Equality Impact Assessment
Directorate:
Community Safety and Protection
Service:
Community Safety
Name of Officer/s completing assessment:
Emergency Management
Date of Assessment:
5 August 2011 (reviewed May 2015 – confirmed still
valid)
Name of service/function or policy being assessed:
Cornwall Council Emergency and Business Continuity
Management Policy
1.
What are the aims, objectives, outcomes, purpose of the policy, service change, function that you are assessing?Aim
The aim of this policy is to ensure that Cornwall Council maintains arrangements for uninterrupted delivery, as far as is reasonably practicable, of its critical services as well as expanding and strengthening its ability to respond to emergencies in line with the duties under the Civil Contingencies Act and associated non-statutory guidance.
Objectives
The objectives of this policy are to:
a. Ensure Cornwall Council is able and prepared to lead the multi-agency response to and recovery from an emergency.
the culture of the council.
c. Ensure the public are warned and informed, as far as is reasonable practicable, of significant risks to the community.
d. Ensure emergency and business continuity management are embedded in corporate management, strategic planning and decision-making.
2.
Who implements or delivers the policy, service or function? State if this is undertaken by more than one team, service, and department including any external partners.Cornwall Council delivers this policy – primarily through Emergency Management, Duty Directors, Emergency and Business Continuity Champions, other service
representatives of the Emergency and Business Continuity Planning Group, business continuity service leads and plan owners.
3. Who will be affected by this proposal? For example who are the external/internal customers, communities, partners, stakeholders, the workforce etc.
All people who live, work in and visit Cornwall who might feel the impact of emergencies and the delivery of Council services are affected by the policy as well as those staff who write business continuity plans, council
representatives on the Emergency and Business Continuity Planning Group, Cornwall Council Extended Leadership Team.
This policy does not discriminate against or identify with any specific groups.
4.
What are the likely positive or negative impacts for the group/s identified in (3) above? What particular groups are affected more than others and why?
Positive impacts: this is an inclusive policy and its vision includes ensuring that Cornwall Council responds
effectively to emergencies and continues to provide its most important services to the people who live, work in and visit Cornwall.
Negative impacts: This ensures that formal business continuity arrangements, in accordance with the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (CCA), are in place for ‘critical’ council services. These services are indicated in the Cornwall Council Critical Services list. This means that in emergency situations (as defined in the CCA) the council must ensure that its critical services are maintained. Therefore some services, which although important, might be temporarily suspended.
5.
Have the impacts indentified in (4) above been assessed using up to date and reliable evidence and data? Do you need to engage or consult with any identified group/s? If in doubt ask the Community Intelligence Team for guidance.
Not applicable.
6.
Are any of these identified groups considered to be vulnerable? If so have you consulted with or plan to consult with any relevant representative organisation. For example if the impact is likely to affect people with a disability have you consulted with Disability Cornwall?The policy does not make any of the groups in Section 3 vulnerable. However, by implementing the measures in this policy, Cornwall Council will ensure that those who become vulnerable as a result of an emergency, are provided with appropriate council services and support.
7.
What plans do you have in place, or are developing, that will mitigate the likely identified negative impacts? For example what plans, if any, will be put in place to reduce the impact?Cornwall Council will endeavour to deliver all services as usual. However, in a crisis the Cornwall Council
Emergency and Business Continuity Plan will be invoked.
8.
Do you have plans in place to monitor the impact ofthe proposals once they have been implemented? The full impact of the decision may only be known after the proposals have been implemented.
Yes. This policy is reviewed annually. The Emergency and Business Continuity Planning Group will review the Critical Services List regularly.
Debriefs (internal within services, internal within the Council and multi-agency) are held following emergencies and emergency scenario exercises. Required
improvements and good practice are identified through the feedback given at these debriefs and
recommendations and actions are developed. If any issues concerning community engagement or inequalities are raised, they are addressed during the revision of plans and policies involved.
Summary of your proposals (Copy and paste into any report for CLT, Cabinet and Council)
What are the key impacts – both negative and positive
What course of action are you advising as a result of this EIA
Are there any particular groups affected more than others
1.
Positive: This policy does not specifically impact on any of the identified groups in Section 3.
2.
Negative: The policy does not enforce that non-critical services have business continuity plans in
place.
3.
The policy is about emergencies and not ‘business as usual’.
4.
Adherence to this policy ensures that, as far as is reasonably practicable, the Council will continue to
deliver its Critical Services and respond effectively to emergencies.
DEAG Sign - Off
Name: Kim Mundy
Date: 12
thOctober 2011
Comments/Action Required:
Ensure that the Critical Services list is signed off annually by both Corporate Leadership Team at
the same time as the Cornwall Council Emergency and Business Continuity Management Policy
and the Cornwall Council Emergency Management and Business Continuity Plan.
(For Corporate E & D use only) Published date:
