EqIA for activeNewham Services to London Borough of Newham
Assessing impact on equality is a process which develops along with your policy. You must complete the table below to ensure that the EqIA process can be tracked.
Version Number 1
Date Last Reviewed: 13/11/12
Approved by: Alan Skewis
Date Approved: 13/11/12
Next Review Date: On completion of legal documentation
Saved as: EqIA Nov 2012
1. Management of the EqIA
a. Document owner (name and post), people involved, timescales, etc.
The EQIA is being managed by the LBN Commissioning team. It is being prepared in tandem with the final agreements with activeNewham being signed, and final approvals by the Trust Board and LBN Cabinet.
2. Identification of policy aims, objectives and purpose
The EQIA relates to the future delivery of leisure and cultural services. These services are to be managed by activeNewham. There scope includes replacement of the current GLL contract for operation of leisure centres, as well as a number of currently directly provided LBN services. 3. Scope / focus of the EqIA
Consider how relevant the policy is to equality and which group(s) it is likely to affect most. This is where you make a judgement on where to concentrate your efforts and lay the ground for a proportionate approach.
a. Could it affect some groups differently? b. Could it advance equality?
c. Could it foster good relations?
Protected Characteristic Assessment of relevance High, Medium, Low
If Low you must provide evidence.
Age High
Disability High
Transgender High
Pregnancy and maternity Medium
Race High
Religion / belief Medium
Sexual orientation High
Sex High
The services have a significant ability to advance equality in all areas, and these are reflected in the specification and the performance measures that activeNewham will be required to work to.
4. Relevant data, research and consultation a. Provide sources of data you have used
b. Set context of findings e.g. figures for LBN demographics, service user statistics c. Provide details of any additional consultation or evidence gathering needed.
Consultation plans must provide enough time and information for intelligent consideration and response by those consulted. Analysis of findings by protected group must be conscientiously considered by decision makers and should inform mitigations or enhancements to the policy.
Current leisure services provide a range of activity to residents. This include c.1.4m visits to Leisure Centres, services to 400 clubs, Newham Volunteers and users of Newham’s parks. There is
monitoring of all the current provision on all measures of equality, and has been extensive research on the achievement of equality measures across the services. The current picture is one where the services provided are reflective of the Borough’s population, with some targeted work in existence to address under representation.
These measures will, in large part transfer to the monitoring of the Trust. The specification includes a requirement for data to be collected on all the equality measures above. Also, the legal documents require that the trust retains its commitment to programmed time targeted at certain groups (e.g. women only sessions).
The contract also includes the scope to introduce “payment by result” mechanisms to reward delivery of the Council’s equality objectives, including tackling areas where there is under representation. There are also measures in the contract to require action or in the extreme circumstances terminate the contract if the trust fails to meet equality targets.
5. Assessment of Impact and outcomes
You will need evidence to support the assessment of impact for your EqIA to be robust. You do not have to think of every possible way a policy or service might conceivably impact on a protected group. You do need to make an informed decision on likely impacts positive or negative for each protected group to which you have decided the policy is relevant in section 3. The amount of evidence and the
breadth of consideration should directly relate to the likely severity of the impact. For example a policy to change the criteria for eligibility to adult social care services could potentially have a severe impact on disabled people and will require substantial evidence including consultation with disabled people and thorough consideration of mitigations including the feasibility of alternative policies. The transfer does not initially include significant changes to services, and therefore the immediate impacts are limited. Although not part of the transfer to activeNewham the closure of Atherton Leisure Centre co-incides with the start of activeNewham delivery so is included in the assessment below.
Protected characteristics Issues taken from evidence Judgement (positive / negative) Recommendations
Change from GLL to activeNewham management of leisure centres
activeNewham a more locally based deliverer, but with less experience in leisure centres
Positive, as stronger connection to LBN equality priorities
Monitor to ensure activeNewham retains strong local feel and connection to LBN equality standards
Closure of Atherton Leisure Centre for redevelopment
Displacement of users to other centres, some temporary loss of local amenity
Negative in short term, but long term impact is positive as new Atherton LC will offer best provision
Monitor displacement impacts and ensure aN offer access to 3 leisure centres for displaced users
Issues identified and groups affected Actions to be taken Timescales of actions Who is responsible for delivery Intended outcomes Performance measures Reference to service or other plans Low income groups Specific targets for incentivising through “payment by results” Sept 2013 AN Higher (representative) % of lower income groups using leisure centres Use of Leisure Centres by low Income groups Disability Users Full disability sport and activity plan Sept 2013 AN Higher (representative) % of disabled users accessing sport and activity Use of Leisure Centres by disabled users 6. Formal agreement a. Divisional Director
b. Head of Strategy & Partnerships
The formal agreement to the EqIA will follow the finalisation of the legal documents. 7. Publication of results
a. Date EqIA published on Council website (full or summary version)
8. Monitoring and review
a. Set dates and mechanism for monitoring and reviewing
The EqIA will be monitored as part of the Commissioning performance monitoring of activeNewham. As the legal documents include a review of scope, budget and role of activeNewham by September 2013, there will be a formal review of the EqIA as an integral part of the review.
Client monitoring arrangements allow for monthly monitoring of equalities information.
The arrangements with active Newham include a review of service provision, targets and outcomes by September 2013. Equalitie issues will be integrated into this review, and a revised EQIA will be produced following the review.
