Item 12 - Appendix 2
West Dunbartonshire Council · 25 October 2023
Back to West Dunbartonshire Council — 25 October 2023 and its agenda
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AssessmentNo 768 Owner ndocherty Resource Transformation Service/Establishment CCCF First Name Surname Job title Head Officer Ricardo Rea Performance and Strategy Officer (include job titles/organisation) Members Ricardo Rea, Performance and Strategy Officer Nicola Docherty, Performance and Strategy Team Leader (Please note: the word 'policy' is used as shorthand for stategy policy function or financial decision) Policy Title West Dunbartonshire Council Budget Prioritisation 2024-25, Consultation Process The aim, objective,purpose and intended out come of policy The consultation process was designed to gather people in West Dunbartonshire's views on priority budget areas. As well as the general public, the process directly sought the views of key community organisations within West Dunbartonshire Service/Partners/Stakeholders/service users involved in the development and/or implementation of policy. Performance and Strategy Team, Communities Team and Chief Officers. 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) Yes Relevance to Health Impacts (H) Yes Relevance to Social Economic Impacts (SE) Yes Who will be affected by this policy? People resident in West Dunbartonshire, people using public services in West Dunbartonshire, other statutory organisations, voluntary organisations, Council staff. Who will be/has been involved in the consultation process? As well as members of the public through the online consultation, five focus group sessions took place with a range of representatives from local community organisations, within Dumbarton/Alexandria and Clydebank as well as the West Dunbartonshire Equality Forum, local members of the Scottish Youth Parliament and the Trade Unions. Sessions were offered at varying times of day and evening to ensure as wide a range of participation as possible. Community groups were proactively contacted by email and encouraged to send up to two members to any of the sessions. Groups attending sessions were: Face to face sessions allowed discussion of cumulative impact of budget decisions over time and cumulative impact of decisions made at the same time which could interact, for example spending and income generation. Please outline any particular need/barriers which equality groups may have in APPENDIX 2
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relation to this policy list evidence you are using to support this and whether there is any negative impact on particular groups. Needs Evidence Impact Age There is a need to ensure that older and younger people have an opportunity to have their say The survey was aimed at 16 and over year olds. For all of these groups except 16-24 representation was good. A specific face to face session was carried out with younger people. Overall for groups over 16 representation was good Cross Cutting Councils provide a wider range of services than any other organisation, so cross cutting considerations are even more important Factors can and do cross cut to affect peoples lives. For instance situations for White disabled women might be different for BME disabled women Budget decisions should be informed by ensuring that these dynamics are taken into account including cumulative impacts Disability Evidence suggests that this is one of groups most negatively impacted since the start of austerity Community Group Sessions highlighted concern that cuts to budget may result in cuts that affect accessibility within the local area. Concern expressed that little engagement with strategic partners on impact of budget cuts Both face to face sessions and the online survey have been used by disabled people to give their views Social & Economic Impact We need to pay due regard to the Socio/Economic/Fai rer Scotland Duty when making decisons of a strategic nature The WDC Strategic Plan priorities ensures we focus on social and economic impact across a number of the priorities This should help inform budget decisions Sex National evidence suggest that this is one of groups most negatively impacted since the start of austerity, largely because the majority of single parents are women 70% of online respondents who supplied information said they were female, face to face meetings were more balanced in terms of sex. However, there were still 236 male respondents to the online survey, this is Even though more women responded online than men the volume of responses means that it is unlikely that any significant differences of opinion between men and women were missed
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sufficient number for comparison. At the UK level women are more likely to be more dependent on public services than men Gender Reassign National evidence suggests that transgender people are more likely to be excluded from many community processes Ensuring that there are a range of ways of engaging and getting views ensures that a 'one size fits all' approach does not exclude people With this protected group as with all others, when budget decisions are made relevant local and national evidence should be used to ensure that due regards is given to equalities Health Overall health and health inequalities in West Dunbartonshire may be affected by Council decisions Feedback on health and social care was provided by respondents and the cross cutting nature and importance was mirrored by comments Health and well being considerations cross cut here Human Rights The Council are Human 'Rights Bearers' and must take decisions and act in a way that complies with the European Convention on Human Rights UNCRC considerations More often than not Human Rights considerations cross cut with those under the equality act, but apply to all human beings. A specific face to face session was carried out in early October with young people. The consultation process was undertaken within a way that was in line with with Article 14 of the ECHR on non discrimination on any grounds Further specific consultation with under 16s is planned. Marriage & Civil Partnership Considerations here cross cut with sexual orientation and sex Considerations here cross cut with sexual orientation and sex Considerations here cross cut with sexual orientation and sex Pregnancy & Maternity Considerations here cross cut with sexual orientation and sex Considerations here cross cut with sexual orientation and sex Considerations here cross cut with sexual orientation and sex Race Evidence suggest that this is one of groups most negatively impacted since the start of austerity Equality Monitoring was used to make sure that representation was proportionate. There was good representation across ethnicity across the majority groups with the exception of Polish Response to the online survey was proportionate, and will allow comparisons
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Ethnicity Religion and Belief Considerations here often cross cut with 'race', however we must be careful to consider the whole range of beliefs Equality Monitoring was used to make sure that representaion was proportionate Response to the online survey was proportionate, and will allow comparisons Sexual Orientation National evidence suggests that LGB people are more likely to be excluded from many community processes Equality Monitoring was used to make sure that representation was proportionate, with over 4.8% identifying as LGB Response to the online survey was proportionate, and will allow comparisons Actions Policy has a negative impact on an equality group,but is still to be implemented, please provide justification for this. Will the impact of the policy be monitored and reported on an ongoing bases? Q7 What is you recommendation for this policy? Please provide a meaningful summary of how you have reached the recommendation EIA 768: Consultation on Council spending is highly relevant to equalities. The approach was adopted in line with our Equality Outcome for 2021-25 of increasing the participation of under represented groups. In terms of online survey we asked demographic questions to allow comparison between respondent profiles and overall population of West Dunbartonshire, which are noted in section 2 of the Equality impact Assessment. Focus groups are also being held to gather views, including with equality groups. Decision makers must give due regard to equality considerations as part of their deliberations, and it is for them to decide on weight given to equality decisions in balance with others. The consultation provides part of the relevant evidence to help decision makers, for example by providing evidence of any variations between groups on their opinions.