Appendix 6

Budget 2023/24: Equality Impact Assessments – Service-Users

 

The council is legally required by the Equality Act 2010 to evidence how it has rigorously considered its equality duties in the budget-setting process. To achieve this, Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) have been completed on all budget proposals with a potential impact on service-users, related to their legally protected characteristics. 

 

EIAs assess how proposals may impact on specific groups differently (and whether/how negative impacts can be reduced or avoided) so that these consequences are explicitly considered. Further assessment will be made through the budget consideration process and in relation to implementation if budget proposals are accepted. An assessment of the cumulative impacts across proposals will also be available with the budget papers for full council in February. Impacts on staff are assessed separately and will be presented at full budget council.

 

Members are referred to the full text of s149 of the Equality Act 2010 – included at the end of this document – which must be considered when making decisions on budget proposals.

 

Equality Impact Assessments describing impacts on Service-Users

Directorate

Service

EIA number

Families, Children & Learning

Agency placements disabled children

1a

Continuing care

1b

Learning disabilities community care

2

Youth led grants programme

3

Youth arts award programme

4

Children’s centres SLAs

5

Skills & employment: paid placement

6

Skills & employment: supported employment service

7

Safeguarding & care: agency placements

8

Health and Adult Social Care

Community care

9

Assessment services

10

Commissioning

11

 

Provider services

12

Environment, Economy and Culture

Street lighting

13

 

Concessionary travel

14

 

Parking fees

15

 

Winter maintenance

16

 

Garden waste

17

 

Parking in parks

18

 

Allotments

19

 

Household waste recycling site: charges

20

 

Brighton Centre

21

 

Visitor services

22

 

Seafront rent review

23

 

Outdoor events fee

24

Housing, Neighbourhoods and Communities

Housing needs and supply: adaptions

25

Temporary accommodation

26

Libraries

27

Communities Fund

28

Safer communities: licensing fees and field officers

 

29

Governance, People and Resources

No service user EIAs required

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

 

1. Service Area

Specialist Community Disability Service

2. Proposal No. 1a

3. Head of Service

Alison Mills-Clarke

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

Limit the number of expensive external residential placements through commissioning and brokerage work.

 

Through the new HSEND commissioning and brokerage team reduce the commissioning of high-cost placements through using a wider range of frameworks to identify specialist placements and regularly reviewing the high-cost placements to ensure that the package of support changes in line with the progress being made by the child or young person.

 

There will also be a short breaks/respite review that will look at how we ensure that services are more equitable, and more outcome focused and reach a wider number of families to prevent the need of high-cost specialist residential placements. This will help to reduce crisis intervention which will fit in with our Early Help model and prevent a need for high-cost placements.

 

However, this is a demand led budget that must respond to presenting needs and may be hard to achieve.

 

Savings allocated to this piece of work is £250K.

 

 

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

This saving will have the most impact upon a small number of families who are finding it very difficult to support their child in the home and whose children are at risk of being looked after by the local authority.  These are likely to be children with very complex needs that will include having a learning disability and some behaviours that are difficult to manage.

 

6. Assess level of impact

3

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

  • Use a wider range of frameworks to identify specialist placements to gain better value for money
  • Review regularly the high-cost placements to ensure that the package of support reduces in line with the progress being made by the child or young person.
  • Maximise the local offer which includes respite and short break provision to prevent the need for external residential placements.
  • Review Direct Payments and increase the range of activities that can be accessed by CYP with a disability in the city to prevent the needs for high-cost residential placements.
  • Ensure that staff are equipped and have the necessary training to be able to offer support and strategies to families which is more outcomes focussed rather than reactionary and crisis led.

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

YES

This measure will impact upon CYP between the ages of 5-18.

See section 7

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

YES

There will be a negative impact upon families who have CYP with a disability and who are finding it challenging to cope with their child in the family home. The potential impact is that the child or young person will not have an appropriate placement that meets their needs and could lead to family breakdown.

 

See section 7

Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

19.7% of the CYP supported by SCDS are from black and minority ethnic communities. The 2011 census showed 21% of the under 18 population in Brighton and Hove are from a BME background.

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

In Brighton and Hove 71% of all CYP with EHC plans in the city are boys compared to 73% nationally. However, the numbers of CYP in the high-cost placements are relatively small and the figure often fluctuates between 70 and 80% for boys.

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

Yes

More challenging for those families who are on low income to access support/activities as they don’t have the disposable income. 44% of FSM are those CYP with an EHCP.

Targeted intervention for those on low income to ensure they are prioritised during holiday periods for respite and short breaks.

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

No

 

 


9. Full EIA?

 

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

Monitoring will take place through casework supervision, transition tracking meetings, monthly budget monitoring and resource panels. This will include collecting and analysing equality data of service users.

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

None


 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

Specialist Community Disability Service

2. Proposal No. 1b

3. Head of Service

Alison Mills-Clarke

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

To increase the amount of Continuing Health Care (CHC) funding for the children and young people we are supporting with complex needs up to the age of 18.

 

Many of the children and young people who are in specialist placements or who receive other specialist support are being fully funded through the local authority. A proportion of this cohort have significant health needs which we believe should be funded through the Continuing Health Care budget administered through the Integrated Care Board. We currently benchmark poorly against our statistical nearest neighbours for CHC funding which suggests that there is an opportunity to access a greater level of funding through making further applications for CHC funding for individual CYP.  In addition, where we have not been successful in achieving the funding appeals will be lodged with the ICB.

 

Savings to be achieved using this approach is £200,000.

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

This saving should not have an impact upon individuals’ packages of support as it is purely a funding issue, the package of support identified through the child or young person’s care plan should not change it is only how it is funded that will. The funding form CHC might be for the whole package of support or be part of a dual funded agreement by the ICB and the local authority.

 

There is a positive impact to this change as if it funded through the CHC then more specialist care will be provided in line with the needs of the individual.

6. Assess level of impact

2

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

There are no negative impacts, but the positive impact is that the child or young person will receive more specialist care provided by a more highly skilled and trained workforce.

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

Yes

This measure will impact upon CYP between the ages of 5-18. Positive impact is that the child or young person will receive more specialist care provided by a more highly skilled and trained workforce

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

Yes

Health needs will be better managed in the home environment and in the community rather than in the hospital. This will also support families and improve the quality of family life.

 


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

Approximately 19.7% of the CYP supported by SCDS are from black and minority ethnic communities. The 2011 census showed 21% of the under 18 population in Brighton and Hove are from a BME background.

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

No

 

 


9. Full EIA?

No

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

Monitoring will take place through casework supervision, transition tracking meetings, monthly budget monitoring and resource panels. CYPP meetings which is where the decision is made as to whether the CYP meets the criteria for funding. Equality data is collected through the assessment process.

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

 

1. Service Area

Families, Children and Learning: Adult Learning Disability Assessment

2. Proposal No. 2

 

3. Head of Service

Cameron Brown, Head of Service 25+, Specialist Community Disability Service

 

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

The Financial Recovery Plan proposes a saving of £1.100 million by reducing the spend on the Learning Disabilities Community Care Budget. The total net budget is £34.785 million

 

- Continuation of the 'Move On' project supporting adults with LD to move on from high-cost placements into new living arrangements which promote independence (£500k)

- Appropriate joint funding arrangements to be pursued with third parties i.e., Continuing Health Care funding (£250k)

- Improved transition planning arrangements for young people. The social work pod will seek to provide a greater focus on this high-cost area (£200k)

- Review of existing block contracts for outsourced services, to address any over provision and more effective utilisation of voids (£50k).

- Expansion of Shared Lives capacity to reduce existing higher cost placements (£100k)

 

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

Vulnerable adults in the city are assessed in accordance with the Care Act 2014.

 

823 adults with a learning disability and / or autism have eligible needs under the Act and are currently receiving a service paid for via the Community Care budget. Services being provided are: Residential Care, Supported Living, Community Support and Day Options.

 

Any reduction in the community care budget will have a direct effect on the amount or the way support and care is offered.

 

Care costs are increasing with the cost-of-living crisis and the rate of inflation. There is also an increasing level of complex needs being identified resulting in higher care costs. This is a trend reflected nationally as well as locally. For people and their families there could be a perceived reduction in the level of service they receive or potentially a change in provider and approach, which can be unsettling for users and families.

 

Disability: managing these conversations will require staff to manage any changes in expectations carefully and skilfully. Direct payments must continue to be promoted (Care Act 2014) to deliver more creative and sustainable modes of support and care, which will also be more person centred.

 

Ethnicity: People from minority ethnic groups may continue to face disproportionate impacts, for example reduction in budgets for translators or for more in-depth work.

 

Gender reassignment: As we are trying to increase engagement with this group, and recent research shows that despite the city being ‘trans-friendly’ for people identifying as trans, discrimination, abuse and isolation are still a problem, thus any reduction in funding may impact negatively on any extra initiatives in this area.

 

Sexual orientation: Some LGBTQ+ people remain silent or hidden. At a time of resource realignment there is a risk that these groups become more distant or marginalised.

 

Other groups: People with Learning Disabilities who are in transition from Children’s to Adults’ services at this time of resource realignment may be adversely affected, as transition can take longer if not managed creatively and resources are not targeted effectively. This can mean young people with Learning Disabilities could experience a delay in accessing services they are entitled to when reaching 18, such as extra benefits.

 

The Care Act 2014 places a requirement on Local Authorities to assess Carers. Work provided by carers in the city is of huge value, representing a huge saving. Any threat including any funding restrictions could have a direct effect on carers to continue in their caring role.

 

 

 

6. Assess level of impact

2

 

 

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

The Care Act asks for more than just Adult Social Care to look to offer support to people, instead recognising that a city-wide approach must be embraced, encompassing all services from housing through to leisure, to enhance the lives of vulnerable people.

 

Therefore, a new asset-based approach is needed, a fundamental and radical rethink to help develop a new conversation with the public about how people, friends and families as well as communities can help people to remain independent.

1.     

