Equality Impact Assessment

Summary for Publication

Name of EIA

‘My Tameside’ Sustainable Community Strategy 2009-19

Service area

Performance and Change

Directorate

Performance and Change

Background

The Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) 2009-19 is an update of the Community Strategy 2007-17. The SCS is the overarching vision and strategy for the borough of Tameside. All Local Authorities have a duty to prepare a Sustainable Community Strategy. The SCS sets out how the Tameside Strategic Partnership intends to narrow inequalities in the borough and improve quality of life.

Impact on different customer groups

• Age – Positive One of the 6 Sustainable Community Strategy priorities is to create a Supportive Tameside where there are strong and positive relationships between people of all ages. Throughout the Sustainable Community Strategy there is a commitment to ensure that younger and older people do not become disenfranchised and have the full range of services they need.
• Ethnicity – Positive The aim to foster supportive communities in Tameside also seeks to develop strong and positive relationships between people of different backgrounds and ensure no one is disadvantaged by where they live.
• Disability – Positive Engagement with disabled people shows that their priorities are little different from those of non-disabled people. Particular concerns are physical health and personal safety, which are both addressed by the Strategy in the wider context of work around community safety and improving health outcomes. In addition Disability is highlighted within several priorities within the Strategy as a key community outcome.
• Gender – Positive The Sustainable Community Strategy aims to improve educational attainment and life expectancy. Evidence tells us that in these areas gender inequality is apparent in some areas, specific objectives in the delivery mechanisms for the strategy focus on reducing inequality in these areas. The Sustainable Community Strategy Document will address gender inequality through the overarching aim to reduce all inequalities.
• Sexual Orientation – Neutral The Sustainable Community Strategy does not specifically target inequalities which may be experienced by people of different sexual orientation. The Strategy focuses on reducing inequality within the whole of Tameside’s community however and the delivery mechanisms for the Strategy are designed to ensure all areas of inequality are taken into account where relevant. Issues relating to Sexual Orientation will be addressed at a delivery level in specific areas in particular through the commitment to create a community where people feel safe and secure.
• Religion/belief – Neutral The Sustainable Community Strategy does not specifically target inequalities which may be experienced by people of different religion or belief. Within the delivery of the strategy via the Tameside Strategic Partnership issues relating to religion and belief within the community are raised via Tameside ‘Voice’ representatives who include representation from ‘Faiths United’ Tameside’s interfaith forum.

Scope of the Equality Impact Assessment

This Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) will cover Tameside’s updated Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS). This update is aimed at building on the successes of previous versions and further improving local service and quality of life for local people by setting the vision, aims and priorities for the borough.

This EIA will cover the SCS as a strategic guiding document and how equality and diversity will be and has been taken into account within the strategy.

Existing data sources / evidence used

• Tameside Sustainable Community Strategy 2009-19 (draft)
• Tameside Local Area Agreement 2008-11
• Citizen’s Panel 2009
• Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
• Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2007
• 2001 Census profiles
• TSP Board and thematic partnership meeting minutes
• DCLG Guidance Crating Safe strong and Prosperous Communities
• Citizen Articles
• TSP Newsline
• Tameside Sustainable Community Strategy Consultation Report ‘What our communities have told us’
• Partnership Information Portal
• Sustainability Appraisal
• Partnership Agreements

Conclusions drawn from evidence

• The extent to which systems not owned by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council are able to monitor outcomes for different quality groups to be addressed via Tameside Information Group and Tameside Strategic Partnership (TSP) Equality Group.
• Evidence shows communication of Sustainable Community Strategy related activity through a variety of forums.
• There is representative on TSP Board from all community groups via Tameside Voice.
• Information is available regarding all community groups via Partnership Information Portal.
• The Citizen’s Panel provides information regarding awareness of the Sustainable Community Strategy.
• Partnership agreements, board and thematic partnership agreements and meeting minutes show that the needs of different equality groups are taken into account wherever relevant in the reduction of wider inequality across the borough.
• The Sustainable Community Strategy Document includes reference to the needs of specific equality groups where specific needs have been identified.
• Delivery mechanisms for the Strategy include consideration of equality issues although the number of impact assessments including strategies related to the strategy should be increased throughout the life of the Sustainable Community Strategy.

Consultation carried out

Consultation data from the previous 12 months showed that the main aims of the strategy remain sound. This information is set out within the ‘What our communities have told us’ report.

Voice representatives from across all communities in Tameside were in broad agreement that the strategy was robust and contained the correct aims and priorities. The group made practical suggestions on how to improve service delivery which were provided to the appropriate services in Tameside.

Members of equality groups included within the Citizen’s Panel are satisfied with the existing aims of the Sustainable Community Strategy. 93% of the Citizens Panel members who responded to the questions agreed that they were satisfied.

Assessment of impact arising from evidence

No specific negative impact has been identified arising from the Sustainable Community Strategy. However, careful monitoring will continue to be required to ensure that the implementation of the strategy does not create adverse impact for any group, or where this is unavoidable, that adverse impact is mitigated. Robust monitoring of outcomes arising from the Sustainable Community Strategy as outlined above, and the focus on outcomes for the whole community through the disaggregation of relevant performance data and information by equality group.

The key potential for negative impact to occur is in the delivery of Sustainable Community Strategy objectives through individual partnerships and the Local Area Agreements. Ensure that mechanisms such as Equality Impact Assessments are used to assess the impact of strategies and action plans used to deliver against the Sustainable Community Strategy Objectives. The TSP Co-ordinator will work with thematic partnership link officers to ensure all Sustainable Community Strategy sub strategies have been impact assessed.

Taking Action

Monitoring progress

David Berry, TSP Co-ordinator will monitor progress against the EIA through monthly supervision meetings with the Head of Policy and Partnerships (Emma Cohen).

Contact officer/s

• David Berry TSP Co-ordinator. Tel: 0161 342 3149

Signature of Service Unit Manager

Date: 30 September 2009

Signature of Assistant Executive Director / Assistant Chief Executive

Date: 30 September 2009