and local knowledge of the
team members, and with information on local needs gained through a consultation process,
to ensure that sites are fit for purpose.
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Equality Impact Assessment
Function Priorities:
(How does the function fit in with the council’s wider aims? Include Corporate and
Local Strategic Partnership Priorities)
How does the function relate to other policies and practices within the council?
The work of the Landscape service is linked to other Council policies and practices through
the Open Space Strategy and the Service Planning Process. The OSS is interrelated with
the wider Council Planning Policies (UDP/LDF), whilst the Service Planning Process ensures
that the function operates within agreed Council practices and to the wider objectives of the
CLC Directorate.
Better parks and green spaces contribute to community cohesion, public health, the natural
environment, education, social development (especially in young people), community and
individual safety, economic growth and civic pride.
What factors/forces could contribute/detract from the outcomes?
The availability of Capital funding including Planning Obligations and other funding streams
is the main factor that determines the rate and scale of improvement that can be achieved.
Effective improvements need time to plan and deliver. Changes to priorities or resources in
mid-programme can be contra to resident expectations especially if these occur at a post
consultation stage.
Insufficient funds, or resources that are spread too thinly across the borough, are unlikely to
be effective in achieving significant improvements and outcomes for local people, though it is
recognised that funds often come with restrictions as to where, and on what, they can be
spent.
The pressures on green space to support development and regeneration continue, and this
is sometimes at the expense of the overall quantum of space. New spaces negotiated
through the Planning process are often small and isolated, and may not be truly fit for public
use.
These factors place additional pressures on the public spaces that remain, whilst many small
spaces are proportionally more expensive to upkeep than larger ones. As a result, the
Landscape Function is to a significant extent having to deal with deterioration brought about
by a lack of revenue; focussing expenditure on replacing worn out features rather than
designing new spaces, layouts and features.
Crime, the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour increasingly influence the interventions
that are included in landscape design projects. These elements are often at a high cost and
may include new or better lighting, CCTV, path re-alignment, removal of trees and other
plants, new or replacement vandal resistant fences. This can detract from the delivery of
more interesting, soft landscape features, use of art and sculpture, some forms of play
equipment and the like.
How do these outcomes meet or hinder other policies, values or objectives of the council?
Good quality open space provision has many cross cutting values to local people, and there
are few Council policies, values or objectives to which open space does not contribute in
some way.
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Equality Impact Assessment
Capital resources spent on open space are not available to spend on other public realm
features or Council assets.
Protection and provision of an adequate quantum of open space may be contrary to the
provision of new homes, though it may be argued that homes without access to good quality
outdoor spaces do not meet the Council’s objectives for improving the quality of housing in
the borough.
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Equality Impact Assessment
How the function is implemented (How is, or will, the function be put into practice and
who is, or will be, responsible for it?)
Who defines or defined the function?
The Head of Parks and Open Spaces has overall responsibility for the service and is
effectively the ‘Client’ in relation to the projects that the Landscape service is commissioned
to undertake.
Who implements the function?
The Landscape Development Manager is responsible for the function and its delivery of
projects and programmes.
How does the council interface with other bodies in relation to the implementation of this
function?
This is to some extent dependent upon the individual scheme and its funding source/s:
Funding bodies have a range of requirements to be met with regards to reporting of
outcomes, design constraints, project outputs and the like.
Specific design factors such as those relating to crime and anti-social behaviour will be
worked on in consultation with internal and external partners with expertise in the relevant
area.
Some spaces have partner organisations associated with them and these stakeholders are
identified at an early stage in the design process and consulted according to their knowledge
base and interest.
The Council’s Consultation Team are normally engaged to shape, guide, implement and
analyse the needs of stakeholders in relation to each project.
Is the service provided solely by the Department or in conjunction with another department,
agency or contractor?
The Landscape Team may engage the services of other internal and external specialists to
provide services such as land surveying, soil sampling, statutory service reports, or CDM
support. Landscape improvement works are delivered on the ground by external contractors
under the supervision of the Landscape Architects.
If external parties are involved then what are the measures in place to ensure that they
comply with the Council’s Equal Opportunities function?
Contractors are engaged through the approved Council procurement processes and
procedures. Contractors are vetted using an agreed format with standardised EO questions
and checks in place.
Once engaged, contractors are monitored by the Landscape Architects to ensure that they
comply with relevant requirements of the scheme. Depending on the size of the project and
any specific funder requirements this may include the collection of information on employees
engaged in the scheme, though this is not a normal requirement or activity for most schemes
due to their relatively small scale and short term nature (once on the ground).