The new Integrated Care System gives opportunities to reduce duplication and work in a more joined-up way to proactively identify those people who may be at risk of going into hospital or residential care and thus manage risk, help people to live life and have a good death. Together we will ensure improvements in consistency particularly around the giving of information and advice to service users in how to access information, and get support to manage their own care needs.

 

We aim to carry this out by:

  • Providing individuals living with families support to manage and sustain their care arrangements for as long as possible.
  • Ensuring the right level of support takes place in the most appropriate setting; maximising independence, health and wellbeing.
  • Promoting direct payments as a means of stimulating more creativity and choice about how people can meet their eligible needs.

 

Technology must be available for people to be supported remotely and in a modern way from telecare through to telehealth and other technologies and a raft of equipment which can help people remain independent.

 

A new reviewing framework will invite our partners to join us in reviewing people in a timely way and is intended to release care capacity and target those most in need. Reviews will also include a focus on readiness to move on to more independence, and therefore release some resources for those who need more support.

 

New and VFM commissioning of appropriate supported living and accommodation services for people with Learning Disabilities will add to the savings in the long term and increase the quality of life for a small but significant cohort of people.

 

An enhanced crisis provision service within the Community Learning Disability Team will provide targeted prevention work to the highest need service users in the city, working to prevent hospital admissions and placement breakdowns, which can result in higher cost placements being required in the future.

 

The Service will comply with the new Accessible Information Standards (S.250) of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

 

Commissioners across Children’s and Adults’ services will work together with providers to prioritise assignment of resources and ensure that the additional focus on all protected groups can continue.

 

The lifelong pathway within the Specialist Community Disability Service also creates a greater focus and efficiencies for young people as they prepare for adulthood.

 

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

 

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

 

Age (people of all ages)

Yes

This service is specifically for people 18 years and older with no maximum age threshold. It also works closely with children’s services so young people in that transition phase will also be affected.

 

Commissioners across Children’s and Adults services will work together with providers to prioritise assignment of resources, and ensure that the additional focus on these groups can continue.

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

Yes

How to manage new conversations will require staff to manage any changes in expectations carefully and skilfully.

 

Direct payments must continue to be promoted (Care Act 2014) to deliver more creative and sustainable modes of support and care, however these are not appropriate for a large majority of Service Users with higher support needs.

Commissioners across Children’s and Adults services will work together with providers to prioritise assignment of resources and ensure that the additional focus on these groups can continue.

Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

Yes

People already in the minority prior to these savings may continue to face disproportionate impacts, for example reduction in budgets for translators or for more in-depth work.

Commissioners across Children’s and Adults services will work together with providers to prioritise assignment of resources and ensure that the additional focus on these groups can continue.

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

Yes

Women tend to live longer than men and thus may experience the need for longer funded care.

Commissioners across Children’s and Adults services will work together with providers to prioritise assignment of resources and ensure that the additional focus on these groups can continue.

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

Yes

As we are trying to increase engagement with this group, and recent research shows that despite the city being ‘trans-friendly’ for people identifying as transgender, discrimination, abuse and isolation is still a problem, thus any reduction in funding may impact negatively on any extra initiatives in this area

Commissioners across Children’s and Adults services will work together with providers to prioritise assignment of resources and ensure that the additional focus on these groups can continue.

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

Yes

The onus is on individual carers to assist people in meeting these needs, for example in accessing activities relating to their religion and the surrounding communities, all of which may be negatively impacted by reductions in funding.

Commissioners across Children’s and Adults services will work together with providers to prioritise assignment of resources, so that additional focus on these groups can continue.

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

Yes

Some LGBT people still remain silent or hidden. At a time of resource realignment there is a risk that these groups become more distant or marginalised.

Commissioners across Children’s and Adults services will work together with providers to prioritise assignment of resources and ensure that the additional focus on these groups can continue.

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

Yes

People with Learning Disabilities who are in transition from Children’s to Adults services at this time of resource realignment may be adversely affected as transition can take longer if not managed creatively and resources are not targeted effectively.

This can mean young people with Learning Disabilities could experience a delay in accessing services they are entitled to when reaching 18, such as extra benefits. 

 

Commissioners across Children’s and Adults services will work together with providers to prioritise assignment of resources and ensure that the additional focus on these groups can continue.

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

Yes

The Care Act 2014 places a requirement on Local Authorities to assess Carers.

 

Work provided by carers in the city is of huge value, representing a huge saving. Any threat including any funding restrictions could have a direct effect on carers to continue in their caring role

Commissioners across Children’s and Adults services will work together with providers to prioritise assignment of resources and ensure that the additional focus on these groups can continue.


9. Full EIA?

 

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

  • Service users will have their statutory individual Care Reviews
  • Contracts will be monitored via the Commissioning and Performance Team

 

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

Housing is a key player to deliver good support and care. Any significant reduction in access to suitable housing will have a direct effect on the Community Care Budget.

 

Public health as a partner is key in promoting wellbeing and healthy lives: this is critical to stem any future and immediate demand.

 

NHS Sussex are a key partner and currently there are some joint funding arrangements in place to share some community care costs for people being discharged from specialist LD hospitals. Any reduction in funding from the NHS Sussex would have a direct effect on the community care budget.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

FCL – Integrated Team for Families, Youth and Parenting

2. Proposal No. 3

3. Head of Service

Debbie Corbridge

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

Young people are responsible for the distribution of the £110,000 (reducing to £80,000 in 2023-24) allocated for the annual Youth Led Grants programme. Young people take a lead on how this money is spent, making decisions on the priorities, framework for allocating funds, writing bids and evaluating the bids.

 

The current agreed priorities for this programme are:

·         Improving young people’s mental health

·         Reducing the harm from young people’s alcohol and substance misuse

·         Increasing volunteering and work experience opportunities

·         Increasing opportunities for young people to participate in new and challenging experiences

·         Supporting young people who have faced additional disadvantage due to Covid-19

 

The eligibility criteria include:

·         Benefiting young people aged 11-19 (up to 25 if they have special educational needs)

·         Ensuring distribution of funding takes into account the geographical areas of the city and groups of young people facing challenges in their lives, particularly around equality issues

·         Working in partnership with one of the lead Youth Service Grant Providers listed above

  • Succeeding in encouraging participation with the voice of young people being embedded across all work, broadening the area of influence for young people. Your project will have a clear approach as to how young people are involved in and shape the activities and be part of the offer.
  • Operating in a manner compliant with the Equalities Act 2010 (see below)

 

 

 

The proposal is to cease the Youth Led Grants funding

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

All funded projects target disadvantaged young people. A reduction in funding would result in between 20 -25 youth projects not being funded. This would impact on young people aged between 11 – 19 years (up to 25 if they have special educational needs), particularly those with SEND, those financially disadvantaged, BAME young people, gender specific groups and those impacted by Covid (particularly worsened mental health).

6. Assess level of impact

3

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

To compensate for this reduction in funding a proportion of the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme funding (if continued; dependant on annual spending review decisions) could be ringfenced for youth groups most impacted on to focus on providing holiday activities with a healthy meal for young people taking up free school meals.

 

Youth providers targeting these groups would be supported in seeking other funding opportunities

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

YES

This will impact on young people aged between 11 years – 19 years (up to 25 years if they have special educational needs). Less projects will be available to support them with the priorities outlined in section 2

Agreement that a proportion of HAF funding is ringfenced for this age group and youth projects encouraged to apply for this funding (only applicable for young people eligible for Free School Meals)

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

YES

This programme awarded 20% of this funding (in 2021-22) to specific programmes for young people with SEND. There would be a reduction in funded projects for this group

Agreement that a proportion of HAF funding is ringfenced for holiday activity programmes targeting SEND young people and youth projects encouraged to apply for this funding (only applicable for young people eligible for Free School Meals therefore will not fund 19–25-year-olds).Youth providers targeting this group to be supported in seeking and applying for other funding opportunities

Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

YES

BMEYPP and Friends, Families and Travellers were funded in 2021-22. These may not be funded in future rounds.

Agreement that a proportion of HAF funding is ringfenced for holiday activity programmes targeting BAME and Gypsies and Travellers  young people and youth projects encouraged to apply for this funding (only applicable for young people eligible for Free School Meals).Youth providers targeting this group to be supported in seeking and applying for other funding opportunities

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

YES

Specific groups for young women and young men were funded in 2021-22, addressing gender related issues. These may not be funded in future rounds.

Youth providers targeting this group to be supported in seeking and applying for other funding opportunities

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

NO

No specific projects funded related to gender reassignment

N/A

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

NO

No specific projects funded related to religion or belief

N/A

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

YES

Although no specific projects funded related to sexual orientation this financial year, Allsorts have been funded the past two years. These may not receive funding in future years

N/A

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

YES

Projects funded that are based in areas of highest level of deprivation in the city, e.g., Whitehawk, Hangleton, Moulsecoomb. Young people financially disadvantaged are particularly targeted for the funded projects. There will less projects funded for this group in future.

Youth projects encouraged to apply for HAF funding (applicable for young people up to 19 years eligible for Free School Meals). Youth providers targeting this group to be supported in seeking and applying for other funding opportunities

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

YES

Young people who have faced additional disadvantage due to Covid-19, particularly those whose mental health has worsened during this period. These projects may not be funded in future rounds.

Youth providers targeting this group to be supported in seeking and applying for other funding opportunities

9. Full EIA?

No

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

 

Monitor HAF applications and successful bids to check youth projects targeting these groups are applying and are successful with their bids. In addition, monitor those groups of young people impacted by the reduction of funding are being targeted in other HAF funded projects via HAF report.

 

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

A reduction in the youth service and youth led grants programme would reduce provision to these programmes and cumulatively a reduction in services for young people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

 

1. Service Area

FCL – Integrated Team for Families, Youth and Parenting

2. Proposal No. 4

 

3. Head of Service

Debbie Corbridge

 

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

 

The Youth Participation Team provide a range of services for children and young people who are/have been in care or receiving social work support; this includes youth advocacy, Children in Care Council, Independent Visitor Programme. The service also provides an accredited Youth Arts Programme and wider participation activities, e.g. Youth Council, Youth Wise.

