Agenda item

Consider report by Service Director HR & Communications.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director HR and Communications providing assurance that any potential equality impacts of the proposals contained within the Council’s Financial Plan from 2021/22 had been identified and would be managed accordingly  The report explained that had a legal obligation under the Equality Act 2010, when exercising functions, to have due regard to the need to:

(a)       eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act;

(b)       advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it;

(c)       foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.

This was known as the Public Sector Equality Duty.  Carrying out and considering the findings of an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) as part of the decision making process was the method of ensuring “due regard” was paid to the effect of the relevant policy or practice on the Council’s obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty.  The Council also had an obligation under the Fairer Scotland Duty to consider how socio- economic inequalities could be reduced through strategic decisions that were made.  The Council accordingly subjected prospective policies and practices to assessment through an Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA). This addressed potential impacts, both positive and negative, on the Council’s duties under the Equalities and Fairer Scotland legislation. Initial Integrated Impact Assessments on the 2021/22 Financial Plan proposals had been undertaken as an integral part of the revenue and capital budget planning processes in order to fully inform decisions proposed by officers and approved by members.  Some of the proposals had been carried forward from previous years and so had already been subject to an impact assessment. Where that was the case they had not been re-assessed at this stage, although might be as the detailed proposals developed.  While some of the assessed proposals indicate no impact, it was recommended that any potential impact continued to be monitored, given the nature of the proposals.  The 83 proposals might potentially impact in a positive or negative way on one or more of the Protected Characteristics or Socio- Economic Factors and any potential negative impact would require ongoing management through their implementation stage, in terms of mitigating and alleviating these impacts. Any positive impacts identified at this stage should be maximised during the planning and implementation stage of the proposals. 

DECISION

AGREED:-

(a)     to note the summary outcomes of the 42 Initial Integrated Impact Assessments undertaken in respect of the 2021/22 Financial Plan proposals as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report; and

(b)     that officers undertake further and ongoing Impact Assessment work, as necessary, in respect of these proposals with specific reference to the equality or socio- economic groups on whom there may be a possible impact:

(i)    that where there was an identified relevance to the Council’s statutory duty and there was a possible positive impact on one or more equality characteristic or socio- economic groups, actions to maximise this impact should be identified and implemented as part of the project planning and delivery of each proposal or project; and

(ii)   that where there is an identified relevance to the Council’s statutory duty and where there was a possible negative impact on one or more equality characteristic or socio economic group, actions to mitigate and alleviate this impact  should be identified and implemented as part of the project planning and delivery of each proposal or project.