HLL-EIA-2013-013

Equality Impact Assessment Template

Compulsory for all proposals

Throughout this document we use the word ‘proposal’ to refer to what we are assessing. In this context, the term includes the different things that we do, including strategies, functions, procedures, practices, policies, initiatives and projects.

Wrexham County Borough Council has developed this template with support from the Equality and Human Rights Commission template and the Welsh Local Government Association.

This template covers all equality assessment needs from initial screening to a full Impact Assessment, by following the 6 steps:

1. Screening the equality needs of the policy2. Data collection and evidence3. Involvement and consultation 4. Assessing impact and strengthening the policy5. Procurement and partnerships6. Monitoring, evaluating and reviewing

The aim of an equality impact assessment (EIA) is to ensure that equality issues have been consciously considered throughout the decision making processes of the work we do.

The EIA highlights any areas of risk and maximises the benefits of proposals in terms of equality. It therefore helps to ensure we have considered everyone affected by the proposal. It also helps us to meet our requirements under the general equality duties.

There is a requirement under Human Rights legislation for Local Authorities to consider Human Rights in developing proposals. Our approach to EIAs will help us to strengthen our work to promote equality. It will also help to identify and address any potential discriminatory effects before introducing something new or changing way we work and reduce the risk of potential legal challenges.

When carrying out an EIA you should consider both the negative and positive consequences of your proposals. If a project is designed for a specific group, you also need to think about what potential effects it could have on other areas of equality.

Department Lifelong Learning

HLL-EIA-2013-013

Responsible Officer John Davies

e-mail address john.davies@wrexham.gov.uk

Full job title Head of Lifelong Learning

Rationale:

Why is this proposal being considered?

What need is being addressed?

To meet the corporate target for Reshaping Services.

To achieve significant savings.

Aim:

What is the intended outcome of the proposal?

The schools’ peripatetic music service will be self-financing.

The LA will reduce funding to schools over two years.

How:

How will the policy be delivered, by whom and by when?

The HLL and Heads of Finance will conduct consultation with schools during Autumn term, aligned with the corporate budget setting process.

Who:

Who are the people likely to be affected by this proposal?

How have you consulted with the people who are likely to be affected?

Schools, staff, pupils, parents, local bands and orchestras.

Consultation has been undertaken via the Schools Forum and the Equalities Reshaping Services Support Group.

Measures:

How will you know you have achieved your aims?

What are your measures / indicators of success?

Savings target achieved.

Schools continue to deliver a service to pupils.

Identify any other policy or decision [internal or external] that may affect your proposal e.g Welfare Reforms

WG stance with regard to protection of delegated schools’ budgets

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Screening Tool

As part of our annual Equality Return we have to evidence what we have actively done to support people with Protected Characteristics within our services, and also evidence where we may have a negative impact what we are doing to reduce the impact.Please place a ‘+’ or ‘-‘symbol in every box to indicate whether your proposal with have a positive or negative affect any of the protected characteristics. If there is no impact at all place ‘n/a’. If there is a positive and negative effect indicate both:

Carers AgeCYP-18

AgeAdults18+

Disability Gender / Sex

Pregnancy and Maternity

Race/ Ethnicity

Religion or Belief

Sexual Orientation

Marriage and Civil Partnership

Gender Reassignment

Q1Would this proposal significantly affect how functions are delivered to any of these groups?

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Q2Would this discriminate any of these groups?

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Q3Would this proposal advance the equality of opportunity for these groups?

N/A - N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Q4Would this promote

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

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good relations between these groups and the wider community?

Where you have identified a positive impact (+) above, please describe this:

Where you have identified no impact (n/a) above, please describe this:

The impact of this proposal lies ultimately within the control of individual schools and their governing bodies. Universal provision for all children and young people will continue to be received via music lessons as part of the

National Curriculum.

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If you have indicated a possible negative effect on any Protected Characteristic then please complete the relevant sections of the Matrix below. You need to consider:

What is the likely scale of the impact and how this can be reduced?

Who are the people who are likely to be affected by this proposal?

Equality Impact Assessment

List what information have you used to identify these issues e.g. consultation, stakeholder involvement, reports, data …

Based on the information you have gathered give a summary of key issues that have been identified.

How will we mitigate these issues to improve the service?

Who is responsible officer for delivering the mitigation?

Which other departments will you work with to achieve this?