 

The Youth Arts Award Programme targets young people aged 11 to 19 years (SEND up to 25 years) particularly Children in Care (CiC), Care leavers (with SEND) or young people who are emotionally distressed and are disengaged from education, training or employment. The workers (1.21fte) deliver and accredit the bronze, silver & Gold awards and their aim is to improve mental health and to re-engage the young people into education, training and increase employment opportunities

 

The proposal is to stop the Youth Arts programme.

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

 

This would result in a loss of opportunity for the most vulnerable children living in the city, including CiC, who are disengaged from education, to achieve a nationally accredited award and reintegrate them back into education, training or employment.

 

In addition to CiC, the information provided highlights that young people aged 11 to 19 years (SEND up to 25 years), particularly LGBTQ+ young people, those living in poverty, young people with poor mental health, young women and young people with SEND will be disproportionately impacted on.

 

 

6. Assess level of impact

5

 

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

 

Opportunities for this service to be funded by other services have been explored with no options found. The virtual school provide a service to children who are or were in care to support their education and improve their outcomes.

 

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

 

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

 

Age (people of all ages)

YES

This project targets young people aged 11 to 19 years (SEND up to 25 years). Those disengaged from education would stop being supported to achieve a nationally accredited award and reintegrate them back into education, training or employment

As section 7

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

YES

The Arts Award service collates data and the 2019 YPT EIA highlighted 55% of young people using the service have identified a disability on their referral form.

 

The award is carefully tailored and delivered to meet each individual young persons needs, resulting in a high level of success in engaging and sustaining participation from young people with disabilities particularly young people with Autism.

 

As section 7

 

Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

NO

The Arts Award service collates ethnicity data and the 2020-2022 data highlighted that 19% of young people using the service are non White British

 

As section 7

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

YES

The Arts Award service collates data and the 2019 YPT EIA highlighted 67% of young people using the service are female and 33% male; therefore young women would be disproportionally impacted upon

 

As section 7

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

YES

 The Arts Award service collates gender reassignment data and the 2020-2022 data highlighted that 15% of young people using the service are non-binary or trans  

As section 7

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

NO

No data available to evidence impact on this group

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

YES

The Arts Award service collates sexual orientation data and the 2020-2022 data highlights that 17% of the young people using the service are bisexual, gay, or lesbian

As section 7

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

YES

The Arts Award service collates child poverty data and the 2020-2022 data highlights that 46% of the young people using the service are living in poverty

As section 7

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

YES

This programme targets young people presenting with emotional distress (poor mental health), Children in Care, Care Leavers (with SEND) and other vulnerable young people that are disengaged from education, training, or employment. This would prevent them being supported to achieve a nationally accredited award and reintegrate them back into education, training, or employment

 

The award is carefully tailored and delivered to meet each individual young person’s needs, resulting in a high level of success in engaging and sustaining participation from young people with severe mental health issues including young people who find engaging with other services difficult.

 

As section 7


9. Full EIA?

No there is sufficient equality monitoring information held by the service to understand the impact of the proposal

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

Via monitoring if the virtual school team are reaching this targeted group and if they can offer alternative programmes, numbers, demographics and accreditations gained will be evaluated within this service.

 

The Youth Participation team will monitor requests/referrals for support within the groups of young people adversely affected, the numbers of request that can be referred on to other services and report any gaps in support for those young people.

 

Possible increase in complaints if the service is no longer available/ further limiting options for those very vulnerable groups of young people, as listed previously.

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

A reduction in the youth service and youth led grants would reduce provision to these programmes and cumulatively a reduction the young people that could have been directed to the Youth Arts Award.

 

 

 

                 


Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

 

1. Service Area

FCL - Early Years and Childcare: service level agreements

2. Proposal No. 5

3. Head of Service

Jo Templeman

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

Stop funding external Service Level Agreement's totalling £34,000:

·         Early Childhood Project providing toy library and stay and play £13,000.

·         Stop funding Bookstart post in Libraries Services totally £21,000 and move work in service

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

Equalities impact:

The Service Level agreements fund external agencies to provide service to children and families, stopping funding may impact on their ability to deliver services including to disadvantaged children and families.

The Early Childhood Project funding support via toy library and stay and play sessions in the Tarner Children’s Centre, withdrawing funding could impact on under 5s, women and disadvantaged families.

Options to be considered to support these groups via family hub transformation,

Withdrawing fund for the Bookstart post could impact on under 5s and women but this service will be bought into the family hub service and therefore continue

6. Assess level of impact

3

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

Service and support to be considered as part of family hubs transformation.

Family hub service to provide support for children and families as part of service offer.

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

Yes

Impact on children under 5. Removal of funding would reduce the service for under 5s via creche, childcare and stay and play session.

Ensure families know how to access alternative support.

 

Ensure families can access family hub services.

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

No

 

 


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

Unknown

Service user data by ethnicity is unavailable and therefore impact cannot be determined.

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

yes

Impact on women

 

Any reduction in childcare provision disproportionately affects women who tend to take responsibility for these arrangements. The childcare workforce is overwhelmingly female

Where childcare provision closes we refer families to the Family Information Service for support in finding an alternative.

 

Ensure families can access family hub services.

 

A recruitment and retention crisis in the sector means that early years practitioners seldom face difficulty in finding alternative employment.

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

No disproportionate impacts

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

NO

No disproportionate impacts

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

No disproportionate impacts

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

Yes

The Early Childhood Project runs in Tarner children’s centre area with a focus on supporting disadvantaged children.

Services offered via family hubs focussed on disadvantaged children and families.

 

Family Hub network linked to Tarner Children Centre and providing services.

 

Ensure families can access family hub services.

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

No

 

 


9. Full EIA?

Further assessment required and data on service users is limited and therefore impact needs further investigation.

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

Family hubs will have robust equality monitoring processes in place and will work with partner agencies to ensure ongoing support via family hub model.

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

Impact on Bookstart post in library service by ceasing funding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

 

 

1. Service Area

Employment and Skills

2. Proposal No. 6

3. Head of Service

Carla Butler (Head of Skills and Employment)

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

A reduction of £50,000 will end opportunities for paid placements within the council for disabled people of all ages. Placements have been low in number due to remote working and pandemic.  Two have so far been funded in 2022/2023.

 

The project supports the workforce diversity agenda and the wider Fair and Inclusive strategy and City Employment and Skills Plan

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

Disability

The council would no longer facilitate paid placements for disabled candidates. Adults with a disability are disproportionally impacted by the pandemic and the paid placement scheme has supported residents move into work.

6. Assess level of impact

2

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

Increase opportunities for government pre-employment programmes.  The Apprenticeship and Pre-employment Team will continue to expand unpaid placements through Sector Work Based Academy programmes, Traineeships, TLevels, Supported Internships and Work Experience.

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

No

Adults with a disability are disproportionally impacted by the pandemic and the paid placement scheme has supported residents move into work. Placements are open to people of all ages

 

Expand unpaid placements through Sector Work Based Academy programmes, TLevels, Traineeships, Supported Internships and Work Experience.

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

Yes

Adults with a disability are disproportionally impacted by the pandemic and the paid placement scheme has supported residents move into work. These roles would not have been possible within individual service budgets. 

 

Expand unpaid placements through Sector Work Based Academy programmes, TLevels, Traineeships, Supported Internships and Work Experience.


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

No

 

 


9. Full EIA?

Further assessment is not needed as this saving will not affect existing placements or staff; rather new council paid placements will not be available from April 2023

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

Candidates that may have come through the council’s paid placement scheme will be diverted to other unpaid schemes. These will be monitored to track increase/decrease in participation.

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

 

None identified

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

 

1. Service Area

Families, Children and Learning: Employment and Skills

2. Proposal No. 7

 

3. Head of Service

Carla Butler (Head of Skills and Employment)

 

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

 

The Employability Service comprises of two teams – Youth Employment and Supported Employment. The Youth Employment Hub also sits within this service.

To reduce the Employability Service Budget by £210,000 would involve:

·         Ending the work of the Supported Employment Team

 

The total gross budget for this service is £603,100

 

The council’s Supported Employment Team works intensely with local people who have a learning disability and or autism to help them seek and maintain paid employment using the supported employment model of place and train. Staff provide support to the clients who are employees and their employer through training, job coaching and advice. The saving proposal will result in the supported employment offer ending.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

 

Disproportionate impact on Disability

 

  • Support to residents in the city with a learning disability and or autism will be reduced. Disabled people are already disproportionately impacted in the labour market.

 

  • No other service in the city replicates the work of the Supported Employment Team. The team currently supports a number of clients with a learning disability or autism to retain work, who without this intervention may lose their jobs, with a low likelihood of securing alternative paid work.

 

·         The council will report on our corporate KPI of % of people with a learning disability in employment, rather than support through the Supported Employment Team.

·        There will be no capacity within the service to provide support and leadership to networks supporting the delivery of the City Employment and Skills Plan.

 

6. Assess level of impact

4

 

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 


Adults over 25 with disability or autism will be able to access support from the National Careers Service, third sector and DWP but not through the Supported Employment Model.  Clients with a dual diagnosis of learning disability and mental health will be able to access Individual Placement Support (IPS) from Southdown’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

 

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

 

Age (people of all ages)

YES

18-24 year olds make up the majority of service users.

 

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

YES

Negative effects:

The Supported Employment Team are trained in the supported employment process and systematic instruction; this experience will be lost within the city.
Reduced support will be available to those aged over 25.

These impacts will be difficult to mitigate against due to limited specialised support in the city

 

 

Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

People identifying as white make up most of the service users.

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

Yes

People identifying as male makeup majority of service users.

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

NO

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

Unknown

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

NO

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

NO

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

NO

 

 

9. Full EIA?

No

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

We will continue to monitor % of adults with a learning disability in employment. These will be reported through the councils corporate KPI.  We will monitor the impact through a new City Employment Skills Plan from 2023 and beyond. Unemployment figures are reported and considered at the Adult Learning Skills Partnership. 

