Guidance on engaging communities in decisions relating to land: consultation

Chapter 4: Impact Assessment

Equality

26. The Scottish Government is committed to promoting equality and removing or minimising disadvantage which may be experienced by different groups of people. We have a legal duty to consider the impact of policies on people who may be differently affected in relation to the "protected characteristics" under the Equality Act 2010. ^[8] The protected characteristics are age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Question 15: Please tell us about any potential impacts, either positive or negative, that you consider the proposals in this consultation may have on people who may be differently affected in relation to the protected characteristics.

Business and regulation

27. The Guidance on engaging communities on decisions relating to land is advisory, and will not directly impose new regulatory burdens on businesses, charities or the voluntary sector.

Question 16: Please tell us about any potential impacts, either positive or negative, costs and burdens that you think may arise as a result of the proposals within this consultation.

Environmental

28. The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 ^[9] ensures those public plans that are likely to have a significant impact on the environment are assessed and measures to prevent or reduce adverse impacts are sought, where possible, prior to implementation of the plan in question.

Question 17: Please tell us about any potential environmental impacts, either positive or negative, that you consider any of the proposals in this consultation may have.

Privacy

29. The Scottish Government is mindful that proposals which require people to share information are likely to have impacts in respect of privacy. The Guidance on engaging communities on decisions relating to land is voluntary, and will not directly require any individual or organisation to disclose personal or commercially sensitive information if they are not content to do so.

Question 18: Please tell us about any potential impacts on privacy, either positive or negative, that you consider may arise as a result of the Guidance. Please be as specific as possible.