Person responsible for managing the assessment (author)

Environmental Quality Manager

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

Street Cleansing Services

The cleansing of adopted highway land and open spaces. To provide an environment that is cleaner and safer for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors.

Take appropriate enforcement action to ensure that land and areas outside of the Council ownership comply with legislative requirements.

Objectives of the service/policy to be assessed

To provide a clean and safe environment.

Baseline/monitoring data

• BVPI’s
  • 119e – Satisfaction with parks and open spaces – 63% 2003/04, 70% 2006/07, 70% 2009/10.
  • 199a – The proportion of relevant land and highways (expressed as a percentage) that is assessed as having combined deposits of litter and detritus that fall below an acceptable level – 19% 2006/07, 12% 2007/08, 10% 2008/09, 8% 2009/10.
  • 199b – The proportion of relevant land and highways (expressed as a percentage) from which unacceptable levels of graffiti are visible – 2% 2006/07, 1% 2007/08, 1% 2008/09, 1% 2009/10.
  • 199c - The proportion of relevant land and highways (expressed as a percentage) from which unacceptable levels of fly posting are visible – 0% 2006/07, 1% 2007/08, 0% 2008/09, 0% 2009/10.
  • The year on year reduction in total number of incidents and increase in number of enforcement actions taken to deal with ‘fly-tipping’. 3 = 2006/07, 2 = 2007/08, 1 = 2008/09, 1 = 2009/10.
  • 218a – Percentage of new reports of abandoned vehicles investigated within 24hrs of notification – 86% 2006/07, 90% 2007/08, 90% 2008/09, 90% 2009/10.
  • 218b – Percentage of abandoned vehicles removed within 24hrs from the point at which the authority is legally entitled to remove the vehicle – 89% 2006/07, 95% 2007/08, 95% 2008/09, 95% 2009/10.

Service/policy outcome evaluation

Outcome:

• Continued service improvement.

Evaluation

• Increase customer satisfaction through carrying out surveys and reducing complaints.

List of main stakeholders/beneficiaries

All residents of the borough, elected members, officers and staff, schools, colleges, voluntary organisations, relevant landowners and businesses, Community Boards, Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Housing Associations, Environment Agency, Hampshire Constabulary.

How representative is the ‘stakeholder’ list above?

Fully

Who benefits from the service/policy?

Stakeholders. There is no evidence to suggest that any group or individual is under/over represented.

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

Race - YES

Disability - NO

Gender - NO

Age - NO

Religious beliefs - NO

Sexual Orientation - NO

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

Race: Communication/Language barriers.

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

Staff members being able to liaise with customers whereby English is not their first language.

Differential impact

Potential for certain members of the community to not be able to support and/or participate in activities to promote a cleaner safer environment.

Reasons for any differential impact

Increase in number of non English speaking residents/visitors in borough.

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

Language barriers – making communication difficult and causing a lack of information regarding full range of services available.

It may be difficult to communicate in the event of any possible enforcement action.

Complaints data

No complaints have been received on equality issues

Are there disadvantages caused by discrimination?

None identified.

Are there opportunities to better promote service/policy inclusion?

Language line is available to help with some issues although literature translated into several languages including Polish is required. This is needed due to the large number of Eastern Europeans who are residing and/or working within our community.

The Council’s newsletter ‘Serving You’

Have you undertaken any consultation?

None recently.

Consultation outcomes

Provides information relating to customer satisfaction.

Assessment conclusion

This service is not considered to be discriminatory.  However as and when the team are made aware of any issue relating to a group and/or individual who may have difficulty using any of our service provisions then adaptations may be made or an alternative facility made available.

Any service related documentation/information to include details regarding it’s availability in other formats and where to obtain this information.

Future consultations to include reference to equalities.

Monitoring timetable

Monitoring is provided through the number of complaints received on the Council’s Remedy system and local and national key performance indicators.  Officers, Service Supervisors and Rangers provide real-time monitoring of service provision.

Document to be reviewed 31^st March 2009.

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

Additional Comments

Future consultation documents must include a reference to equalities.

As and when offensive/hate crime graffiti is identified/reported the team will arrange for the removal within 24 hours of the report.

Any future initiatives regarding service improvement (i.e. new/replacement litter bins, chewing gum boards, recycling bins etc..) prior consideration will be given to the suitability and access for all groups.

Signed:  Environmental Quality Manager                                     (Completing Officer)

Signed: Head of Environmental Services                                    (Head of Service)

Date: 07/03/07