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

None identified

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

 

1. Service Area

Safeguarding and Care

2. Proposal No. 8

 

3. Head of Service

Anna Gianfrancesco

 

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal?

 

A £ 1.282m saving on the cost of agency placements for children in the care of Brighton & Hove City Council.  This will be achieved by:

 

  • continuing to work through the social work model of practice to hold the numbers of children in care, with an ultimate aim to further reduce them.
  • We are working to further increasing the number of in-house foster placements and reducing reliance on more expensive independent provider provision. 
  • Provision of high quality, value for money provision though contracted services with external providers supported by the children's services framework contract arrangements and preferred provider guidelines.
  • Agreed commissioning framework with health for children who need specialist accommodation when discharged from hospital.
  • Block contract commissioned placements for some UASC
  • Through the developed framework and commissioning in process for care leavers.
  • Relationship based social work practice and the specialist adolescence service to continue to divert children from the care system. 
  • For those already in care, a stepping down to in house and/or less expensive placements.
  • Continued scrutiny of placement costs contributing to a reduction in unit costs.   

 

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

 

This reduction in budget will impact only on children in care of the local authority. Over the last two years we have seen a national sufficiency issues regarding placements, for every 1 placement provided by external commissioned providers there are roughly 100 children seeking to be placed. This means that children with more complex problems, trauma, mental health are becoming more difficult to place, with providers choosing to take those children with less complex issues. It also means that providers will charge more for more vulnerable children. This is placing great pressure on the system and leaving our most vulnerable children at risk of no placement or being placed in unregistered provisions, which nationally are often the only ones who will take highly vulnerable children.

 

A reduction in the funding and planned reduction in the use of agency placements places more pressure on foster carers to manage young people whose needs are better met in residential provision.

 

Alongside this there has been a downturn nationally in the number of people coming forward to become foster carers. This also creates pressure on the care system and is resulting in young people who need foster placement being difficult to place. While we continue to recruit carers and have a high level of children placed with in house carers there is considered pressure overall on the care system, and the pressure of reduced residential placements adds additional pressure on foster carers to hold children who may be better placed in a residential provision.

 

 The budget reductions leave us vulnerable to the open market and in part reduces our opportunity to expand and develop the in-house provisions as well as absorb the increasing costs of independent providers.

 

6. Assess level of impact

4

 

We are a demand lead service and are therefore not able to reduce the demand as such, while doing everything possible to prevent children coming into care, when needed children are taken into care.

 

Due to the pressure above it is likely that even reducing the numbers of children in care will not see the overall costs reduce. Any reduction in budget will make it hard to place our most vulnerable young people

 

 

 

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

We are extending the fostering plus scheme, to increase carers who care for the most vulnerable complex young people. We are developing a scheme along the lines of Mockingbird, a national programme to support foster cares via small community hubs, it is anticipated this will reduce placement breakdown and enable those requiring more support that may currently need to move to residential provision stay with foster carers. 

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

 

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

 

Age (people of all ages)

yes

All the people this will impact will be under 18 and will be among the most vulnerable children in society, needing not only to be in care but those at risk of high-cost placement due to their needs

As above, continuing to recruit foster carers, development of foster plus placements and fostering hubs

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

yes

Many of the complex, hard to place young people will experience either mental health difficulties or neurodiversity, or both. These disabilities create complexities in care and will put placements under pressure.  Often resulting in these young people needing externally provided specialist placements

As above and extending the small Children in Care mental health service, by an OT and some additional psychology hours. This will support carers to manage the complex young people in placement

 

Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

yes

40% of children in care in Brighton & Hove are Black or from the Global Majority. Of which there are currently 41 UASC and this has to increase to 50 to be in line with the government requirements. UASC are often placed in external providers, due to their age and needs, any reduction in budget and reduction in the use of agency placements will not only affect the Black and global majority children in care but also on the commissioning of placements for the UASC young people as they arrive.

Exploring the possibility of further block tenders for UASC young people.

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

no

40% of the cohort are female and 60% male.

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

yes

Several children in care identify as non-binary or trans, this may be as a result of trauma and the need for control over their identity, however these young people will often also have additional complex needs and vulnerability and may require placement in more specialist residential provision. Cuts in residential placements will impact these young people.

As above to develop fostering plus placement and fostering hub model to support carers to continue to place complex young people for longer and support step down from residential to fostering at an earlier point. 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

no

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

no

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

yes

Children in care are more likely to have come from families in poverty, therefore any cuts in services that impact on children in care will impact on those children affected by childhood poverty

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

Yes- children in care

This saving will only impact on children in care. These children are often the most vulnerable children in society, having experienced trauma, abuse and often abandonment by their birth families. While our aim would be for all children to be placed in a family environment, and therefore with foster cares, for some young people this is too much and too triggering for them and the best placement is a residential placement. Cuts in the use of residential placement will impact on these vulnerable children.

As above to develop fostering plus placement and fostering hub model to support carers to continue to place complex young people for longer and support step down from residential to fostering at an earlier point. 

9. Full EIA?

no

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

Monitoring the use of placement via the fostering performance board and continuing to collect and analyse equality data of children in care

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

Health and Adult Social Care: Physical Support and Sensory Support / Memory & Cognition / Mental Health Support

2. Proposal No. 9

 

3. Head of Service

Steve Hook

 

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

 

The overall net budget for this service area is £48,921,000 and the proposed saving is £2,365,000.

 

This is proposed to be done by continuing with the agreed direction of travel for Adult Social Care focusing upon reducing demand through several approaches: 

 

·         increasing the reablement offer to those who require it

·         negotiating costs to the Local Authority with care providers

·         reduction of long-term care placements through improved care pathways.

·         increased use of assistive technology

·         focus on preventative interventions, including advice and signposting

·         increasing the Direct Payments offer

·         maximising alternative funding and income options

 

 

 

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

 

Disproportionate impacts identified on the following characteristics: Age (older), Disability (mental health, physical and sensory impairments)

 

Community Care budget funds packages of care to meet statutory responsibilities across adult care groups apart from Learning Disability. Services include community support, home care, supported accommodation, residential and nursing care. The proposals could impact on all these service user groups.

 

Increasing the opportunity for reablement thus reducing the need for long term care will positively impact in that it will enable people to be more independent, requiring less ongoing care and the ability to stay living in their own home for longer. However, reablement is a short-term intervention, and if some long-term care is required after reablement this may require a change of service provider, which some people and families may find unsettling.

 

Increasing the use of assistive technology, and a focus on preventative interventions will have a positive impact in that it will enable people to live more independently for longer. However, some people and families may have concerns about living independently at home with assistive technology for support.

 

Increasing the offer of Direct Payments will positively impact in that Direct Payments offer more choice in care delivery for the individual. However, for some people and families a Direct Payment may cause anxiety to manage. 

 

The proposed negotiated contract costs to the Local Authority and seeking additional funding options has no impact on service provision.

 

 

6. Assess level of impact

2: The Community Care budget is used to purchase services for a range of vulnerable people and their carers and proposals will impact on older people, people with mental health issues, a physical disability, long term conditions, sensory impairment, and those with substance misuse problems

 

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

·         Assessments undertaken to establish care needs will be person centred and take into account individual needs and requirements

·         Those in a caring role will be offered a Carer’s Assessment and a person budget, in line with the requirements of the Care Act, to enable them to maintain their caring role and the right care is available

·         The provision of a direct payment will be made where appropriate to enable choice and control of care provision

·         Quality of commissioned care and reablement outcomes will be monitored.

 

 

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

 

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

 

Age (people of all ages)

Yes

 

 

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

Yes

 

 

 

Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

No

 

 

9. Full EIA?

Potentially

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

  • The Annual User Survey will monitor effectiveness and any negative impacts.
  • Customer Feedback monitors specific user experience.
  • The statutory review process will also monitor impact.
  • Quality Monitoring arrangements will monitor quality of care, linking with Care Quality Commission outcomes.

 

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

Any changes in Health Service provision in the city can impact particularly on those people the Community Care budget supports. This will be closely monitored through the integrated health agenda and other joint planning mechanisms.

 


 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

Health and Adult Social Care: Assessment

2. Proposal No. 10

 

3. Head of Service

 Steve Hook

 

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

 

The budget for this area is £11,741,000 and the proposed saving is £246,000. This savings proposed are:

-       To seek alternative funding for 2 x social work posts in the Hospital Social Team to support hospital discharge (£92,000)

-       Review of the S.75 agreement in partnership with the mental health trust, including financial risk share arrangements (£122,000)

-       Increasing fees and charges for services (£32,000)

 

 

 

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

 

A Section 75 (S.75) agreement is in place for the provision of Adult Mental Health in Brighton & Hove.  This agreement is made under the S.75 of the NHS Act 2006 between a local authority and an NHS body which includes delegating certain NHS and local authority functions to the other partner.  This partnership agreement allows budgets to be pooled between health and social care planners/providers and resources and management structures that can be integrated.

 

Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) have a S.75 agreement in place with Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust (SPFT) which is under review.

 

Review of the S.75 arrangement is not planned to impact on service delivery, focussing on funding arrangements and risk share agreements. However, knowledge that the arrangement for integrated working are being reviewed could cause anxiety for users of the service or their families that this could result in changes to services or ways that they are delivered.

 

Funding sources of hospital social workers will not impact on service delivery.

 

Increasing charges will impact users of the Carelink service. This fee is not means tested, so is applied across all users of the service. Fee increases are applied on a yearly basis, and service users are informed of the increases.

 

 

6. Assess level of impact

3

 

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

The proposed review of s75 arrangements is not planned to impact on service delivery to those with mental health needs in the city. A project board is in place to oversee the review and monitor any potential impact on service delivery. Service user involvement is planned within the ongoing project workstreams.

 

Service users who require the services of Carelink, but choose not to have them, may be engaged in a care assessment to ascertain the risk to them, and to consider alternative support.

