Equality Impact Assessments
Equality
Impact Assessment
Record Form
PLANNING SERVICE
DEVELOPMENT CONTROL
North Norfolk District Council
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Equality Impact Assessments
Directorate
Service
Person
Date
responsible for assessment
the assessment completed
Environment
Development Control
Development
Control Manager
(East)
Development
Control Manager
(West)
Title of the
assessed
policy
being
The status of the policy
1. What are the aims,
objectives and purposes
of the policy?
2. Does the policy support
other objectives of the
council?
3. Who is intended to
benefit from the policy,
North Norfolk District Council
Planning Protocol
The protocol forms part of the Council’s Constitution. The Constitution defines a protocol in
the following terms:
Generally used to set out in some detail the approach the Council has taken or will take in
particular circumstances and is usually informative rather than having any formal sanctions
or legislative backing
The protocol supplements the Council’s Code of Conduct, setting out the practices which the
Council follows to ensure that its planning system is fair and impartial, and explains the
conduct expected of the Council Officers and Members on planning matters.
The protocol supports the following core principles of the council’s Code of Corporate
Governance:
 Core Principle 2
Members and officers working together to achieve a common
purpose with clearly defined functions and roles
 Core Principle 3
Promoting values for the authority and demonstrating the values
of good governance through upholding high standards of conduct and behaviour
 Core Principle 4
Taking informed and transparent decisions which are subject to
effective scrutiny and managing risk
 Core Principle
5
Developing the capacity and capability of members and officers
to be effective
Members:
- to understand the broad role of the planning system
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and in what way?
-
to recognise the need for training
to understand the basis on which planning decisions are made
to appreciate the differing roles of members and officers in the planning process
how to deal with lobbying
membership on Town and Parish Councils
planning committee procedures
Officers:
- re-enforces the duty to always act impartially on planning matters
- guidance with regard to pre-application discussions and advice to be given during
the course of applications
guidance on committee reports
Applicants and the general public:
- to understand and to be able to hold members and officers accountable to the
proper handling of planning applications
4. What outcomes are
anticipated from the
policy being in place?
A planning system which can be demonstrated to operate fairly and impartially in
accordance with the law and acknowledged good practice.
To hold to account the standards and behaviour of members and officers and to provide a
benchmark for considering any potential complaints of improper conduct.
5. Identify and select your
assessment team.
6. What data have you
gathered for this
Name
Development Control
Manager (East)
Development Control
Manager (West)
Planning Officer
Source and
Age of Data
Role
Responsibilities
Team leader
Team leader
Support
Owner
Findings
Data Gaps
assessment?
How have you analysed
this data?
7. Who are the main
stakeholders of this
policy?
Planning
Survey
BVP111
Applicants
(2006/07)
Community
Applicants
Developers
The public
8. Are there any concerns
that the policy could have
a negative impact with
regard to race and
ethnicity?
No
North Norfolk District
Council
Satisfaction levels of
planning service from
sample
survey
of
applicants. Included
breakdown by race,
disability, gender and
age.
Staff/Members
Planning Officers
Members
Survey
limited
to
applicants only. No
similar
survey
undertaken for other
participants in the
planning process.
Too small a sample to
evaluate satisfaction
levels amongst nonwhite applicants.
Partners
Town and Parish Councils
Amenity Societies
Consultation bodies
What evidence (actual data or assumptions) do you have to support this?
The role of the planning system is to control the use of land and buildings
in the public interest.
The protocol makes reference to the Royal Town Planning Institute
(RTPI) Code of Conduct which states that planners should:
 act with competence, honesty and integrity;
 fearlessly and impartially exercise their independent
professional judgement to the best of their skill and
understanding; shall discharge their duty to their
employers, clients, colleagues and others with due care
and diligence;
 not discriminate on grounds of race, sex, sexual
orientation, creed, religion, disability or age, and shall
seek to eliminate such discrimination by others and to
promote equality of opportunity.
Whilst not all planning officers are members of the RTPI, the protocol
makes it clear that these are good guidelines to be followed by all
concerned.
9. Are there any concerns
that the policy could have
a negative impact with
regard to gender?
10.Are there any concerns
that the policy could have
a negative impact with
regard to disability?
11.Are there any concerns
that the policy could have
a negative impact with
regard to age?
12.Are there any concerns
that the policy could have
a negative impact with
regard to religion/belief?
13.Are there any concerns
that the policy could have
a negative impact with
regard to sexual
orientation?
14.Could the negative impact
you have identified in
No
No
No
What evidence (actual data or assumptions) do you have to support this?
For the same reasons given in section 8.
In the case of applicants using the planning service the BVPI111 survey
showed an equivalent high level of satisfaction amongst male and female
respondents (88% and 84% respectively).
What evidence (actual data or assumptions) do you have to support this?
For the same reasons given in section 8.
In the case of applicants using the planning service the BVPI111 survey
showed an equivalent high level of satisfaction amongst those
respondents who were disabled and those who were not (84% and 87%)
respectively.
What evidence (actual data or assumptions) do you have to support this?
For the same reasons given in section 8.
In the case of applicants using the planning service the BVPI111 survey
showed a high level of satisfaction across the age range of respondents
and a slight increase the older the applicants are ( 83% satisfaction for
age range 18-34 rising to 92% for age 65+).
What evidence (actual data or assumptions) do you have to support this?
For the same reasons given in section 8
No
What evidence (actual data or assumptions) do you have to support this?
For the same reasons given in section 8
No
questions 8 - 13 lead to
the potential for adverse
impact if the policy is
implemented?
Not Applicable
Can this adverse impact
be justified on the
grounds of promoting
equality of opportunity for
one group?
Or any other reason?
Can the impact be
mitigated by existing
means?
If yes, what actions will
you undertake to mitigate
these impacts and revise
the policy?
15.Describe the
arrangements for
reporting and publishing
this assessment.
Has this assessment been
undertaken by a minimum of
two staff?
Has this assessment been scrutinised by your
Directorate Steering Group?
Yes
If the policy is new, or requires a decision by Councillors to revise, has this Equality Impact Assessment
been included with the report?
Yes/No
N/A
Have any actions identified in this assessment been included in your service equality and diversity action
plan?
Completed by:
Signed off by:
N/A
Equality Impact Assessments
Produced by
David Lloyd associates
In partnership with
North Norfolk District Council
May 2008
North Norfolk District Council
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