Equality impact Assessment form (Part 1)
Screening
Name of strategy/policy/procedure/project/function:
Draft Statement of Community Involvement
Name and telephone number of officers completing assessment:
Alison Robinson Ext:6167
Date completed:
5 October 2009
Section one: Identify your aims and objectives
The purpose of an Equality Impact Assessment is to improve the work of the Council by
making sure it does not discriminate and that, where possible, it promotes equality. It is a
way to make sure individuals and teams think carefully about the likely impact of their work
on people in Reigate & Banstead and take action to improve strategies, policies,
procedures, projects and functions where appropriate.
Consider the following questions with regard to your
strategy/policy/procedure/project/function:
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How will it be put into practice and who will be responsible for it?
Who are the key stakeholders?
What are you trying to achieve and for whom?
What is the main aim or purpose of the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function?
The Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) sets out when and how the Council will
engage with and involve stakeholders and the public in respect of Planning matters,
including the consideration of planning applications and preparation of planning policy
documents.
The SCI was adopted in September 2006. The Local Development Scheme prescribes a
review of the SCI three years after adoption. As a result of changes in the relevant
legislation, guidance and best practice, elements of the Statement of Community require
updating to reflect the current position, particularly in respect of the revised statutory
procedures for adopting Development Plan Documents.
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List the main activities or objectives of the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function
(for strategies list the main policy areas):

SCI sets out the principles for engagement with the local community in the
preparation of Local Development Documents and in the consideration of planning
applications
Principles for LDDs
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Production of Consultation Statement for all DPDs (Development Plan Document)
that set out who has been consulted and how, summary of main issues raised and
other representations and how those issues have been addressed in the DPD
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SCI sets out the publicity that will be carried out at statutory stages in the
preparation of DPDs
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SCI sets out how the publicity will be carried out at key stages in the preparation of
Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) and requirement for the Production of
a Consultation Statement
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The SCI sets out possible engagement methods that might be considered in the
preparation of DPDs and SPDs
Planning Applications
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SCI summarises the different methods the Council uses to involve the community in
pre-application advice and planning applications
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SCI sets out the way the Council notifies and / or publicises the receipt of planning
applications
Who are main beneficiaries of the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function and in
what way?
Stakeholders, the public, users of the Council’s Planning Services.
Section two: Consider data and research
A vital part of the process is exploring any available data and relevant research. This will
help to form an opinion on the implications a strategy/policy/procedure/project/function may
have in relation to equality and diversity.
Data can be statistical information from formal audits, consultation exercises (both external
and internal), and surveys. Qualitative and quantitative data can be used. This may include
service performance information, workforce profiles, local population and census data.
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Statistical data can be found in the About the Borough section of The Knowledge
under Facts and figures
Consultation data can be found in the About the Borough section under
Consultations
Where data is limited or not available managers should identify this as a limitation and
devise action plans to overcome this. This may be achieved by contacting specialist
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organisations, representatives from the respective equality groups, and by further research
of existing regional and national data.
What data is available to help inform the EIA?
Consultation Exercises
To date the Council has undertaken considerable consultation to inform development of
the Core Strategy. Consultation has been informed by the 2006 SCI.
LDF Core Strategy DPD Consultation Statement January 2009
The Consultation Statement sets out the different stages of consultation that have informed
the development of the Core Strategy. It contains a summary of the bodies consulted and
how they were consulted. It also summarises the main issues that were raised and how
they were addressed in the Core Strategy.
LDF Core Strategy Statement of Consultation Regulation 30 (1)(e) Statement:
Representation Made and Summary of Main Issues March 2009
The Core Strategy was published in January 2009 to enable representation to be made
prior its submission to the Secretary of State to ensure there would be no issues raised
that would cause the Council to re-consider its submission and enable minor alterations to
be made to the document. Representations will be taken into account at the Core Strategy
examination.
Equalities Data
A range of demographic data is available. This has informed the identification of groups of
the community that have been traditionally hard to reach such as the young, older people,
the disabled, ethnic minority groups, Gypsies & Travellers and people on low incomes. The
SCI seeks to identify different groups in the community and ways we might be able to
engage with them during consultation on planning matters.
Are there any gaps which may require further research or consultation?
No.
Section three: Assess the impact on equality target groups
Assess where you think that the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function could have a
negative impact on any of the equality target groups i.e. it could disadvantage them or where
it could have a positive impact or contribute to promoting equality, equal opportunities or
improving relations within equality target groups.