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

 

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

 

Age (people of all ages)

No

 

 

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

No

 

 

 

Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

No

 

 

9. Full EIA?

No

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

 

The Executive Director for Health and Adult Social Care retains the responsibility for professional leadership and operational delivery for delegated services and will ensure governance arrangements support social work professional leadership and demonstrate a commitment to excellent social work practice, ensure that performance management systems and monitoring arrangements capture social work and social care outcomes as part of integrated arrangements, i.e. how lives are changed for the better and ensure that there are clear lines of accountability back to the local authority so that statutory duties and responsibilities are appropriately met.

 

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

Any changes in Health Service provision in the city can impact particularly on those people the S.75 arrangement supports. This will be closely monitored through the integrated health agenda and other joint planning mechanisms.

 


 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

Health and Adult Social Care, Commissioning

2. Proposal No. 11

3. Head of Service

Andrew Witham

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

The net budget for this area is £3,441,000 and the savings proposal is £222,000.

 

Savings have been enabled by managing contract cost for services and managing system contract costs. 

 

The savings proposals in detail are:

 

  • Seeking alternative funding route for non-statutory community advocacy and community support worker contract. This element will continue.
  • No inflationary increase to block contracts
  • Managing inflationary uplift for community equipment service

 

There will be no impact on front line service delivery.

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

No disproportionate negative impacts on service-users based on their specific protected characteristics are identified.

 

6. Assess level of impact

2

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

None

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

No

 

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

No

 

 


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

No

 

 


9. Full EIA?

 No

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

Standard monitoring practices such as Customer Feedback, Service Monitoring will be in place

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

None Identified

 


 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

Health and Adult Social Care: Provider Services

2. Proposal No. 12

3. Head of Service

Michelle Jenkins

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

The budget for this area is £6,511,000 and the proposed saving is £264,000

 

This is proposed to be achieved by:

·         increasing fees and charges to services (£52,000)

·         external rental income for an area of one of the buildings and increasing long term beds to enhance client contributions (£212,000)

 

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

 

The savings proposal in relation to increased fees and charges will impact on people who use the service who pay full cost, meaning they self-fund their care. This would increase the cost for in house residential and home care for this client group. The impact on these individuals would be that their services, if provided by in house services, would be more expensive per hour (for home care) and per week (for residential care). However, this group would have been financially assessed as having the funds to pay these costs. This group also have the option of receiving social care from the independent sector, though costs are comparable.

 

 

 

6. Assess level of impact

3

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

Charges for social care are means tested and provide protection for people on low incomes.

 

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

Yes

The services provide support for those mainly over 65 years of age. 

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

Yes

The services provide support for those with mental health needs, including dementia.

 


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

None identified

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

None identified

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

None identified

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

None identified

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

None identified

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

None identified

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

Yes

The services provide carer support for those caring for people at home, providing residential respite care. 

 

9. Full EIA?

Yes

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

 

The Executive Director for Health and Adult Social Care retains the responsibility for professional leadership and operational delivery for meeting statutory need and will ensure governance arrangements support social work professional practice to ensure that statutory duties and responsibilities are appropriately met, and best practice is followed.

 

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

Any changes in Health Service provision in the city can impact particularly on those people impacted by this proposal. This will be closely monitored through the integrated health agenda and other joint planning mechanisms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

EEC – City Transport – Transport Projects & Engineering - street lighting

2. Proposal No. 13

3. Head of Service

David Parker

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

To use savings that have been gained from the invest to save programme. This amounts to £300k reduction in management and maintenance of street lighting.

 

These savings have been earmarked as a contribution for the Historic Street Lighting Improvement Scheme.

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

None of the protected groups are at risk of suffering a reduction in service.

 

Lighting units are being changed from filament bulbs to LED lights. Under the old filament bulb, when it fails the area of street will not be lit. With an LED system there are several LED units within the light, and so if a unit fails, there should be no noticeable reduction in lighting. This is ensuring safer streets.

 

By using the funding for the Heritage Street Lights, this will continue the use of LED units throughout the city.

6. Assess level of impact

1

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

No actions identified

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

No

 

No further assessment required

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

No

 

No further assessment required


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

 

No further assessment required

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

 

No further assessment required

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

No further assessment required

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

No further assessment required

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

No further assessment required

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

 

No further assessment required

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

No

 

No further assessment required


9. Full EIA?

No

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

The lighting levels will be monitored around the city along with complaints about street lighting.

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

There should be no impact.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

EEC – City Transport - Parking Services – concessionary travel

2. Proposal No. 14

3. Head of Service

Charles Field

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

Reduce Concessionary Travel payments to align with current patronage levels

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

The reduction of payments to bus companies for Concessionary travel passes issued is not actually reducing travel or number of passes issued. It would reduce the payments to the bus companies to reflect the current usage which is estimated to currently be at 70% to 75% of pre pandemic levels. The risk of this is that bus companies may choose to remove commercially marginal bus services which may have an impact on users.

 

6. Assess level of impact

2

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

Any surplus parking income is mainly spent on providing free concessionary bus passes for elderly and disabled people to encourage alternative sustainable transport choices. The proposed reduction in payments for concessionary travel is to reflect the current patronage figures which are lower than before the pandemic.

 

The hours residents of Brighton and Hove can use an older person’s concessionary travel pass were extended to between 9.30am – 4.30am on weekdays and 24hrs a day on weekends. Those unable to use the concessionary travel pass can swap the pass for an annual allocation of £70 worth of Taxi Vouchers.

 

The hours residents of Brighton and Hove can use a disabled person’s concessionary travel pass were extended to 24hrs a day. Those unable to use the concessionary travel pass can swap the pass for an annual allocation of £70 worth of Taxi Vouchers

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

Yes

The proposal may lead to bus companies choosing to remove commercially marginal bus services which may have an impact on users.

If taken forward discussions would need to take place with the bus company to outlines the Council concerns. This is also linked to the potential supported bus services funding reductions from the Council.

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

Yes

The proposal may lead to bus companies choosing to remove commercially marginal bus services which may have an impact on users.

If taken forward discussions would need to take place with the bus company to outlines the Council concerns. This is also linked to the potential supported bus services funding reductions from the Council.


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

No

 

 


9. Full EIA?

Not Required

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

We will monitor and analyse concessionary travel pass demand and maintain our regular dialogue with the bus company to ascertain the impact of this decision on their commercial decisions and any disproportionate impact that may have on any groups.

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

 

1. Service Area

Economy, Environment and Culture: Parking Services Group

2. Proposal No. 15

 

3. Head of Service

Charles Field

 

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

 

·           Removing all Parking pay & display machines across the city

·           Extend all parking restrictions across the city to 8am-8pm

·           Introduce new parking schemes across the city as part of ongoing priority timetable.

·           Change low tariff zones for paid parking near the city centre to high tariff.

·           Increase Paid on-street and off-street parking fees across the city by on average 10%

·           Increase cost of resident permits by 6-9%

·           Reduce the discount of low emission vehicles from 50% to 25%

·           Conversion of all light touch schemes and event day schemes to full schemes over a 4-year period.

·           Light touch parking schemes will not be a consultation option in future consultation

·           Increase parking bay suspension fees by 20%

·           Increase fee for parking dispensation permits

 

The increases generate approximately an additional £2,080,000 income per annum of which £1,144,000 contributes towards EEC budget savings and the remaining £936,000 for the 3% inflationary increase requirement. This will meet traffic management objectives, including improving air quality, reducing demand and congestion as well as achieving a higher turnover of spaces and supporting economic growth in the city.

 

 

 

 

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

 

Any increase in price for fees and charges could lead to a decrease in demand from users, as the cost of parking becomes too expensive or off-putting for some. Members of the public may choose not to, or not be able to afford to, pay to park on or off-street due to price increases. This may disproportionately impact residents on lower incomes and cause an inclusion issue, as high parking charges may become a barrier to accessing facilities, services and jobs. 

 

In particular, the removal of pay & display machines is likely to lead to cases of digital exclusion, as all users will be required to register and use an app to pay for their parking; not everyone will have or be able to afford a smart phone to do this. This may create additional barriers and disadvantage for some older and/or disabled people who rely on private vehicles / visitors to access facilities and services.

 

However, these proposals are in line with transport objectives of supporting sustainable and active transport options and reducing vehicle use in the city. Although, it is appreciated that not all disabled people can use public transport, walk or cycle to make the journeys they need to.

 

 

6. Assess level of impact

2

 

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

 

Officers will work to ensure any negative impacts because of an increase in fees are avoided as much as possible. Fee increases are targeted at areas where parking is at capacity to help provide drivers with better access to currently congested areas. There is also good coverage of the city centre/seafront by our public transport network, so there are alternatives for people wanting to access these areas where we’re increasing car park charges.

 

A discount for low-income households (based on council tax / housing benefit / universal credit) for residents permits is planned to be introduced.

 

The intention is to use pay point at newsagents etc for people who would have used a parking machine to pay their parking.

 

Any surplus parking income is mainly spent on providing free concessionary bus passes for elderly and disabled people to encourage alternative sustainable transport choices

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

 

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

 

Age (people of all ages)

Yes

Age UK tell us that many older people face a difficult existence in retirement as a result of having a limited income combined with the extra costs of ageing. Increases in parking charges add to financial pressures. Age UK report found here:  lr-6064-age-uk-financial-hardship-final_v1.pdf (ageuk.org.uk)

 

The higher tariff charges in some current parking schemes and new parking schemes being implemented may mean carers have to pay more if they live in a different parking zone to the person they visit although there are carers’ permit or visitor permits available.

 

Research carried out by Carers UK found that many unpaid carers experience financial hardship because of their caring role. Increases in parking charges will add to the financial pressures. Carers UK report found here:   Research: Financial pressure of caring unpaid for a loved one intensifies over time - Carers UK 

 

The cost of professional carers' permits and carers permits remain unchanged to reflect the positive impact this brings to all members of society.