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Equality Impact Assessment
SECTION 2
CONSIDERATION OF DATA AND RESEARCH
List all examples of quantitative and qualitative data available that will enable the
impact assessment to be undertaken (include information where appropriate from other
directorates, Census 2001 etc.)
Annual Residents Survey
KMC Parks Survey
Greenstat
Scott Wilson Landscape Quality Assessment
Landscape Programme Consultation Reports/Analysis
Equalities profile of users or beneficiaries
(Use the Council’s approved diversity monitoring categories and provide data by target group
of users or beneficiaries to determine whether the service user profile reflects the local
population or relevant target group or if there is over or under representation of these
groups)
In theory everyone that lives in, works in or visits the borough is a potential user and
beneficiary of the parks and open spaces. By improving the quality of spaces, the function
exists, in part, to address inequalities in the provision of parks and open space that exists
across the borough. Improvements are targeted in the main with reference to deprivation
factors, the availability of space and the quality of space. This information was last assessed
and a prioritised list of spaces prepared in 2005, and there is a need to reassess this list in
the light of improvements over time, changes to local demographics that may have taken
place, recent updates to open space strategy preparation requirements, and the generally
improving understanding of the role that open spaces have in supporting healthy
communities.
Equalities profile of staff
(Indicate profile by target groups and assess relevance to function aims and objectives e.g.
Workforce to Reflect the Community. Identify staff responsible for delivering the service
including where they are not directly employed by the council).
This is a small professional (qualified status) service with very low staff turnover. With the
exception of two current agency staff, all staff are long term employees of the Council with a
strong understanding of the equalities issues in relation to the borough.
4 Female (including 1 part time, 1 agency)
3 Male (including 1 agency)
6 White English
1 White Polish
Age range 25 to 65
Evidence of Complaints against the service on grounds of discrimination
(Is there any evidence of complaints either from customers or staff (Grievance) as to the
delivery of the service, or its operation, on the equality target groups?)
None
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Equality Impact Assessment
Barriers
(What are the potential or known barriers to participation for the different equality target
groups?)
Low staff turnover and qualified professional status.
Recent consultation exercises carried out
(Detail consultation with relevant interest groups, other public bodies, voluntary
organisations, community groups, trade unions, focus groups and other groups, surveys and
questionnaires undertaken etc. Focus in particular on the findings of views expressed by the
equality target groups)
The service consults on all projects, working with the Consultation Team to ensure that the
consultation is appropriate to the site, its local area, and the scale of the scheme that is
being undertaken.
Stakeholders are identified at an early stage and consulted according to their interest and
the relevance to the scheme. These may include Friends Groups, third sector organisations,
faith groups, neighbouring authorities, GLA, English Heritage, HLF.
Project consultation findings are taken in the context of wider, more generalised resident’s
consultation on borough parks.
Supplementary consultation is being developed using the Greenstat parks questionnaire and
web site options.
Identify areas where more information may be needed and the action taken to obtain
this data.
(You will need to consider data that is monitored but not reported, data that could be
monitored but is not currently collected and data that is not currently monitored and would be
impossibly/extremely difficult to collect).
Gaps in information:
The prioritisation of resources is primarily informed by assessments and analysis carried out
in 2005 for the Open Space Strategy. This assessment needs to be revisited to take account
of local demographic changes and improvements made since the Open Space Strategy was
formulated.
Action needed:
(Include short-term measures to be taken to provide a baseline where no or little information
is available)
Qualitative site assessments
Review of OS strategy formulae for prioritising sites
Prepare updated list for action/investment
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Equality Impact Assessment
SECTION 3
ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT
Race – testing of disproportionate or adverse impact
Identify the effect of the function on different race groups from information available
above.
Some areas of the borough are less well served by open space and green space. These
areas also correlate to areas of higher deprivation and poorer communities and this in turn
has some correlation with groups from some BME backgrounds. Residents of an Asian
background (predominantly with a Bangladeshi heritage) are statistically less likely to have
access to good quality open space.
Research shows that people of BME backgrounds are likely to be more sensitive to security
issues and fears, and this can affect their use and enjoyment of open spaces. The
Landscape Design function can have some positive impact on security and security fears by
designing out opportunities for crime and ASB to take place or be perceived.
How is the race target group reflected in the take up of the service?
There is a strong correlation between access to open space and the use of the service.
There is also strong evidence that improvements to spaces and services made to date are
having a positive and upward trend is access to open space across all race groups.