By when

Service Plan Reference

Carers

Age CYP -18 Previous discussions with schools about potential budget reductions.Consultation with the Schools Forum.Consultation with the WCBC Equalities Reshaping Services

If schools decide to pass on some of the costs of the service to parents, this could disadvantage pupils from poorer families. Children from low income

The budget reductions are to be phased in over the next 2 financial years.An audit of the current provision identified that only 10% of

Schools Finance April 2014

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List what information have you used to identify these issues e.g. consultation, stakeholder involvement, reports, data …

Based on the information you have gathered give a summary of key issues that have been identified.

How will we mitigate these issues to improve the service?

Who is responsible officer for delivering the mitigation?

Which other departments will you work with to achieve this?

By when

Service Plan Reference

Support Group. families are less likely to be able to afford to take up / continue with music lessons.

Children have reduced access to specialist music teaching

Young people – can/cannot continue lessons in High School

Local bands and orchestras may have difficulty recruiting new members

Potential negative impact on Welsh culture e.g. level of engagement in the Eisteddfod and Urdd

pupils currently accessing the service are entitled to Free School Meals.Changes are being made to service delivery arrangements in order to reduce the amount of additional funding required from schools to maintain current service levels.Consideration is being given to establishing a Grant / Bursary scheme for eligible families.Initiate a grant scheme for

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List what information have you used to identify these issues e.g. consultation, stakeholder involvement, reports, data …

Based on the information you have gathered give a summary of key issues that have been identified.

How will we mitigate these issues to improve the service?

Who is responsible officer for delivering the mitigation?

Which other departments will you work with to achieve this?

By when

Service Plan Reference

Parents will have reduced time and money if they have to pay for lessons and transport their children to venues other than schools

Children with particular aptitudes may miss out on opportunities to learn music – this could impact on their confidence, life skill development e.g. team working, and level of community engagement

Loss of employment for music teachers

lessons:Maximum contribution per family / schoolInstruments provided on a loan schemeFree school meals not useful as a formula for agreeing grant funding – applications to be judged on their individual meritPhase reduction in funding over 2 yearsTarget council funding to low income and disadvantaged children [not

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List what information have you used to identify these issues e.g. consultation, stakeholder involvement, reports, data …

Based on the information you have gathered give a summary of key issues that have been identified.

How will we mitigate these issues to improve the service?

Who is responsible officer for delivering the mitigation?

Which other departments will you work with to achieve this?

By when

Service Plan Reference

necessarily based on free school meals data]Free lessons provided by bands, orchestras and choirsYouth entrepreneurship scheme – older pupils teach younger onesSchools value the service so will seek to retain itFundraisingFocus on universal provision and encourage recruitment of

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List what information have you used to identify these issues e.g. consultation, stakeholder involvement, reports, data …

Based on the information you have gathered give a summary of key issues that have been identified.

How will we mitigate these issues to improve the service?

Who is responsible officer for delivering the mitigation?

Which other departments will you work with to achieve this?

By when

Service Plan Reference

staff with music skillsAffordability of the Vic – band practiceDifferent options for parental contributionsPupil deprivation grant – targeted at disadvantaged children and young peopleEncourage schools to work together:Pooled budgets, maximise classes, efficiencies, sequence of teachers moving round the

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List what information have you used to identify these issues e.g. consultation, stakeholder involvement, reports, data …

Based on the information you have gathered give a summary of key issues that have been identified.

How will we mitigate these issues to improve the service?

Who is responsible officer for delivering the mitigation?

Which other departments will you work with to achieve this?

By when

Service Plan Reference

County Borough, repairs contractsAlternate group and individual sessionsCommunities First areas have additional funding for pupils

Age Adult +18

Disability

Gender / SexPregnancy and MaternityRace/ Ethnicity

Religion or Belief

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List what information have you used to identify these issues e.g. consultation, stakeholder involvement, reports, data …

Based on the information you have gathered give a summary of key issues that have been identified.

How will we mitigate these issues to improve the service?

Who is responsible officer for delivering the mitigation?

Which other departments will you work with to achieve this?

By when

Service Plan Reference

Sexual Orientation

Marriage and Civil PartnershipGender Reassignment

Please complete this text box within 12 months of implementation of the proposal:

Was any mitigation applied or was the proposal delivered as originally planned?

Did the proposal deliver as planned or were there other results?

Were the impacts confined to the target group, or were other unanticipated groups affected and how?

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