Person responsible for managing the assessment

Communications Manager

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

Communications Service for internal and external customers of Havant Borough Council.

• Communications Strategy
• Consultation Strategy

Objectives of the service/policy to be assessed

To manage the reputation of the council and promotion of its services and partnership working.

Baseline/monitoring data

We do not collect data on sexual orientation, Religious beliefs, Race, Gender, Age or Disability of readers or users of the communications service.

User testing with disabled users of the council’s website has been carried out and changes have been made as a result.

The council’s website does meet the AA accessibility standards

We have approx. 1500 members of the council’s citizen’s panel, who are surveyed on a range of subjects four times a year. This is due for a refresh by summer 2008 at the latest. HBC has a youth panel, however this has not been utilised to its full potential in the last 12-18 months. I am currently unaware of the panels make up in relation to the six themes listed under the Equalities legislation.

Information from the 2001 census:

Of the residents in the borough, 48.02% are male, 51.98% female.

1700 residents (1.5%) are non white

3570 residents (3.1%) are not British

29.55% are aged under 25. 18.92% are aged 65 or over.

4,530 residents receive Disability Living Allowance and 2,470 receive Attendance Allowance.

Population: 115,300 (mid 2005)

Service/policy outcome evaluation

The purpose of the Communications Strategy is to set out the council’s approach to internal and external communications and to improve the council’s performance in these areas.

The purpose of the Consultation Strategy is to set out the council’s approach to consultation and community engagement and ensure consultation is meaningful and effective in informing the decision making process.

List of main stakeholders/beneficiaries

• Staff
• Councillors
• Partners
• Population of the borough, including businesses
• Visitors to the borough
• Anyone with access to the internet

How representative is the ‘stakeholder’ list above?

Fully representative

Who benefits from the service/policy?

• Staff
• Councillors
• Partners
• Population of the borough, including businesses
• Visitors to the borough
• Anyone with access to the internet

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:

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

We do not collect data on sexual orientation, Religious beliefs, Race, Gender, Age or Disability of readers or users of the communications service ( including consultation)

No concern in the areas of Religious beliefs, Gender or Sexual Orientation.

Race – use of different languages or provision of translation service promoted in a consistent manner.

Disability – use of different formats of provision of alternative format service promoted in a consistent manner

Age – lack of research to determine the need for specific targeting of younger and older people. 

Differential impact

Lack of access to services, lack of publicity /communications in other languages and formats

Reasons for any differential impact

Policies and procedures need updating

Lack of staff training to use language line, text talk etc

No research on Equalities issues in relation to users of the Communications service

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

Identifying the need first, in order to identify barriers other than those already stated above.

Unknown cost implications of any new service provision.

Complaints data

None on Equalities issues

Are there disadvantages caused by discrimination?

None identified.

Are there opportunities to better promote service/policy inclusion?

Including the provision of alternative format statement on all regular and longer term publications.

Refresh of Citizens panel to ensure it is representative of the boroughs population.

To identify the potential to add an equal opportunities style form to any consultations carried out.

To carry out research on users of the communications service.

Identify ways of engaging harder to reach groups.

To make use of the directory of hard to reach groups (which includes community/voluntary and religious groups). directory available from October 2007

Have you undertaken any consultation?

1. Consultation on the council’s website has been carried out through the citizen’s panel and through a company called Usability Exchange (disabled user testing).

2. Citizens Panel used to identify areas of improvement for Council magazine

Consultation outcomes

1.      Changes made to the council website to make it more accessible and easier to navigate.

2.      Letters page introduce and more information on planning matters.

Assessment conclusion

The assessment has highlighted the need to establish a way of identifying and monitoring users of the communications service.

To identify cases of best practice within other authorities in relation to the Equalities assessment on communications and consultation services.

The need to promote the use of the alternative format statement on council publications.

The need to refresh the council’s citizens panel

This assessment has already instigated a change to the website with the provision of the web translation service being available on the homepage.

Monitoring timetable

Equalities assessments on the communications service will be ongoing.

To refresh the citizens panel by summer 2008

To provide and promote the use of the alternative format statement on council publications by December 2007.

To consult with the Council’s Access group on communication and consultation matters.

The Communications Team to undertake Equal Opportunities & Diversity Awareness  training by March 2008.

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

Additional Comments

Signed:  Communications Manager                                               (Completing Officer)

Signed: Head of  Organisational Development                           (Head of Service)

Date: Sept 2007