However, there remain differences in uptake across the key race groups and more needs to
be done to address this issue.
From the evidence above does the function affect, or have the potential to affect,
racial groups differently and if so do any of the differences amount to adverse impact
or unlawful discrimination?
Decisions on where investment is made in improving green space could have either a
positive or negative impact on equality of access to open space. Account therefore needs to
be taken of areas of deficiency in quality and quantum of space when targeting resources
and planning open space improvements.
It is unlikely that decisions on targeting of funds could be considered as unlawful
discrimination if they are made based on an informed understanding of needs and take
account of relevant local factors. It is also very unlikely that it will be possible to wholly
address the overall in-balance in open space provision due to the historical overdevelopment in some areas of Tower Hamlets.
Inequalities in access to good quality space will remain a more significant issue for people
from some groups so long as people from those groups continue to reside in proportionally
higher number in areas of deprivation.
The Landscape function does not in general have the ability to affect the quantum of open
space available, but it can impact on the quality and accessibility of existing spaces to make
them better for residents from all backgrounds.
If there is an adverse impact, can it be justified on the grounds of promoting equality
of opportunity for one racial group or for another legitimate reason?
N/A
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Equality Impact Assessment
Could the function discriminate, directly or indirectly and if so is it justifiable under
legislation?
Reasonable steps are taken to avoid delivering improvements that are discriminatory.
Improvement projects are informed by existing knowledge of the sites and a programme of
consultation. Consultation is limited by time factors and resources and it is possible for
certain groups to be excluded as a result of the timing or location of the consultation.
Consultation responses are monitored to ensure that as far as is practical a representative
sample of the population has the opportunity to comment on design proposals and needs in
relation to the improvement plans.
Gender – testing of disproportionate or adverse impact
Identify the effect of the function on gender groups from information available above.
How are the gender groups reflected in the take up of the service?
Statistics for 2007 suggest that there is an equal level of use of parks and open spaces
between males and females, with 57% reporting that they use parks. This is an improvement
from 2004 when 47% of females and 50% of males reported using parks.
From the evidence above does the function affect, or have the potential to affect,
gender groups differently and if so do any of the differences amount to adverse
impact or unlawful discrimination?
The statistics indicate that there is some equity in patterns of use, and that improvement to
sites and services are having a positive impact on levels of use by both sexes. Research
shows that females are more sensitive to security issues and fears, and this can affect their
use and enjoyment of open spaces.
The Landscape Design function can have some positive impact on security and security
fears by designing out opportunities for crime and ASB to take place or be perceived.
If there an adverse impact, can it be justified on the grounds of promoting equality of
opportunity for one gender group or for another legitimate reason?
N/A
Could the function discriminate, directly or indirectly and if so is it justifiable under
legislation?
Reasonable steps are taken to avoid delivering improvements that are discriminatory.
Improvement projects are informed by existing knowledge of the sites and a programme of
consultation. Consultation is limited by time factors and resources and it is possible for
certain groups to be excluded as a result of the timing or location of the consultation.
Consultation responses are monitored to ensure that as far as is practical a representative
sample of the population has the opportunity to comment on design proposals and needs in
relation to the improvement plans.
Disability – testing of disproportionate or adverse impact
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Equality Impact Assessment
Identify the effect of the function on the disability strand from information available
above.
How are disabled people reflected in the take up of the service?
Statistics for 2007 indicate that 46% of people with disabilities use parks. This is up from
37% in 2004. More detailed analysis of questionnaire returns from people stating that they
have a disability suggest that as a group, people with disabilities are less likely to travel to
major parks such as Victoria Park and Mile End Park, and are therefore more reliant on their
local parks and green spaces.
From the evidence above does the function affect, or have the potential to affect,
disability groups differently and if so do any of the differences amount to adverse
impact or unlawful discrimination?
The Open Space Strategy highlights the importance of smaller spaces in a borough that is
generally deficient in green space provision. Local parks must provide the functions of district
parks. Decisions on where investment is made in improving green space could have either a
positive or negative impact on equality of access to open space. Account therefore needs to
be taken of areas of deficiency in quality and quantum of space when targeting resources
and planning open space improvements.
It is unlikely that decisions on targeting of funds could be considered as unlawful
discrimination if they are made based on an informed understanding of needs and take
account of relevant local factors. It is also very unlikely that it will be possible to wholly
address the overall in-balance in open space provision due to the historical overdevelopment in some areas of Tower Hamlets.
