Equality Impact Assessment Form
Part 1: Screening
Name of Strategy/Policy/Project/Function:
Completing Officer’s Name:
Completing Officer’s Telephone Number:
Date Completed:
Core Strategy DPD
Alison Robinson
01737 276167
February 2012
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 that
we promote equality and do not discriminate. This method is used to ensure that individuals and teams
consider the likely impact of their work on residents and take action to improve strategies, procedures,
projects and functions where necessary.
What is the main purpose of this strategy?
The Core Strategy sets out the long-term vision and key themes for the future development of the
borough. It is a spatial strategy for the next 15 years and covers a wide range of planning issues,
including economic development, regeneration, housing, environmental protection, transport,
health and education.
The Core Strategy is the first in a series of planning documents that will together make up the
Reigate & Banstead Local Development Framework (LDF). Other documents being prepared as
part of the LDF include the Redhill Town Centre Area Action Plan (RAAP), Development
Management Policies (DMP) Development Plan Document (DPD), the Proposals Map, and a
number of Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD).
Once adopted the Core Strategy will form part of the Statutory Development Plan that guides landuse planning in the borough.
The Core Strategy contains:
 a spatial vision setting out what we want the borough to look like in the future,
 a set of spatial objectives, outlining the issues that need to be addressed in order to realise
our spatial vision,
 a series of strategic policies to deliver the vision and objectives
The Core Strategy covers the period 2012 – 2027.
List the main activities & objectives or main policy areas of this strategy
The Core Strategy sets out a series of strategic objectives and policies. The strategic policies are
divided into three types:
 Spatial Strategy policies set the spatial direction and context for growth – describe how
this growth is planned, managed and delivered over the next 15 years
 Place Shaping policies are specific to different parts of the borough – shape future
development within each area or place, taking account of local character, opportunities and
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constraints
Cross Cutting policies – more detailed policies applied across the whole borough and
focus on specific types of development.
The following is an overview of the content of the three types of strategic policies:
Spatial Strategy policies
 Spatial strategy
 Valued landscapes and natural environment
 Valued townscapes
 Valued people
Place Shaping policies
 Strategic locations for growth and allocation of development
 Town and local centres
 Area 1: The North Downs
 Areas 2: Wealden Greensand Ridge
 Area 2a: Redhill
 Area 2b: Reigate and the remainder of Area 2
 Area 3: The Low Weald
 Gatwick Airport
Cross Cutting policies
 Sustainable development
 Sustainable construction
 Infrastructure
 Housing delivery
 Housing needs of the community
 Affordable housing
 Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople
 Travel options and accessibility
Who are the main beneficiaries of this strategy?
As the spatial strategy for the borough, the Core Strategy has the potential to impact on all
residents, business, visitors and organisations operating in the borough.
The impact of development can be small or significant and far reaching. Development can simply
result in alterations to existing buildings or the development of new buildings, improvements or the
redesign of landscapes and town centres. Development can impact on the users of those buildings
and spaces and / or those living close by, and / or people travelling past.
Specifically policies in the Core Strategy have the potential to impact positively on the following
equality target groups: older people, young people and children, people with physical or sensory or
learning disabilities or long-term health impairments, pregnant women and specific ethnic groups –
Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers.
In what way are the main beneficiaries affected by this strategy?
The various Core Strategy policies could impact on a range of equality target groups in different
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ways. The equality target groups and potential impacts are outlined below.
Section Two: Consider Data and Research
Exploring available data and conducting research will help to give an indication as to what impact the
strategy will have on equality and diversity.
Where data is limited or unavailable, managers should identify this as a limitation and identify ways to
overcome this. This may include contacting specialist or other external organisations, or by conducting
further research of existing regional and national data.
What data is available to help direct the EIA?
The Core Strategy is underpinned by significant evidence based which has informed the policy
priorities, scale and location of development. The evidence includes a number of technical studies,
statistical data, and results of consultations as the Core Strategy has evolved. This data provides
evidence about many equalities groups including older people, young people & children, people
with disabilities, birth rates, Gypsies & Travellers.
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The Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) assesses the performance and effectiveness of local
planning policies and progress of the Local Development Framework.
The Council has data on the number and location of Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling
Showpeople pitches and plots and sites. The accommodation needs of these groups are
also researched in a specific accommodation assessment undertaken approximately five
yearly. Together these sources of data will enable the Council to monitor the delivery of site
allocations for Gypsy & Travellers.
The Council publishes a series of annual monitors: Town Centre Monitor, Local Shopping
Monitor, Housing Monitor, Industrial Estates Monitor and Commercial Commitments
Monitor, Economic Monitor, and Areas for Small Business Monitor. These provide a vast
range of information on the range, size and types of businesses and retailers operating in
these areas, vacancy rates, lettings, housing development, and housing markets. This
information helps to monitor the impact of Core Strategy policies on some equalities
groups.
Indices of Deprivation – the Policy Team monitors the ranking of sub areas within the
borough to assess the social, economic and health of local communities. This data provides
a benchmark against which to assess the impact of LDF policies on local communities,
particularly in regeneration areas. Merstham, for example, contains one of the lowest
ranking sub areas in Surrey and Core Strategy policies for this area are monitored against
improvements to this ranking.
Various technical studies on housing land availability, affordable and market housing,
economic markets, and open spaces.
Are there any gaps in data that may require further research or consultation?