 

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

Yes

Research carried out by the disability charity, Scope, found that the cost of living with a disability or families with disabled children is significantly higher than households with no disabled people. Transport was identified as one of the main drivers for this increase in costs. Increasing parking fees will add to financial pressures on these families. Scope report found here:  Disability Price Tag | Disability charity Scope UK

 

The ongoing work identifying Blue Badge fraud frees up parking spaces for eligible blue badge holders and we will continue with Blue Badge fraud investigation work to protect disabled bays from misuse.

 

Blue badges are issued to disabled people who are drivers or non-drivers allowing free parking for an unlimited amount of time in pay and display bays and free parking in disabled bays. Where the blue badge can be used has been extended to include all permit bays in light touch schemes which cover a significant area of the controlled parking zones in Brighton & Hove.

 

 

Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

N/A

 

 


9. Full EIA?

Yes for some elements of the proposal

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

 

Regular review meetings are held to review on-street and off-street parking usage and there are also regular meetings with the Disabled Car Users group to identify issues and areas of concern. We will also review the waiting list of resident permits and analyse blue badge and concessionary travel pass demand.

Parking Services have applied for and been awarded the People’s Parking accreditation. This scheme was set up to provide independent feedback about the facilities and public car park experience from a disabled user perspective, with regular monitoring and reviews.

Parking Services have also received the Park Mark accreditation from the police for our off-street car parks as safe car parks to use. The Safer Parking Scheme is a national standard for UK car parks that have low crime and measures in place to ensure the safety of people and vehicles. A Park Mark is awarded to each car park that achieves the challenging standards. The distinctive Park Mark signage helps drivers find car parks where they can confidently leave their vehicle, knowing the environment is safer

Parking Services produce a Parking Annual Report providing transparency and meaningful insight into the overall service including how and where funding is raised and distributed.

 

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

We have expanded the Concessionary travel scheme for disabled passes for 24 hour use which will mitigate some of the impacts from increases to fees & charges by encouraging / improving access to public transport use

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

EEC – City Transport - Traffic Management – winter maintenance

2. Proposal No. 16

3. Head of Service

Andrew Westwood

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

Reviewing the Winter Service to increase efficiency and reduce costs, including agency costs and impacts on wider Council operations. A review is planned to commence in early 2023 and will involve consultation with staff and service users

 

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

There is no impact on any protected groups as the change will not affect the service users.

6. Assess level of impact

0

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

None

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

no

 

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

no

 

 


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

no

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

no

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

no

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

no

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

no

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

no

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

no

 

 


9. Full EIA?

Not needed

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

Impact will be monitored through contract management. 

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

No

 


 


Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

City Environment – Cityclean, Commercial Team – garden waste

2. Proposal No. 17

3. Head of Service

Rachel Chasseaud, Assistant Director – City Environment

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

Increase the Garden Waste fee to £85. It is estimated this will generate £125k additional income.

 

The council currently provides a chargeable fortnightly garden waste collection to residents that sign up to the service.

The proposal to increase the cost to generate a surplus to reinvest in services.

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

There will likely be impacts on groups of people. The most disproportionately impacted groups will be:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • Child Poverty
  • People without access to a car

 

6. Assess level of impact

It is difficult to determine the level of impact as the service is demand led and customer equality data is not collected. There are other companies that provide garden waste collections. Residents can also dispose of their garden waste for free at one of the HWRS.

It is unknown how many customers fall within the disproportionately impacted groups and data is not available to analyse.

As an estimate, it is likely to be a small impact (2) on a moderate group of people (2).  However, the data is not available to confirm this.

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

Continue to promote other means of disposing of garden waste, such as taking to the HWRS or using another service.

 

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

Yes

People of all ages on low incomes may be disproportionately impacted by the proposals, particularly the elderly and young, working families who might be on lower incomes.

Continue to promote other means of disposing of garden waste, such as taking to the HWRS or using another service.

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

Yes

Disabled people may have a lower income than other working age adults and so be disadvantaged in terms of the charges for waste. Disabled people are significantly more likely to be unemployed or in low-waged work than non-disabled people[1].

Continue to promote other means of disposing of garden waste, such as taking to the HWRS or using another service.


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

Yes

People on low incomes may be disproportionately impacted by the proposals. They may not be able to afford to pay for the service.

People without access to a car may be disproportionately impacted by the proposals. They may not be able to access the HWRS to dispose of the items for free.

Continue to promote other means of disposing of garden waste, such as taking to the HWRS or using another service.


9. Full EIA?

No

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

Budgets will be monitored. Equality data about customers and customer feedback will be collected to understand the demand for the service.

11. Cumulative impact (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

Another proposal is to increase the cost of the bulky waste collection service. There are other companies across Brighton & Hove who provide this service to residents. There are likely other fee increases across the council that will have an impact on the same groups as this proposal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

City Environment – City Parks – Parking at Parks

2. Proposal No. 18

 

3. Head of Service

Rachel Chasseaud, Assistant Director – City Environment

 

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

Remove the ring fence from Preston Park parking scheme and increase parking charges to align with on street parking. Increase the other current car parking charges at Stanmer Park and East Brighton Park.  

 

In January 2023, Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee rejected the lifting of the ring fences on parking schemes and extending paid parking to other car parks in city parks.

 

If this saving is taken, a revised proposal will need to be presented to a future ETS Committee to lift the ring fence at Preston Park where there is sufficient income to do so, and to introduce parking at specified car parking sites where there would be a benefit to the park and an opportunity to raise sufficient income to deliver an improvement to that park in addition to delivering a contribution towards this saving.  

 

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

 

There will likely be impacts on all Groups of people. The most disproportionately impacted groups will be:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • People on lower incomes

 

 

6. Assess level of impact

It is difficult to determine the level of impact as it is not known how many park users travel to the city’s parks by car, nor how long they park for.

 

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

 

There is good coverage of the city by our public transport network, so there are alternatives for people wanting to access parks where car parking charges will be introduced. Active modes of travel to and from the city’s parks will also be encouraged.

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

 

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

 

Age (people of all ages)

Yes

People of all ages on low incomes may be disproportionately impacted by the proposals, particularly the elderly and young, working families who might be on lower incomes and not able to afford the parking charges.

Promote active modes of travel to the city’s parks and use of public transport

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

Yes

Disabled people may have a lower income than other working age adults and so be disadvantaged in terms of the charges for parking. Disabled people are significantly more likely to be unemployed or in low-waged work than non-disabled people[2].

 

 

Promote active modes of travel to the city’s parks and use of public transport

 

Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

Yes

People on low incomes may be disproportionately impacted by the proposals. They may not be able to afford car parking charges.

Promote active modes of travel to the city’s parks and use of public transport

9. Full EIA?

No

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

Budgets will be monitored.

 

The number of complaints about charging for parking in the city’s parks will be monitored along with the demographic of complainants.

 

Where possible, data will be collected on park visitors’ length of stay in the car park, the number of visitors using the car park and their demographic to ascertain if there is under usage by any particular groups.

 

 

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

N/A

 


 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

City Environment – City Parks

2. Proposal No. 19

 

3. Head of Service

Rachel Chasseaud, Assistant Director – City Environment

 

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

 

Increase the current fee for allotments. This will save £45k.

 

 

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

 

Increased allotment fees may have a disproportionate impact on people living in low-income households or reduce equality of opportunity for groups who already do not use green spaces, exercise or eat healthy food less often.

 

Data is not currently available on the protected characteristics of allotment users.

 

There will likely be impacts on all groups of people. The most disproportionately impacted groups will be:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • People on lower incomes

 

 

 

6. Assess level of impact

2 - Moderate impact on a small group of people

 

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

 

All allotment tenants will be notified of the proposed increase in rent and given sufficient notice of the proposed increase.

 

A concession will continue to be offered to people over the age of 60, disabled people, full-time students and residents on lower incomes.

 

 

8. Identify disproportionate impact

 

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

 

Age (people of all ages)

Yes

People of all ages on low incomes may be disproportionately impacted by the proposals, particularly the elderly and young, working families who might be on lower incomes and unable to afford the fee increase.

Continue to offer concessions for people over the age of 60, full-time students and residents on lower incomes

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

Yes

Disabled people may have a lower income than other working age adults and so be more likely to be unable to afford the fees. Disabled people are significantly more likely to be unemployed or in low-waged work than non-disabled people[3].

Continue to offer a concession to people who receive long-term disability allowance

 

Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

People on low incomes may be disproportionately impacted by the proposals. They may not be able to afford the increased charge.

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

Yes

People on low incomes may be disproportionately impacted by the proposals. They may not be able to afford the increased charge.

Some protected groups are less likely to regularly access green spaces, get enough exercise, or eat fresh food etc. – there is a risk that increasing fees may place an additional barrier in the way of people benefiting from allotments in this context.

Continue to offer a concession to people on lower incomes

9. Full EIA?

Yes as equality data is unavailable for allotment users.

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

Budgets will be monitored.

The number of complaints about the increased cost of allotments will be monitored.

Monitoring of allotment holders falling into arrears.

Feedback from user groups

Ongoing review of charges.

 

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

There is potential that fees increase in other services across the council may have a cumulative impact for example the changes to parking fees at parks.

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

City Environment – Cityclean, Household Waste Recycling Sites

2. Proposal No. 20

3. Head of Service

Rachel Chasseaud, Assistant Director – City Environment

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

Introduce charges for some types of waste at the two Household Waste Recycling Sites (HWRS). It is estimated this will save £80k.

 

The types of waste are soil, hardcore, plasterboard, bonded asbestos and tyres.

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

There will likely be impacts on groups of people. The most disproportionately impacted groups will be:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • People on low incomes

6. Assess level of impact

4

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

Extensive communications will take place to let residents know that this charge will be applied and to forewarn them to include the cost of disposal in their budgeting for any home improvement works.

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

Yes

People of all ages on low incomes may be disproportionately impacted by the proposals, particularly the elderly and young, working families who might be on lower incomes and young people with limited income.

 

Communication to forewarn residents to include the cost of disposal in their home improvement budgets.

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

Yes

Disabled people may have a lower income than other working age adults and so be disadvantaged in terms of the charges for waste. Disabled people are significantly more likely to be unemployed or in low-waged work than non-disabled people[4].

