Equality and impact assessments

Currently the Equality Act 2010 requires that we analyse the impact of our policies, functions and our decisions. This incorporates the protected characteristics; age,  disability, gender, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, and additionally, socio-economic disadvantage.

In general, all of the functions, or policies, that affect the public and all of those that are related to our employees are relevant to achieving equality.

In order to ensure that our system is workable, we have adopted a two stage approach. An Initial Impact Assessment, where a positive or low negative impact has been identified, and Community Impact Assessment, when a high negative impact has been didnetified, or a high profile decision is being made.

These are public documents and we will make them available along with relevant information and evidence as they are produced.