Person responsible for managing the assessment

Leader of the Council & Democratic Services Team Leader

Name and brief description of the service / policy to be assessed

Members of the Council

Objectives of the service/policy to be assessed

To provide community guidance, support and leadership within Havant Borough. To set policy and procedure for the Council to follow when delivering local services. To determine quasi-judicial matters as appropriate.

Baseline/monitoring data 2006/07

38 Council Members representing approximately 115,000 population.

Approximately 70 public meetings per year where local decision making occurs.

Service/policy outcome evaluation

Addressed via:

• Internal liaison
• Residents satisfaction surveys
• Complaints monitoring/action
• Compliance with legislation
• Elections
• Overview and Scrutiny

List of main stakeholders/beneficiaries

• Members
• Officers
• Residents
• Businesses
• Community Groups
• LSP
• Partners (other Local Authorities/Police etc)
• Visitors

How representative is the ‘stakeholder’ list above?

It encompasses everyone

Who benefits from the service/policy?

• Residents
• Officers (project initiators)
• Partners
• Businesses
• Visitors

In what area are there concerns that the policy could have a differential impact

Race √

Disability √

Gender

Age

Religious beliefs √

Sexual Orientation

Please explain for each of the target equality groups, but in particular race, disability and gender:

Race: Debate prior to decision making in different languages and enabling input from all sections of the community

Disability: Access to meetings and meeting documents e.g. large print agendas, physical access to Civic Offices, audio and visual aids at meetings. All public areas of the Civic Offices are accessible to less able people.

Gender: None

Age: None

Religious Belief: Holding meetings on dates or times inconvenient to some sections of the community

Areas of concern that the service/policy could have a differential impact  

Disability access to building/hearing loops etc. All public areas of the Civic Offices are accessible to less able people.

Residents not knowing who to contact when they have a local service issue

Differential impact

• Lack of publicity in native language of right to complain etc (awareness of UK law).
• Excluded from decision making

Reasons for any differential impact

• Poor communication/not realising a meeting is being held
• Not able to attend meetings or meet with local member

Are there any barriers to opportunities or access for some groups?

·       Language (helped by language line)

·       Expectations of type of outcome due to culture

Complaints data

None received on equality issues.

Are there disadvantages caused by discrimination?

Reduced access to and participation in, local democracy

Are there opportunities to better promote service/policy inclusion?

Serving You and current mediums of community notice boards, local press, residents associations etc. Website, Community Boards, Youth Council, Citizenship Classes in Schools.

Subject to costs and availability of web access in peoples homes, meetings to be broadcast over the internet.

Have you undertaken any consultation?

Regular (usually quarterly) surveys through the Citizens Panel

Consultation outcomes

Suggestions incorporated in policies/actions where appropriate

Assessment conclusion

• Publicity of service provision could be increased

• Encourage residents to further participate more actively in local decision making

• Customer satisfaction surveys must include references to equalities.

Monitoring timetable

Dependent on HBC establishing needs.

Please ensure that you have provided as much evidence as possible to support the responses you have given.

Additional Comments

Signed:  Leader of the Council & Democratic Services Team Leader (Completing Officer)

Signed:  Head of Customer and Support Services                          (Head of Service)

Date:  26 September 2007