Communication to forewarn residents to include the cost of disposal in their home improvement budgets.


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

Yes

People on low incomes may be disproportionately impacted by the proposals. They may not be able to afford to pay for the service.

Communication to forewarn residents to include the cost of disposal in their home improvement budgets.


9. Full EIA?

No

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

Fly tipping will be monitored

Complaints will be monitored

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

Many fee charges across the council may be impacting on the same groups of people

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

Economy, Environment & Culture - Culture, Tourism & Sport –Tourism & Venues

2. Proposal No. 21

 

3. Head of Service

Howard Barden

 

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

 

Introduce a £1.50 facility fee on all ticket sales at the Brighton Centre.

 

Reduce the annual subvention paid to the Brighton Centre from £1,334,000 to £1,234,000 (A reduction of £100,000)

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

 

The introduction of a £1.50 facility fee will impact on ticket buyers; ticket buying for events is a personal decision and the facility fee will form part of the overall cost to attend the event. The overall impacts on groups will be limited.

 

The reduction of the annual subvention will directly impact on the bottom line of the Brighton Centre and have limited impacts on protected groups. The shortfall will have to be made up through additional commercial activity or savings on additional expenditure budgets.

 

 

6. Assess level of impact

 1

 

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

 

None – although by introducing a £1.50 facility fee on all tickets purchased at the Brighton Centre, this may require clear and transparent comms as to the rationale for introducing a facility fee on tickets. Facility fees are generally considered as an industry standard, and many venues operate a facility fee on top of the purchase price of a ticket.

 

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

 

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

 

Age (people of all ages)

No

By introducing a £1.50 facility fee, this will marginally increase the cost to attend events at the Brighton Centre.

The reduction of the annual subvention will have no impact.

None

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

Yes

The introduction of a facility fee may have an impact on the affordability of attending events at the Brighton Centre for customers who are on lower incomes. Disabled People are more likely to have lower incomes and spend a greater portion of their incomes on daily living expenses and therefore have less disposal income for leisure and social activities.

 

The reduction of the annual subvention will have no impact.

None

 

Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

By introducing a £1.50 facility fee, this will marginally increase the cost to attend events at the Brighton Centre.

The reduction of the annual subvention will have no impact.

None

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

By introducing a £1.50 facility fee, this will marginally increase the cost to attend events at the Brighton Centre.

The reduction of the annual subvention will have no impact.

None

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

By introducing a £1.50 facility fee, this will marginally increase the cost to attend events at the Brighton Centre.

The reduction of the annual subvention will have no impact.

None

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

By introducing a £1.50 facility fee, this will marginally increase the cost to attend events at the Brighton Centre.

The reduction of the annual subvention will have no impact.

None

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

By introducing a £1.50 facility fee, this will marginally increase the cost to attend events at the Brighton Centre.

The reduction of the annual subvention will have no impact.

None

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

By introducing a £1.50 facility fee, this will marginally increase the cost to attend events at the Brighton Centre.

The reduction of the annual subvention will have no impact.

None

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

Yes

By introducing a £1.50 facility fee, this will marginally increase the cost to attend events at the Brighton Centre. The introduction of a facility fee may have an impact on the affordability of attending events at the Brighton Centre for customers who are on lower incomes.

The reduction of the annual subvention will have no impact.

None

9. Full EIA?

No

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

Ticket sales – monitoring of all ticket sales, especially more marginal/less popular events.

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

 

Other services across the council are likely to be increasing charges/fees and therefore households/individuals on low/fixed incomes may be impacted by multiple proposals.

 


 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

Economy, Environment & Culture - Culture, Tourism & Venues

2. Proposal No. 22

3. Head of Service

Howard Barden

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

 

Stop the work of Visitor Services, including answering all visitor enquiries made by phone and email, cessation of the VisitBrighton volunteer Greeter Scheme, the City Champions Scheme and loss of 14 official Visitor Information Points across the city.

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

Stopping the work of Visitor Services, would mean:

•Closure of 14 official Visitor Information Points (VIPs) across the city.

•Loss of service responding to visitor enquiries made by telephone and email.

•Loss of the VisitBrighton volunteer Greeter Scheme.

•Loss of the VisitBrighton City Champions Programme.

 

The impacts will be on both residents and visitors to the city in terms of contact, signposting and information giving. Brighton & Hove welcomes 12.37 million visitors, of which 1.67 million usually stay overnight.  The Visitor Economy is worth just under £1billion (£976.4m) in economic benefit and supports more than 24,000 jobs in the city, which equates to 17.5% of all employee jobs in Brighton & Hove. (source: Economic Impact of Tourism 2019)

 

Some of the key impacts will be:

  • Potential negative impact on the economic value of the Visitor economy with the loss of business and leisure tourism.
  • Loss of access to visitor information for residents and visitors who are unable to navigate digital information or who have specific information requests in order to facilitate their trip, which can often be related to accessibility (older people, disabled people, international visitors whose first language is not English)
  • Loss of connectivity within the City’s businesses engaged in tourism and VisitBrighton partners.
  • Reputational issues, as this would send a message that Brighton & Hove are devaluing the visitor economy.

 

This proposal will also have an impact on staff currently operating Visitor Services – a separate analysis of staffing impacts will be undertaken in relation to budget proposals.

 

6. Assess level of impact

Medium - 3

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

None. Accessibility support and promotion would be left solely to the businesses and attractions.

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

Yes

Loss of access to Citywide information to our residents and visitors.

More older visitors to the City who have difficulty accessing digital information are most likely to use the telephone and email service currently offered by Visitor Services.

Similarly, more older visitors are likely to use the Visitor Information Points, which distribute printed literature including City Maps; cessation of the service will mean Visitor Information Points are deleted as the current postholder trains VIP staff and collates and supplies materials to them on a regular basis.

 

None - this is stopping a service, and therefore the impacts cannot be mitigated.

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

Yes

Loss of access to Citywide information to our residents and visitors.

Visitors with a disability will often require information specific to their own needs. They are likely to use the telephone and email service currently offered by Visitor Services to answer very specific questions.

 

None - this is stopping a service, and therefore the impacts cannot be mitigated.


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

Yes

Loss of access to Citywide information to our residents and visitors.

International visitors are likely to use the telephone and email service currently offered by Visitor Services to answer their questions, which may be posed in their home language. The Visitor Services Officer employed is tri-lingual and is able to respond to enquires often in an enquirer’s first language or utilise Google Translate to provide effective communication.

 

Similarly, international visitors are likely to use the Visitor Information Points, which distribute printed literature including City Maps; cessation of the service will mean Visitor Information Points are deleted as the current postholder trains VIP staff and collates and supplies materials to them on a regular basis.

 

International visitors are also the audience segment most likely to access information from City Champions and access the Greeter Scheme, whereby a local resident is matched with visitors with a specific interest, introducing them to the City through the lens of their specific interests on a 2 hour tour. The latest research shows in 2019-2022 visitors originating from 115 nationalities accessed information via City Champions. In the 2018 Visitor Survey, international visitors rated the welcome provided by City Champions 8.19/10 and the Quality of Service at Visitor Information Points as 8.31/10

 

None - this is stopping a service, and therefore the impacts cannot be mitigated.

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

Loss of access to Citywide information to our residents and visitors.

None - this is stopping a service, and therefore the impacts cannot be mitigated.

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

Loss of access to Citywide information to our residents and visitors.

None - this is stopping a service, and therefore the impacts cannot be mitigated.

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

Loss of access to Citywide information to our residents and visitors.

None - this is stopping a service, and therefore the impacts cannot be mitigated.

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

Loss of access to Citywide information to our residents and visitors.

None - this is stopping a service, and therefore the impacts cannot be mitigated.

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

Loss of access to Citywide information to our residents and visitors.

None - this is stopping a service, and therefore the impacts cannot be mitigated.

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

No

Loss of access to Citywide information to our residents and visitors.

None - this is stopping a service, and therefore the impacts cannot be mitigated.


9. Full EIA?

Yes

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

N/A

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

 No

 


 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

EEC/CTS/Sport & Leisure/Seafront

2. Proposal No. 23

 

3. Head of Service

Mark Fisher

 

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

 

Increase the seafront property income target/budget by £40,000 achieved by new lettings, lease renewals and rent reviews.

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

 

None

 

6. Assess level of impact

1 = minimal impact on small number of people

 

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

 

None

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

 

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

 

Age (people of all ages)

No

 

 

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

No

 

 

 

Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

None

 

 

9. Full EIA?

Not required

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

 

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

 

Cost of living and inflation increase will impact on seafront businesses along with all other residents.  Rent reviews are generally undertaken based on market rates and comparable but are always static or upwards.  This is written into the lease agreements so is standard practice at the time the rent review is due – usually every 5 years.

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

 

1. Service Area

Economy, Environment & Culture - Culture, Tourism & Sport – Sport & Leisure / Tourism & Venues

2. Proposal No. 24

3. Head of Service

Ian Baird

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

 

Introduction of £1.50 facilities charge on all outdoor event tickets

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

  • Likely to discourage smaller community events with limited ticketing administration
  • Would push ticket cost beyond acceptable levels for many highly pressured audiences reducing attendance

6. Assess level of impact

1

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

Reduction of the fee or exclusion of community/charity events would be advantageous.

