Equality Impact Assessment

Summary for Publication

Name of EIA

Physical Access to Buildings

Service area

Facilities Management

Directorate

Economy and Environment

Background

To ensure equality of physical access for all and to comply with legislation. To evidence the requirements around customer monitoring and increased consultation. This assessment is concerned with the physical access to buildings within the portfolio of Facilities Management and does not include the ability to access facilities via bookings, catering, bar facilities and event organisation, which will be covered in an assessment in 2008/09.

Impact on different customer groups

Age – Positive: Older people are more likely to acquire impairments which can lead to difficulties with physical access, such as mobility problems, visual and hearing impairment. Buildings that are accessible to people who are disabled will also be more accessible to the whole of the community including older people. Similarly with younger children where requirements would include access for prams and pushchairs, sanitary facilities, waiting areas, etc.

Disability – Positive: People who are disabled are more likely to have difficulties with physical access to buildings; steps are taken to ensure that buildings have the highest level of physical access possible.

Gender – Neutral: Physical access to buildings applies equally to both men and women. There should be no difference to levels of access based solely on gender.

Ethnicity – Neutral: As this EIA covers the physical access to buildings – issues related to ethnicity have a neutral impact. We have not identified any specific issues relating to physical access during the course of this assessment.

Sexual Orientation – Neutral: There is no identified difference in ability to physically access buildings based on Sexual Orientation.

Religion and Belief – Neutral: There are no identified differences in requirements for physical access to buildings based on religion and belief.

Scope of the Equality Impact Assessment

This assessment is concerned with the physical access to buildings within the portfolio of Facilities Management and does not include the ability to access facilities via bookings, catering, bar facilities and event organisation.

Existing data sources / evidence used

• DDA access audits, stage 2 and 3 assessments and judgements
• Schedules of improvements
• Office accommodation satisfaction / individual assessment data
• Public lettings data

Conclusions drawn from evidence

The function of providing compliant physical access to our buildings is on the whole a well managed and robust process that complies with current legislative requirements. We are aware that we have a number of buildings that require further improvements – these have been identified and are the subject of a published schedule of work.

As part of undertaking this EIA we have concluded that we need to improve our ability to collect information from our customer base in respect of their experiences of the ‘physical access’ to buildings as a result the service will need to increase and improve our customer monitoring processes and use consultation to gain the views of appropriate groups. This can be done at buildings and may take the form of either ‘exit’ interviews or be included in a wider customer satisfaction survey of customers using the buildings for business and pleasure. This survey could also be used gather information about of other issues not directly related to physical access.

Consultation carried out

Whilst no specific consultation was carried out specific to this assessment. Information from previous surveys and questionnaires were used to inform the assessment and inform the conclusions in the section above.

Assessment of impact arising from evidence

Whilst no specific negative impacts have been identified by the assessment there are some points for further action to be taken forward as a result in relation to consultation and engagement. As part of undertaking this EIA we have concluded that we need to improve our ability to collect information from our customer base in respect of their experiences of the ‘physical access’ to buildings as a result the service will need to increase and improve our customer monitoring processes and use consultation to gain the views of appropriate groups. As a result the following steps will be taken:

• Monitoring of occupant satisfaction in office accommodation
• Monitoring of customer satisfaction in regard to physical access to buildings (part of wider customer satisfaction survey)
• Consultation with relevant specific focus groups e.g. RIQ, Disability Forum

Whilst the assessment concluded that not all of our Facilities Management managed buildings are currently accessible we have a published capital programme / scheme to address these issues and compliance achievement is subject to performance management regulation via established performance indicators.

Taking Action

Monitoring progress

Helen Smith Service Unit Manager from July 2008 – Monitored by Alan Stopher Head of Property Services as part of Business Planning process (quarterly reviews) and EDR process.

Contact officer/s

Helen Smith, Dave Rainford, Roy Holland, Neil Berry, Peter Wood.

Signature of Service Unit Manager
Jon Chesterton

Date: 29/05/08

Signature of Assistant Executive Director / Assistant Chief Executive
Alan Stopher

Date: 29/05/08