Equality Impact Assessment Form
Reference – 3R12
Department
Regeneration & Culture
Version no
3.0
Assessed by
Steph Moore
Date created
29.10.15
Approved by
Shelagh O’Neill
Date approved
Updated by
Date updated
Final approval
Date signed off
Section 1: What is being assessed?
1.1
Name of proposal to be assessed:
Property Programme – Continue to Rationalise the Council Estate
The continuation of the Property Programme will continue to deliver savings
including the closure of Future House, reductions in managed print spend and
savings on cleaning and utilities bills.
1.2
Describe the proposal under assessment and what change it would result in if
implemented:
The Property Programme aims to improve the access and use of Council buildings
and services for all. The programme is wide ranging and will affect multiple
properties across the district.
Changes may include:

Service/Function – proposed property changes will incorporate a full review
of all services and functions in existence and consider individually and in
detail the impact of change.

Policy/Procedure – All policies and procedures will be reviewed and updated
as necessary to ensure business continuity and effective service delivery.
Section 2: What the impact of the proposal is likely to be
The Equality Act 2010 requires the Council to have due regard to the need to
eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation;

advance equality of opportunity between different groups; and

foster good relations between different groups
1
In planning and implementing this programme attention has been paid to the
requirements of the Public Equality Duty set out in Section 149 Equality Act 2010
(the Act). This requires public bodies such as the Council to have due regard to the
need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good
relations between different people when carrying out their activities.
2.1
Will this proposal advance equality of opportunity for people who share a
protected characteristic and/or foster good relations between people who
share a protected characteristic and those that do not? If yes, please explain
further.
Where appropriate Equality Impact Assessments (EIA) will be undertaken to assess
the likely or actual adverse impact of any of the proposed schemes of work on
people sharing one or more of the protected characteristics set out in the Act
(whether these individuals are to be found within the staff employed by the Council
or public using the properties in question). This information will be used to eradicate
or minimise any potential adverse impact of the proposals on members of one or
more groups sharing one or more of the protected characteristics laid down by the
Act, who are identified as being at risk through this process.
For example: all accommodation changes will comply with current legislation and
will ensure that reasonable provision is made for access to a building and use of
facilities with reconfiguration to meet the needs of all users.
2.2
Will this proposal have a positive impact and help to eliminate discrimination
and harassment against, or the victimisation of people who share a protected
characteristic? If yes, please explain further.
Yes. See 2.1 above. Equality assessment carried out shows that there is no
potential discriminatory or disproportionate impact on the public or service users, as
this proposal concerns consolidating the Services within council buildings and
disposing of surplus properties. The programme is designed to ensure that
accessibility for customers and service users, where applicable, is improved and
each proposed change in building use or location will be subject to individual
equality/risk assessment.
2.3
Will this proposal potentially have a negative or disproportionate impact on
people who share a protected characteristic? If yes, please explain further.
Equality assessment carried out indicates that this proposal is likely to have no or a
low impact on everyone, and so there is no disproportionate impact on any group
who share protected characteristics
2
2.4
Please indicate the level of negative impact on each of the protected
characteristics?
(Please indicate high (H), medium (M), low (L), no effect (N) for each)
Protected Characteristics:
Age
Impact
Mitigation
(H, M, L, N)
L
Service Issue
L
Disposing of unfit
estate and
enhancing provision
within retained estate
to meet the needs of
the users
Gender reassignment
N
No impact
Race
N
No impact
N
Disposing of unfit
estate and
enhancing provision
within retained estate
to meet the needs of
the users
N
Disposing of unfit
estate and
enhancing provision
within retained estate
to meet the needs of
the users e.g.
improved access and
fire safety and
enabling flexible
working
Sexual Orientation
N
No impact
Sex
N
No impact
Marriage and civil partnership
N
No impact
L
Enabling delivery of
services within the
community through
Disability
Religion/Belief
Pregnancy and maternity
Additional Consideration:
Low income/low wage
3
investment in New
Ways of Working
and improving
service access
points across the
district e.g.
Community & Public
Sector Hubs.
Improving access to
low cost funds
through additional
provision of Credit
Union office on the
Airedale side of the
Estate.
2.5
How could the disproportionate negative impacts be mitigated or eliminated?
Individual Equality Impact Assessments (EIA) will be undertaken to assess the likely
or actual adverse impact of any of the proposed schemes of work.
Property rationalisation is an outcome from Service consultation. Customers/public
using the properties to access Services would be a consideration for the Service
Provider and any risk would be the responsibility of that Provider.
The provision/adaptation of properties is always taken in consultation with the
Service Users to capture technical/legislative requirements. The property provision
is addressed by the programme, the user/customer needs are referred to the
Service Provider e.g. PEEPs (Personal Evacuation and Egress Plans) are the
responsibility of the user, etc.
Section 3: What evidence you have used?
3.1
What evidence do you hold to back up this assessment?

New Deal Plans/One Public Estate/ Service Strategies e.g. Community
Hubs/Public Sector Hubs/Waste Strategy/Library Review etc.

Minutes/notes from Service consultations

Feedback from meetings
4
3.2

Building User Group Minutes

Individual assessments if required e.g. PEEPs; Roller racking was assessed due
to the needs of an individual; Lighting was assessed due to the needs of an
individual, etc.

Programme Board minutes

Emails

Project Briefs
Do you need further evidence?
No
Section 4: Consultation Feedback
4.1
Results from any previous consultations
Feedback from services is generally minuted as regular meetings are held with the
Service to ensure all requirements are considered and planned for. Services are
also requested to carry out consultation and impact assessments for their own
service area.
4.2
Feedback from current consultation
The programme incorporates multiple property propositions with wide ranging
differentials that will be managed individually as appropriate. Each property/project
has individual consultations with the services based within the areas affected. For
example:
Consultation on Britannia House Customer Services development indicated a
requirement for the ‘lifting’ of the pavements due to inadequate access and egress
to accommodate the users.
Councillor and public consultation, if required, will be undertaken to inform the
impact assessment and requirements.
4.3
Your departmental response to this feedback – include any changes made to
the proposal as a result of the feedback
Britannia House - An opportunity to include this work in future Highway changes
was taken and the problem resolved accordingly.
5