2. Initial assessment
Initial Assessment of whether the project requires an EqIA
When answering these questions, please keep in mind all legally protected equality characteristics (sex, gender reassignment, religion or belief, age, disability, ethnicity/race, sexual orientation, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity) of the people actually or potentially receiving and benefiting from the services or the policy.
In particular consider whether there are any potential equality related barriers that people may experience when getting to know about, accessing or receiving the service or the policy to be introduced or changed.
Discuss the results of your equality assessment with the equality Lead for your department and agree whether improvements or changes need to be made to any aspect of your Project.
| Question | Response (Yes/No/Don’t know) |
|---|---|
| 1. Is there evidence of different needs, experiences, issues or priorities on the basis of the equality characteristics in relation to the service or policy/strategy area? | Yes |
| 2. Are there any proposed changes in the service/policy that may affect how services are run and/or used or the ways the policy will impact different groups? | Yes |
| 3. Are there any proposed changes in the service/policy that may affect service-users/staff/residents directly? | Yes |
| 4. Is there potential for, or evidence that, the service/policy may adversely affect inclusiveness or harm good relations between different groups of people? | Don't know |
| 5. Is there any potential for, or evidence that any part of the service/aspects of the policy could have a direct or indirect discriminatory effect on service-users/staff/residents? | Don’t know |
| 6. Is there any stakeholder (Council staff, residents, trade unions, service-users, VCSE organisations) concerned about actual, potential, or perceived discrimination/unequal treatment in the service or the Policy on the basis of the equality characteristics set out above that may lead to taking legal action against the Council? | Don't know |
| 7. Is there any evidence or indication of higher or lower uptake of the service by, or the impact of the policy on, people who share the equality characteristics set out above? | Yes |
The need for an EqIA will depend on:
- How many questions you have answered “yes”, or “don’t know” to;
- The likelihood of the Council facing legal action in relation to the effects of service, or the policy may have on groups sharing protected characteristics; and
- The likelihood of adverse publicity and reputational damage for the Council.
If you have answered “yes” or “don't know” to any of the questions above, then the completion of an EqIA is necessary.
While the changes are all intended to be improvements for all transport system users, the scope of the LTP4 and potential for some disruption when planned changes are implemented means the risk level is medium.