Item 13 Appendix 1
West Dunbartonshire Council · 28 August 2024
Back to West Dunbartonshire Council — 28 August 2024 and its agenda
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Assessment No 1052 Owner GHAWTHORN Resource Regeneration, Environment and Growth Service Environment and Neighbourhood FirstName Surname Job Title Head Officer George Hawthorn Manager of Democratic and Registration Services Members Alan Douglas Gail McFarlane (Please note: the word 'policy' is used as shorthand for strategy policy function or financial decision) Policy Title Council Policy on Campaign Posters on Street Furniture The aim, objective, purpose and intended out come of policy The policy aims to ban all political parties from using Council street furniture to display political campaign posters. Service/Partners/Stakeholders/service users involved in the development and/or implementation of policy. Roads Service Does the proposals involve the procurement of any goods or services? No If yes please confirm that you have contacted our procurement services to discuss your requirements. No SCREENING You must indicate if there is any relevance to the four areas Duty to eliminate discrimination (E), advance equal opportunities (A) or foster good relations (F) Yes Relevance to Human Rights (HR) No Relevance to Health Impacts (H) No Relevance to Social Economic Impacts (SE) No Who will be affected by this policy? All voters in the West Dunbartonshire Council area. Who will be/has been involved in the consultation process? No consultation has taken place or is planned. APPENDIX 1
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Please outline any particular need/barriers which equality groups may have in relation to this policy list evidence you are using to support this and whether there is any negative impact on particular groups. Specific group to consider Needs Evidence Impact Age none Disability Partially sighted persons who who may be unable to see campaign materials via other means such as on a small screen may be able to see posters on street furniture thus raising awareness of the election. There is no evidence to support this. Every voter receives a poll card to advise that an election will be held. Minor - Partially sighted voters may not be as aware that an election is taking place if there are no campaign posters on street furniture. Gender Reassign none Marriage & Civil Partnership none Pregnancy & Maternity none Race none Religion and Belief none Sex none Sexual Orientation none Human Rights none Health none Social & Economic Impact none Cross Cutting none
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Policy has a negative impact on an equality group,but is still to be implemented, please provide justification for this. The impact referred to above is minor and there is no evidence to show that campaign posters affect voter awareness of an election. Indeed the turnout at the 2024 election, with campaign posters, was much lower than the 2019 General Election when there were no posters allowed. Will the impact of the policy be monitored and reported on an ongoing bases? yes Q7 What is you recommendation for this policy? Intoduce Please provide a meaningful summary of how you have reached the recommendation The impact identified in this assessment is minor and cannot be supported with any evidence to suggest that turnout is affected by the display of candidates therefore there is no evidence to suggest that awareness of partially sighted voters is affected by the display of posters.