The Landscape Architects are aware of the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act
and take account of accessibility when designing open space improvements.
If there is an adverse impact, can it be justified on the grounds of promoting equality
of opportunity for one group or for another legitimate reason?
N/A
Could the function discriminate, directly or indirectly and if so is it justifiable under
legislation?
Reasonable steps are taken to avoid delivering improvements that are discriminatory.
Improvement projects are informed by existing knowledge of the sites and a programme of
consultation. Consultation is limited by time factors and resources and it is possible for
certain groups to be excluded as a result of the timing or location of the consultation.
Consultation responses are monitored to ensure that as far as is practical a representative
sample of the population has the opportunity to comment on design proposals and needs in
relation to the improvement plans.
Age – testing of disproportionate or adverse impact
Identify the effect of the function on different age groups from information available
above.
How are young and old people reflected in the take up of the service?
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Equality Impact Assessment
People over 60 are less likely to use open spaces than the population as a whole (38%
compared to 57%). However, use by the over 60’s has increased from 29% in 2004. Current
resident consultation does not poll under 16’s, and it is not possible to be certain as to the
levels of take up or trends for younger people. There is some information to show that a
significant proportion of adult visitors to parks (22%) visit parks for the primary reason of
taking children to play. For specific improvement projects, consultation is structured to allow
and record responses from all age groups.
From the evidence above does the function affect, or have the potential to affect, age
groups differently and if so do any of the differences amount to adverse impact or
unlawful discrimination?
Some designs and interventions are made with the specific aim of providing for a particular
age group. Most commonly the provision of play equipment is aimed at young people. It is
generally accepted that some features within parks will be more attractive to particular
sections of the community. In designing open space improvements, the Landscape
Architects take account of community needs (highlighted through consultation) and plan sites
that are attractive to all potential users. Increasingly, play interventions are being designed to
form part of the wider landscape for use and enjoyment by everyone. It is unlikely that such
interventions could be considered unlawful.
If there is an adverse impact, can be justified on the grounds of promoting equality of
opportunity for one group or for another legitimate reason?
N/A
Could the function discriminate, directly or indirectly, and if so is it justifiable under
legislation?
Reasonable steps are taken to avoid delivering improvements that are discriminatory.
Improvement projects are informed by existing knowledge of the sites and a programme of
consultation. Consultation is limited by time factors and resources and it is possible for
certain groups to be excluded as a result of the timing or location of the consultation.
Consultation responses are monitored to ensure that as far as is practical a representative
sample of the population has the opportunity to comment on design proposals and needs in
relation to the improvement plans.
Lesbian, gay bisexual – testing of disproportionate or adverse impact
Identify the effect of the function on lesbian, gay and bisexual (LBG) groups from
information available above.
How are LBG groups reflected in the take up of the service?
There is limited information on the use of parks and open spaces by LBG individuals, but it is
likely that some LBG residents will be more sensitive to security fears, anti-social behaviour
and hate crime.
From the evidence above does the function affect, or have the potential to affect LBG
groups differently and if so do any of the differences amount to adverse impact or
unlawful discrimination?
The Landscape Design function can have some positive impact on security and security
fears by designing out opportunities for crime and ASB to take place or be perceived.
If there is an adverse impact which, can it be justified on the grounds of promoting
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Equality Impact Assessment
equality of opportunity for one group or for another legitimate reason?
N/A
Could the function discriminate, directly or indirectly and if so is it justifiable under
legislation?
N/A
Religion/Belief – testing of disproportionate or adverse impact
Identify the effect of the function on different religious/belief groups from information
available above.
How are religious/belief reflected in the take up of the service?
There is limited information on the use of parks and open spaces across religious groups,
but it is likely that residents of some religious backgrounds will be more sensitive to security
fears, anti-social behaviour and hate crime. Some religious requirements or beliefs may
serve to exclude participation in some activities in parks and open spaces, such as Muslim
women participating in outdoor sport in a public space.
From the evidence above does the function affect, or have the potential to affect,
religious or belief groups differently and if so do any of the differences amount to
adverse impact or unlawful discrimination?
The Landscape Design function can have some positive impact on security and security
fears by designing out opportunities for crime and ASB to take place or be perceived.
If there is an adverse impact which, can it be justified on the grounds of promoting
equality of opportunity for one group or for another legitimate reason?
N/A
Could the function discriminate, directly or indirectly and if so is it justifiable under
legislation?