Section Three: Assess The Impact on Equality Target Groups
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Assess where you think the strategy could have a negative impact on any of the equality target groups i.e.
where it could disadvantage them. Also consider where the strategy could have a positive impact or could
contribute to promoting equality, equal opportunities or improving relations with equality target groups.
Consider the following:
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Publicity, including design, distribution and accessible communications issues
Physical access
Location, geography
Poverty, deprivation and social exclusion issues
Employment
Safety
Direct discrimination: does the strategy intentionally exclude a particular equality group? If so, is
this exclusion justified? Are the strategy and its outcomes likely to be equally accessed by all (are
there barriers that might inhibit access to the service for some people)?
Lack of data may make completing this section difficult, but is not be a reason to halt the process.
Please continue to complete this form.
Completing the table below will predict the likely impact on the target groups. You are
not required to complete each box, only those that are relevant. Relevant boxes are
those where there is a disproportionate or greater impact either way.
Positive
Impact
Neutral
Negative Impact
Older
people
Low
High
Younger
people &
children
Low
High
Age
Reason
CS6 Area 1 address leisure
& community facilities deficit.
CS6 Area 3 community
facilities, sports & playing
facilities, Riverside Green
Chain. CS12-14 ensures
new dwellings suit the
requirements of the local
population. CS12
encourages housing for
older people and a range of
housing types, tenures.
CS6 Area 2a expanded
primary school & secondary
school provision. CS6 Area
2b primary school
expansion. CS6 Area 3
community facilities, sports &
playing facilities, Riverside
Green Chain, primary &
secondary school expansion.
CS12-14 ensure new
dwellings suit the
requirements of the local
population. CS3 aims to
promote economic prosperity
(sustaining business /
employment & encouraging
new development); promote
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Physical
Low
High
Sensory
Low
High
Learning
Low
High
Long Term
Health
Impairment
Low
High
Women
Low
High
Men
Low
High
Gender
reassignm
ent
Trans-men
and -women
Low
High
Marriage
and civil
partnershi
p
People who
are married
or in a civil
partnership
Disability
Long-term
health
impairment
includes
mental health
problems,
asthma, heart
conditions,
chronic
fatigue etc
Gender
High
CS12-14 ensures new
dwellings suit the
requirements of the local
population. CS12
encourages a range of
housing types, tenures.
Low
High
CS3 intends to deliver
improved health facilities &
access to healthier lifestyles,
Low
High
Black
Low
High
Mixed race
Low
High
White
Low
High
Chinese
Low
High
Mothers or
Pregnancy
women who
and
are
maternity
pregnant
Asian
Race
These
categories
are those
used in the
2001 census
Religion
or belief
& deliver improved education
facilities, and opportunities
for improving vocational &
skills; and improve access to
healthier lifestyles.
CS6 Area 3 community
facilities, sports & playing
facilities, Riverside Green
Chain,CS12 encourages
housing for people with
special mobility, accessibility
& support needs.
Partnership work with others
is encouraged to identify
suitable sites for specialist
housing. CS13 sets out the
affordable housing
requirements.
CS3 aims to promote
sustainable economic
prosperity (employment
opportunities), deliver
improved health facilities &
access to healthier lifestyles
No predicted high or low
impact.
No predicted high or low
impact.
Low
Gypsies,
Travellers
and
Travelling
Showpeople
Low
High
Faith groups
Low
High
No predicted high or low
impact.
CS14 sets the criteria for
assessing planning
applications for Gypsy,
Traveller and Travelling
Showpeople sites to meet
local need.
No predicted high or low
impact.
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Consider
faith groups
individually
and
collectively
Sexual
orientatio
n
Heterosexu
als,
lesbians,
gay men
and
bisexuals
Low
High
No predicted high or low
impact.
If you have indicated that there is a potential negative impact on any target group, are
these Intentional and/or of a High Impact?
Intended?
i.e. can be justified in terms of legislation
e.g. concessionary fares older people
Yes
No
High Impact?
i.e. it is or may be discriminatory against
one or more 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 2: Full Assessment.
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If NO, complete the rest of this form. Do not ignore low impacts- these could help you to
develop services in the future.
Section Four: Improvement Planning
It is important to consider any influence that the strategy is having, or could potentially have, on the
individual strands of equality. The strategy should be examined for its effectiveness in:
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Promoting equality
Eliminating discrimination
Achieving equality
Could negative impacts be removed or minimised? Could positive impacts be improved 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.
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Issue
Action
If there is no evidence that the strategy promotes equality, equal opportunities or improved
relations, could it be adapted so that it does? If so, how?
Section Five: Monitoring and Reviewing
What data do you have that monitors the impact of the strategy on protected groups?
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Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)
Housing Monitor
Annual Monitoring Report
Other Monitors – Commercial, Employment, Local Shopping, Town Centres, Small
Businesses
How is this data used?
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IMD provides data on deprivation levels, health in the borough and enables us to monitor
the impact of policies in the regeneration areas of Preston, Merstham, Redhill and Horley
Housing Monitor – annual monitor providing details about progress in delivering housing
and meeting targets in the borough
Other Monitors – collectively they provide information about the impact of policies on
employment and business development in the borough
The Annual Monitoring Report assesses the performance and effectiveness of local
planning policies and progress of the Local Development Framework.
If there is no data, explain how you intend to continue monitoring the impact of this
strategy:
Please send a copy of the completed form to the Equalities Steering Group, via Esther Lear, at
esther.lear@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
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