Consider the following:
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publicity, including design, distribution, accessible communications issues
physical access
location, geography
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poverty, deprivation and social exclusion issues
employment
safety
direct discrimination: does the strategy, policy or project intentionally exclude a particular
equality category? Is this justified?
indirect discrimination: does the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function affect some
equality categories disproportionately? Is this justified? Is the
strategy/policy/procedure/project/function or its outcomes (such as the services provided)
likely to be equally accessed by all? Are there barriers that might inhibit or restrict access
to the service for some people?
This section can be difficult to answer in areas where there is little or no information but lack
of data should not be a reason to halt the process. Please continue to complete this form.
Using the table below, take each one of the equality target groups and predict the
likely impact on people from these groups. Impact can be positive, negative, direct or
indirect. You do not have to complete all the boxes. Only those where there is a
disproportionate or greater impact either way.
Positive
impact
(it could
benefit)
Women
Gender
Men
Transgendered
Men/Women
Race
The categories
used in the
Race section
are those used
in the 2001
census.
Consideration
should be
given to the
needs of
specific
communities
within the
broad
categories.
Disability
Long term
health
impairment
could include,
mental health
problems,
Asian
Black
Mixed race
White
Chinese
Other racial or
ethnic groups specify
Physical
Sensory
Learning
Neutral
Negative
impact
(it could
disadvantag
e)
Reason
High Low
High Low
High Low
High Low
High Low
High Low
High Low
High Low
High Low
High Low
High Low
High Low
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Positive
impact
(it could
benefit)
asthma, heart
conditions,
chronic fatigue
etc.
Long Term
Health
Impairment
Sexual
orientation
Heterosexuals,
lesbians, gay
men and
bisexuals
Neutral
Older people
Age
Reason
Negative
impact
(it could
disadvantag
e)
Younger people
and children
High Low
High Low
High Low
High Low
Religion or
belief
Faith groups
cover a wide
range of
groupings, the
most common
of which are
Buddhists,
Christians,
Hindus, Jews,
Muslims, and
Sikhs.
Consider faith
categories
individually
and collectively
when
considering
positive and
negative
impacts.
Faith groups
High Low
If you have indicated there is a potential negative impact on any group, are these
Intentional and of a High Impact?
Intended? – i.e. can be justified in terms of legislation
e.g. Concessionary fares over 60s
Yes
No
High impact? – i.e. it is or may be discriminatory
against some groups.
Yes
No
Is the negative impact
NOT INTENDED and/or of HIGH IMPACT?
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If yes, a full assessment is required. Please complete the Equality impact assessment
form Part Two: Full assessment.
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If no, complete the rest of this form below and consider if completing the Equality
impact assessment form Part Two: Full assessment would be helpful in making a
thorough assessment. Do not ignore low impacts – these could help you develop
services in the future.
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Section four: Improvement planning
It is important to consider any influence the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function is
having, or could potentially have, on the individual strands of equality. The
strategy/policy/procedure/project/function should be examined for its effectiveness in:
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promoting equality
eliminating discrimination
achieving equity
Could you minimise or remove any low negative impact or improve the positive impact of the
strategy/policy/procedure/project/function and if so how?
Analysis must be undertaken with the strategic objectives of the Council in mind and the
questions should reflect legal requirements, the emerging Local Development Framework
and population needs.
Use the table below to record how you could minimise or remove any low negative
impact or improve the positive impact of the
strategy/policy/procedure/project/function:
Issue
Action
If there is no evidence that the strategy/policy/procedure/project/function promotes
equality, equal opportunities or improved relations – could it be adapted so that it
does? How?
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Section five: Monitoring and reviewing
What data do you have which monitors the impact of the
strategy/policy/procedure/project/function on minority groups?
Annual Monitoring Report (AMR)
Planning application performance indicators.
How is this data used?
The AMR and planning application performance indicators are used to monitor the
effectiveness of planning policies and outcomes. This ensures that policies are achieving
the outcomes intended and identifies performance issues. It enables the Council to
address any shortfalls or unintended outcomes of planning policies.
If there is no data, please explain how you intend to continue monitoring the impact of
this strategy/policy/procedure/project/function:
Please send a copy of the completed form to the Equalities Steering Group, via Lorraine
Hatton at [email protected].
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