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

No

 

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

No

 

 


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

Yes

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

Yes

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

Yes

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

Yes

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

No

 

 


9. Full EIA?

No

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

N/A

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

Unknown

 


 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

Housing Needs & Supply

2. Proposal No. 25

3. Head of Service

Paul Cooper, Assistant Director Housing Needs & Supply

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

Private Sector Housing & Integrated Housing Adaptations Service (Savings: £70k)

Reduction in baseline budget because of bringing part of the service in-house

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

Impact is minimal. This has been an underspend in 2022/23 after part of the service being brough in-house in year with no impact to the service. The projected £70k is based on a full year saving, operating the service at the current level

 

6. Assess level of impact

1

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

None

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

No

N/A

N/A

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

No

N/A

N/A


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

N/A

N/A

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

N/A

N/A

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

N/A

N/A

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

N/A

N/A

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

N/A

N/A

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

N/A

N/A

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

No

N/A

N/A


9. Full EIA?

N/A

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

N/A

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

1. Service Area

Housing Needs & Supply

2. Proposal No. 26

3. Head of Service

Paul Cooper, Assistant Director Housing Needs & Supply

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

Temporary Accommodation

 

·         Full year effect of the reductions made in 2022/23, including reduced block booked by 45 (Savings: £725k)

·         Reduce need for 25 block booked properties by 31/10/23 (Savings: £593k)

·         Improvement to void turnaround times. Reduces rent loss and council tax costs (Savings: £70k)

·         Better Income Collection (Savings: £90k)

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

Impact is minimal from an equality’s perspective. This is a statutory service which is driven by demand (i.e., households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness and are owed a housing duty (both interim and main).

 

Although there is a risk in delivering this saving – especially in the context of an increased risk of homelessness due to the Cost-of-Living Crisis – the statutory duty remains. The risk is a financial one and is not equalities related.

 

6. Assess level of impact

1

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

None

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

No

N/A

N/A

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

No

N/A

N/A


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

N/A

N/A

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

N/A

N/A

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

N/A

N/A

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

N/A

N/A

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

N/A

N/A

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

N/A

N/A

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

No

N/A

N/A


9. Full EIA?

N/A

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

N/A

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

N/A

 


 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

 

1. Service Area

Libraries Services HNC

2. Proposal No. 27

3. Head of Service

Sally McMahon and Kate Rouse

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

Close Mile Oak Library. Current visitor numbers are only 150p.m. compared to 3,500p.m. five years ago and 1,000p.m. just before the pandemic. Other community libraries are currently at 60% pre-Covid levels whereas Mile Oak is at 15%. This library is the most expensive to run, currently working out at a cost of £19.02 per visit compared to 78p average per visit cost at other community libraries. Portslade and Hangleton Libraries are reasonably nearby to provide library services to residents.

 

Reduce staffed opening hours in all community libraries to a maximum of two days a week, running them as Libraries Extra for the other days where this is possible. The staffed days would vary across the city to ensure that there is a library open with staff within a reasonable traveling distance on every day of the week.

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

Estimate Level 2 or 3, as children and vulnerable adults will still have access to a staffed library near by for 2 days a week, and within 2 miles in most cases for 4 days a week, as the city is relatively small; plus access to Jubilee library in the centre of the city for 7 days a week, and Hove Library for 6 days a week.

6. Assess level of impact

 

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

Ensure Hangleton & Portslade libraries are open with staff different days of the week over 4 days, to provide access to a staffed library for people in Mile Oak that is less than 2 miles away. These libraries will also have Libraries Extra days the rest of the week.

 

Spread the staffed days in community libraries evenly across the city so that there is a staffed library within reasonable travelling distance, if more local library is operating as Libraries Extra.

 

Consider recruiting volunteers to help library users self-serve when libraries operate as Libraries Extra.  Subject to H&S and safeguarding assessments. 

 

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

Yes

Children under 16 cannot use Libraries Extra alone, so the decrease in staffed days in community libraries and increase in Libraries Extra will disadvantage them.

 

People of all ages in Mile Oak area may find it hard to travel to access library service.  However current data show very low numbers using current library. 

Spread the staffed days in community libraries evenly across the city so that there is a staffed library within reasonable travelling distance, if more local library is operating as Libraries Extra.

 

Ensure Hangleton & Portslade libraries are open with staff different days of the week over 4 days, to provide access to a staffed library for people in Mile Oak that is less than 2 miles away. (1.7 miles to Hangleton Library, 1.8 miles to Portslade Library). These libraries will also have Libraries Extra days the rest of the week. They will also have Hove Library open 6 days a week and Jubilee Library open 7 days a week, both accessible by a good bus service.

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

Yes

Some neurodiverse adults and adults with Learning Disabilities may wish to have support when using a library and this would be unavailable during Libraries Extra times

 

 

 

Spread the staffed days evenly across the city so that there is a staffed library within reasonable travelling distance, if more local library is operating as Libraries Extra.

 

Consider recruiting volunteers to help library users self-serve when libraries operate as Libraries Extra.  Subject to H&S and safeguarding assessments. 

 


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

Yes

See comments under the Age section above.  Children in poverty will find it harder to afford to travel to other libraries not in walking distance of their home.

Spread the staffed days evenly across the city so that there is a staffed library within reasonable travelling distance, if more local library is operating as Libraries Extra.

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

 

 

 


9. Full EIA?

No

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

Numbers of items loaned to children compared with previous year.

Feedback via comments and complaints

Survey of library users when this is next due.  This can include a question to identify impact of reduced staffed hours on children in community libraries affected.

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

Not aware of any.

 

 

 

 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

 

1. Service Area

HNC, Communities, Equality and Third Sector

2. Proposal No. 28

3. Head of Service

Emma McDermott

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

 

Reduction of the Communities Fund – the annual VCS grants programme by £66,000.  As an annual programme there is opportunity to reduce the budget ahead of the start of the new year's programme 2023/24. The fund predominantly supports grass root volunteer lead organisations being both a starter fund for new/small groups and building resilience for medium sized groups supplementing their own fundraising and volunteer time and acting as a validation to other funders.

 

The objectives of the fund are to improve wellbeing, build cohesion and promote fairness. The fund is an open competitive process.

 

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

The Communities Fund is designed to target the council’s corporate priorities which focus on the most vulnerable individuals and communities, increasing fairness and promoting social capital and resilience.   The organisations funded through the programme are groups/organisations that work with and support communities with legally protected characteristics, and those who are marginalised and vulnerable, including those experiencing poverty/financial exclusion.

 

The proposed reduction in the programme’s funding will result in:

  • decreased capacity to meet some corporate priorities with specific impacts on characteristics protected in law
  • reduced capacity for CVS groups which support community resilience and reduce reliance on statutory services
  • potential wider impact on ability to attract additional match funding

6. Assess level of impact

3

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

 

The reduction does not unfairly affect one protected characteristic more than another as it is not ringfenced to specific communities or residents with the exception of the BME fund (£15k) within the Communities Fund. Consideration will be given to exempting the BME fund when applying the saving.

 

All the Communities Fund is unallocated at the start of the financial year.

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

no

 

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

no

 

 


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

yes

Potential to reduce the ring-fence funding for BME groups

Consideration of exempting the BME fund when applying the fund.

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

no

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

no

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

no

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

no

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

no

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

no

 

 


9. Full EIA?

No, using evaluations returned by previous years’ applicants there is sufficient information about the beneficiaries of the fund over the years to provide information on those likely to be impacted by the saving.  In addition, as noted above the fund is unallocated at the start of the financial year so impact on reduce budget can be monitored throughout the year.

 

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

Feedback will be sought from the infrastructure organisations in the city on the impact of the reduction on VCS organisations.

 

Each round of funding will be reviewed; considering the diversity of the applications and the awards made within the criteria and budget available.

 

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

Reduction in the budget will impact grass roots community provision in neighbourhoods and to city-wide equality groups. Many of the groups/projects securing funding through the Communities Fund provide preventative measures that may to stop or be scaled back. As statutory services increasing looking to ‘community’ services and ‘building social capital’ as preventative measures for their clients a reduction in Communities Funding will impact in council’s ability to facilitate these.

 

 


 

Budget Equality Impact Assessment 2023/24 – Service-Users

 

 

1. Service Area

Safer Communities HNC

2. Proposal No. 29

3. Head of Service

Jo Player

4. Budget Proposal

What is the proposal? Use the savings proposal wording and more detail if needed

Agreed reduction in staff hours

 

Increase discretionary licensing fees by 6% rather than corporate rate of inflation

 

Cease field officer service with some reallocation of resource to statutory services

5. Summary of impacts

Highlight the most significant disproportionate impacts on groups

 

No significant disproportionate impact on any one group

6. Assess level of impact

2

7. Key actions to reduce negative impacts

What actions are planned to reduce/avoid negative impacts and increase positive impacts?

Reallocation of some resource from field officer service to other statutory services and other administration priority areas.

8. Identify disproportionate impacts

Different Groups to be included in assessment

Possible disproportionate impact on group/s? YES/NO

Describe potential impact (positive effects and negative impacts or potential barriers)

Action/s (including details of a full EIA to be completed if required/relevant)

Note: Actions should directly relate to the potential impacts identified.

Age (people of all ages)

No

 

 

Disability (a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities)

No

 

 


Ethnicity/Race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, including refugees & migrants; and Gypsies & Travellers)

No

 

 

Gender (men and women, girls and boys)

No

 

 

Gender reassignment (a person who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change gender.)

No

 

 

Religion or Belief (any religion or philosophical belief with a clear structure and belief system, or lack of religion or belief.)

No

 

 

Sexual Orientation (bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people)

No

 

 

Child Poverty

(Children and young people in families living on less than 60% of national median income before housing costs. In B&H around 22% of all children.)

No

 

 

Other groups relevant to this proposal (Specific and relevant to the service, including but not only: carers, people experiencing domestic or sexual violence, looked after children, homeless people…)

No

 

 


9. Full EIA?

No

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

How will you monitor the impact of this proposal and the success of your mitigating actions on these groups over the coming year (or more)?

N/A

11. Cumulative impacts (proposed changes elsewhere which might worsen impacts identified above)

Might related proposals from other service areas (or other changes) worsen or mitigate impacts from your proposal? Please explain these impacts.

 

Not aware of any impacts from other services which may worsen the impact of these proposals. Environmental enforcement team may pick up some of the work currently carried out by field officers.

 

 



[1] www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-facts-and-figures/disability-facts-and-figures

[2] www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-facts-and-figures/disability-facts-and-figures

[3] www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-facts-and-figures/disability-facts-and-figures

[4] www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-facts-and-figures/disability-facts-and-figures