Though exclusive spaces could be designed or created, (e.g. enclosed women only areas),
such areas would not be considered to fulfil the function of public open space. This in turn
would reduce the quantum of space in the borough to the detriment of the population as a
whole.
Health Impact – testing of disproportionate or adverse impact
Identify the effect of the function on physical or mental health of service users and the
wider community from any information that is available.
(This might include an increased risk to health for some groups in the community, which
although not intended, may have still occurred. The impact on health might include:
increased mental stress, greater risk of accident or injury, reduced opportunities to have a
quality diet, reduced opportunity for physical exercise, or greater incidence of diseases such
as heart disease and diabetes.)
There is limited information available on specific uptake of parks usage by people with
physical or mental illness. Research shows that green spaces have a positive role to play in
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Equality Impact Assessment
improving and sustaining both physical and mental health in the community. Even visual
contact with natural features can improve health and wellbeing. Communities with access to
green space and features are known to be more resilient to the stresses and pressures of
modern life. Green and open spaces provide opportunities to enjoy healthy activity, free at
the point of use.
From the evidence above does the function affect, or have the potential to affect the
health of groups differently? If so, which groups and how does the impact occur?
The Landscape Design service can have a significant positive effect on the health of parks
users. Better quality parks and green spaces encourage more people to use these facilities
with consequential benefits across the community.
Additional groups which may experience a disproportionate or adverse impact
Identify if there are groups, other than those already considered, that may be
adversely affected by the function.
For example those in poverty may be adversely impacted by the function and it might be
useful to consider them as a separate group in the light of the Council’s overall function
objectives.
Improvements to parks and open spaces in general provide cross cutting benefits for all
demographic groups. The correlation between deprivation and the lack of availability of open
green spaces means that sub-groups and communities living in some deprived areas are
less likely to enjoy the benefits that green spaces can provide, however, this is not an effect
of the function, but rather an issue that the function must seek to address through careful
and informed targeting of resources.
Additional factors which may influence disproportionate or adverse impact
Management Arrangements
(How is the Service managed, are there any management arrangements which may have a
disproportionate impact on the equality target groups?)
Inappropriate allocation of resources and programmes that focus resources on particular
user groups can reduce the benefits for some potential users or groups and slow the rate of
improvement in some key parts of the borough – e.g., areas of greater deprivation. Resource
constraints including funding and programming limits the capacity for the service to consult
as fully as it might wish and limit research on the needs of some groups and communities.
The desire to impact and improve parks in all areas of the borough can mean that resources
for improvement work end up being spread too thinly, whilst more, smaller schemes take
proportionally more resources to plan and implement.
What is the custom and practice in the provision or allocation of this service?
(Could these have a disproportionate impact on the equality target groups?)
Resources for landscape improvements can become available or be allocated for a variety of
reasons and from a number of sources. These include Capital Programme, LAA, LAP,
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Equality Impact Assessment
existing and new grant streams, S106 sources and others.
Each funding source has constraints and outcomes associated with it which may mean that it
does not match the specific priorities identified within the Open Space Strategy. However in
broad terms resources applied to the improvement of open space will have some health,
environmental, social and economic benefits for most people in the surrounding community
regardless of their background.
The Landscape Design Team respond to and implement projects in accordance with
priorities determined by Members (Lead Members/Cabinet), LAP’s, Funder bodies/partners,
S106 Agreements, and CLC management including the Head of Parks as Sponsor or Client.
The Process of Service Delivery
(In particular look at the arrangements for the service being provided).
Sourcing and approval of funding
Project initiation
Development of project brief
Sketch designs
Consultation programme
Site surveys and investigations
Finalisation of brief
Final designs
Preparation of schedules and specifications
Procurement of works
Site works phase
Practical completion
Handover to client (possible maintenance liability period/s)
Launch events & publicity
Operation Times
(When is the service provided; are there seasonal issues; are there barriers to the service
based on the time and delivery of the service which may affect the target groups?)
Many finding streams are time constrained – often linked to the financial year.
Consultation may be limited to certain days or times of the day.
Sites may be unavailable to the community during the works phase.
Methods of communication to the public and internally
(What methods do you use to communicate this service? Include review and assessment of
methods, media, translations, interpretation etc. bearing in mind the extent to which these
media forms are accessible to all sections of the community)
Externally
Posting of notices on sites
TH web site
Displays and consultation meetings on site or in local community buildings
East End Life articles (some translated media)
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Equality Impact Assessment
Leaflet drops to addresses in the locality of the site
Questionnaires collected on site by the Park Rangers
Internally
E-mail
Meetings
PIDs and other documents
Management and progress reports
Awareness of Service by Local People
(Assessment of the extent to which local people are aware of the service based on available
data. What measures do you undertake to reach traditionally excluded communities?)
