The purpose of an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) is to ensure individuals and teams think carefully about the
likely impact of their work on people in the Borough and take action to
improve strategies, policies and practices, where appropriate.
The Council's EIA process has changed in line with the Equality Act 2010 to include analysis of the potential impact on all of the protected characteristics covered under this legislation. Where there are gaps in local data or information resources, county,regional and national data and resources are used.
EIAs involve anticipating the consequences of new policies, strategies and projects in development as well as re-assessing existing ones on a regular basis to help the Council understand how what it does affects different people differently. The Council maintains a three- year rolling programme of re-assessing existing policies, stategies and functions across all of its service areas, including Personnel. The focus of the EIA is to ensure the policy, strategy or function complies with the general Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010. The three aims of the general Equality Duty are to:
- Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation;
- Advance equality of opportunity between peopel who share a protedted characteristic and people who do noty share it; and
- Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not share it.
In all instances a Screening Assessment is completed and reviewed. Based on the outcome of this review, a Full Assessment may be required. This involves a more thorough examination and gathering of evidence to prove that the policy/strategy/ practice is not discriminatory.
All assessments are reviewed by members of the Council’s Equality and Diversity Steering Group who may recommend certain actions are needed to ensure due regard to the aims of the Equality Duty. Actions identified during the assessment process are recorded and monitored for completion as service level equality objectives. Completed EIAs are published and can be found on the link below:
Completed Equality Impact Assessments
