Environmental Health Service Reduction

Name of policies to be assessed

Council Tax Penalties & Single Person Discount Reviews

1. What is the main purpose of the policies?

To reduce the baseline budget across the service by £50k by introducing new ways of working and enabling greater income generation​​​​​​.

2. What main areas or activities does the policies cover?

• Private Sector Housing enforcement
• Environmental Protection
• Food and Safety

3. Are there changes to an existing policy being considered in this assessment?

This is a new approach to ways of working in these service areas.

4. Who are the main audience, users or customers who will be affected by the policy?

Local residents and businesses

5. What outcomes does the Council want to achieve from the policy?

To ensure we continue to meet our statutory requirements by working in a different way.

6. Are other service areas or partner agencies involved in delivery?

No

7. Relevant information, data, surveys or consultations

n/a

8. The ‘general duty’

The ‘general duty’ states that we must have “due regard” to the need to:

1. eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
2. advance equality of opportunity between people who share a ‘protected characteristic²’ and those who do not³
3. foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not⁴

Not all policies help us to meet the ‘general duty’, but most do.

This policy helps us to meet the ‘general duty’ by:

n/a

9. Disproportionate impacts

This section helps us to identify any disproportionate impacts. We will indicate whether the policy is likely to particularly benefit or disadvantage any of the 'protected characteristics'.

Age - older people (60+) and younger people (17-25)

Negative impact

There will be a reduction in the level of service which will affect all protected characteristics

Age - those who are typically in the age group 45-55

Negative impact

There will be a reduction in the level of service which will affect all protected characteristics

Disability – physical, sensory, learning, mental health issues, other

Negative impact

There will be a reduction in the level of service which will affect all protected characteristics

Ethnicity - White; Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups; Asian or Asian British; Black, Black British, Caribbean or African; Other ethnic group

Negative impact

There will be a reduction in the level of service which will affect all protected characteristics

Language – English not as a first language

Negative impact

There will be a reduction in the level of service which will affect all protected characteristics

Pregnancy and maternity - Women who are pregnant or have given birth in the last 26 weeks

Negative impact

There will be a reduction in the level of service which will affect all protected characteristics

Religion or belief - People with a religious belief (or none)

Negative impact

There will be a reduction in the level of service which will affect all protected characteristics

Sex – Men and Women

Negative impact

There will be a reduction in the level of service which will affect all protected characteristics

Gender reassignment - Transgender/Transsexual

Negative impact

There will be a reduction in the level of service which will affect all protected characteristics

Sexual Orientation – Straight/Heterosexual, Gay or Lesbian, Bisexual, Other sexual orientation

Negative impact

There will be a reduction in the level of service which will affect all protected characteristics

Marriage and Civil Partnership - People who are married or in a civil partnership

Negative impact

There will be a reduction in the level of service which will affect all protected characteristics

10. How negative impacts be minimised or removed?

We will continue to investigate and implement different ways of working to minimise the impact to residents and businesses.

11. Could the policy discriminate against any ‘protected characteristic’ either directly or indirectly?

No

Summary and findings of Initial Equality Impact Assessment

12. Confirmation of findings

There are four options to describe the finding of the EqIA:

1. No negative impacts have been identified – Action is to sign off screening and finish.
2. Negative impacts have been identified but have been minimised or removed  - Action is to sign off screening and finish.
3. Negative impacts could not be minimised or removed – Action is to sign off screening and complete a full impact assessment – Section 2.
4. There is insufficient evidence to make a judgement - Action is to sign off screening and complete a full impact assessment – Section 2.

Negative impacts have been identified but have been minimised or removed  - Action is to sign off screening and finish.

13. Name and job title of person completing this form

Melanie Rundle, Safety and Protection Manager

14. Date of completion

11 January 2023

15. Date for update or review of this screening