Uptake of the parks and parks services show an upward trend across the whole community,
suggesting that awareness is improving. Satisfaction trends are also up suggesting that the
improvements to date are having a positive and beneficial effect. The consultation process
has been developed and improved over that last three years and a process of ongoing
review and adaptation takes place to ensure that the widest coverage and representative
sampling is achieved.
Evidence of disproportionate or adverse impact
(Is there any evidence or view that suggests that different equality, or other, target groups in
the community have either a disproportionately high or low take up/impact of/from this
service/function?)
yes 
no 
If yes, what and why (State below)
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Equality Impact Assessment
SECTION 4
MEASURES TO MITIGATE DISPROPORTIONATE OR ADVERSE IMPACT
Specify measures that can be taken to remove or minimise the disproportionate
impact or adverse effect identified at the end of Section 3. If none were identified in
Section 3, identify how disproportionate impact or adverse effect could be avoided in
the future. (Consider measures to mitigate any adverse impact and better achieve the
promotion of equality of opportunity).
The unequal distribution, accessibility and availability of good quality green space is a fact
highlighted in the Open Space Strategy. The strategy sets out the key elements to be
considered when allocating resources to tackle these issues. However, as a result of other
local priorities, funding source constraints and prescriptive outcomes or outputs it is not
always practical to target resources where they are most needed.
Improvements made to date will have had an effect on the hierarchy of need since the Open
Space Strategy was established.
The prioritised list of sites needs to be reassessed in the light of these changes. Additional
factors such as the project to establish a Green Grid for the borough will also have an impact
on access to green spaces which will affect the scope of the Open Space Strategy review
and could enhance the opportunities to improve accessibility for key groups in the
community.
For further information please contact the Corporate Equalities Team on 020 7364 4723
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Equality Impact Assessment
SECTION 5
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Does the function comply with equalities legislation, including the duty to promote
race equality? Take into account your findings from the impact assessment and
consultations and explain how the function was decided upon its intended effects and its
benefits.)
yes 
no 
What are the main areas requiring further attention?
OSS prioritisation update
Capital Programme budget plan review
Summary of recommendations for improvement
Review of the Open Space Strategy site quality assessment and site prioritisation list.
Development of the Green Grid project in conjunction with the OSS review.
How will the results of the IA feed into the performance planning process?
Key Actions will be incorporated into the Parks & Open Space Team Plan
Future Monitoring and Consultation
How and when will the function be monitored?
Regularly through the PDR, 1 to 1 and Team Planning processes
Suggested consultation for the future.
(Identify areas for future consultation and any barriers to participation in consultation with
proposals to overcome these).
Consultation targeted at young people is needed to understand if there are particular equality
needs and issues for accessing parks, including those for young people from BME
backgrounds.
For further information please contact the Corporate Equalities Team on 020 7364 4723
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Equality Impact Assessment
SECTION 6 – ACTION PLAN
Recommendation
Key activity
Progress milestones
Implement site security
audits
Site security assessment
Develop site assessment model
Select sites for audit
Site assessment
Prepare improvement action plan
Review of the Open Space
Strategy.
Site quality and access assessment
Review of the Open Space
Strategy.
Prepare updated investment
prioritisation list.
Development of the Green
Grid project in conjunction
with the OSS review
Support the Strategic Planning
Project to prepare a Green Grid
Strategy
Establish a better
understanding of the views
Consultation targeted at young
people
Develop site assessment model
Select sites for audit
Site assessment
Prepare improvement action plan
Obtain updated demographic
data
Update prioritisation factors
Prepare draft list
Consult with LAP’s/
Management/ Members as
appropriate
Report findings
Parks represented on the project
team
Establish parks as a key element
in the Green Grid
Ensure that the Green Grid and
the Open Space Strategy update
are developed in tandem to
ensure that there are consistent
and cotangent objectives and
outcomes.
Establish information needs
Scope the consultation
For further information please contact the Corporate Equalities Team on 020 7364 4723
Officer
Responsible
Progress
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Equality Impact Assessment
and needs of young people
in relation to park service
provision and improvements
For further information please contact the Corporate Equalities Team on 020 7364 4723
exercise/s
Commission and implement the
consultation
Evaluate and report findings
Adapt service plans as
appropriate
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