Equality Impact Assessment Processing of Planning and Listed Building applications

Transcription

1 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Equality Impact Assessment Processing of Planning and Listed Building applications Name of Function/Policy/ Service being assessed Details of the assessment Processing of Planning and Listed Building Applications Is the policy? New (please go to step 1) Existing: (please go to step 2) Date of assessment review September 2011 Directorate & Service Planning Policy Owner Mr J Kehoe Lead Officer Ruth Chambers Version 4: EIA Template for

2 Step 2 Clarifying the aims 1. What is the overall aim, or purpose of the function/policy/service? 2. What outcomes do you want to achieve with this function/ policy/service and for whom? 3. Who is intended to benefit from the function/service/ policy? 4. Who defines or defined the function/service/policy? 5. Who implements the function/service/policy? 6. How do the outcomes of the function/service/policy meet or hinder other policies, values or objectives of the public authority (if applicable)? 7. What factors or forces are at play that could contribute or detract from the outcomes identified earlier? Step 3 Consideration of data and information To make planning decisions consistent with the Development Plan and other guidance. To bring about or prevent development as set out in the Development Plan. To make decisions on time. To do this with high quality customer service. In principle, the whole residential, visitor and business communities of the Borough. More specifically, those affected by development or intended beneficiaries of development. A particular concern is groups who could be missed out from our usual means of communication and engagement. National legislation and guidance, the Council s Constitution, Statement of Community Involvement, and Service specific plans and Customer Service Charter. Principally the Development Management and Support teams of Planning Service. The development decisions are guided by the Development Plan. The DM and Support teams have established procedures for the processing of applications to maintain consistency. The processing of applications includes important judgements that affect the delivery of other services, usually so as to bring about their objectives. Please select which corporate priority these outcomes relate to: All are relevant Changes in economic market conditions. Delivery of customer services across a wide geographical area. Staff training including induction. 8. What do you already know about who uses this function/service/ policy? Data on the population, businesses and visitors to the Borough, includes small area data. Tri-ennial National and local survey of users, supplemented by regular top Version 4: EIA Template for

3 9. Has any consultation with service users already taken place on the function/ service/policy and if so what were the key findings? 10. What, if any, additional information is needed to assess the impact of the function/service/policy? 11. How do you propose to gather the additional information? Step 4 Assessing the Impact up surveys of users. List of user groups in our SCI. Meetings of frequent users (architects, designers and agents) and Local Councils. During the processing of applications we contact neighbouring householders and busineses. We receive complaints from some users. Feedback received from annual Ward Walks. Feedback is received from: The above consultations generally, prompting e.g. preparation of the Planning Customer Charter; User Groups leading to e.g. higher priority for pre-application discussions and publication of advisory leaflets. Specific exercises for some groups of the population e.g. affordable housing needs assessments; gypsy and traveller accommodation needs assessment. Further information on non-users and non-respondents, to see why they are not engaged with. Via other officers (e.g. Access Officer, Economic Development Officers) and established interest groups (see SCI) and partners (e.g. LSP). 12. Based on what information you already know, in relation to each of the following groups consider whether a) there is anything in the function/service/policy that could discriminate or put anyone at a disadvantage b) for an existing function/service/policy, how it is actually working in practice for each group a. Hard-toreach groups People aged over 50+ (especially those in rural areas) b. People aged People in rural areas who need paper documents. Paper copies are sent to Parish Councils. May be under represented as letters are sent to heads of household. Version 4: EIA Template for

4 c. Minority Ethnic Communities (particularly those who do not speak English) d. New communities e.g. New Europeans e. Equality Age Letters are sent in English. There are multi-lingual messages on principal documents but not leaflets. Letters are sent in English. There are multi-lingual messages on principal documents. As (a), (b) above. groups f. Disability Access to plans, documents, could be difficult. g. Gender No h. Race No i. Religion/Belief No j. Sexual Orientation Step 5 Reviewing and Scrutinising the Impact No 13. Have you identified any differential impact and does this adversely affect any groups in the community? 14. If there is an adverse impact can it be avoided, can we make changes, can we lessen it etc? 15. If there is nothing you can do, can the reasons be fairly justified? 16. Do any of the changes in relation to the adverse impact have a further adverse affect on any other group? We have identified some differential impacts. Effects relate largely to forms of coomunication. If we are contacted, we provide alternative means of advice/communication. For example, copies of drawings have been sent to housebound customers. A case officer visited a blind customer to explain planning application proposals. As in steps (3), (11) above. Then amend our service accordingly. Not applicable. No Version 4: EIA Template for

5 Step 5 continued Equality Impact Assessment Actions to be inserted into Equality Action Plans Based on your answers in questions 13-15, please finalise your actions here. These actions will then be incorporated into our equality action plans to be carried out after you have completed this assessment. Equality Objective Action Outcome/monitoring Implemented by Strand information and targets Date for Completion If an adverse impact was found or unmet needs identified, which actions will you put in place to address this: If the impact is still unclear, list the actions you will put in place to gather the information you need: Identify and Improved information about contact interest unmet needs. groups where we suspect Review September there are unmet needs. Change our processing practices to overcome or reduce unmet needs. Reduced level of unmet needs, improved customer service September Also ongoing review as specific cases arises. This may result in changes/modifications to procedures 2009 Corporate Mr J Kehoe If you did not find any evidence of unmet needs or adverse impact, list the actions you will put in place to maintain good practice: Version 4: EIA Template for

6 Step 6 Formal Consultation 17. Which decision making Planning Services Management Team process do these changes need to go through i.e. do they need to be approved by a committee/council? 18. How will you continue to On going customer questionnaires monitor the impact of the function/service/ policy on diverse groups? 19. When will you review this equality impact assessment? September 2013