Effective community engagement in local development planning guidance: impact assessments
These impact assessments have informed the preparation the effective community engagement in local development planning consultation draft guidance. The assessments are being made available for comment in advance of their finalisation and finalisation of the guidance.
Annex C - Initial assessment of impacts on protected characteristics forming Stage 3 of the Equalities Impact Assessment
Characteristic Age - Do you think that the policy impacts on people because of their age?
Impact: Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
Positive
Reasons for your decision
The aim is to have increased engagement for all sectors of society in the Scottish planning system. There is evidence that people wish to engage and shape the places that they stay.
However, evidence would also suggest that, particularly for children and young people, their voices may not be captured and reflected in decision making. It is recognised that to create this positive impact, people’s views must be gathered and reflected upon irrespective of their age.
A negative impact could be caused should the views of people not be sought and reflected in the local development plan.
Impact: Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive
Reasons for your decision
We will not be prescriptive about the use of specific consultation methods and will suggest that the method chosen is appropriate to the particular circumstances. This acknowledges that older people, amongst others, are slightly less likely to use online technologies whereas an online approach may work better with younger people.
Impact: Promoting good relations among and between different age groups
Positive
Reasons for your decision
The guidance will encourage planning authorities to reflect wider community views in their local development plans including those of older people plus children and young people.
Characteristic Disability - Do you think that the policy impacts disabled people?
Impact: Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
Positive
Reasons for your decision
The aim is to have increased engagement for all sectors of society in the Scottish planning system. There is evidence that people wish to engage and shape the places that they stay.
However, it is recognised that to create the positive impact, the barriers which disabled people encounter should be challenged, so that disabled people’s views are gathered and reflected upon.
Impact: Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive
Reasons for your decision
As above. Local development plans offer an opportunity for disabled people’s aspirations for a place to be captured and reflected. We will not be prescriptive about the use of specific consultation methods and will suggest that the method chosen is appropriate to the particular circumstances. This acknowledges that disabled people, amongst others, are less likely to use online technologies.
Impact: Promoting good relations among and between disabled and non-disabled people
Positive
Reasons for your decision
The guidance will encourage planning authorities to reflect wider community views in their local development plans including those of disabled people.
Characteristic Sex - Do you think that the policy impacts on men and women in different ways?
Impact: Eliminating unlawful discrimination
Positive
Reasons for your decision
Evidence from Hard to Reach, or Easy to Ignore[60] would suggest that women can find engagement with planning more challenging. The aim is to have increased engagement for all sectors of society in the Scottish planning system. There is evidence that people wish to engage and shape the places that they stay.
However, it is recognised that for the potential positive impact to be fulfilled, there should be a consideration of how people use public places and spaces differently, taking note of how gender may impact this.
Impact: Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive
Reasons for your decision
As above.
Impact: Promoting good relations between men and women
Positive
Reasons for your decision
The guidance will encourage planning authorities to reflect wider community views in their local development plans including those of women and men where they may differ.
Characteristic Pregnancy and Maternity - Do you think that the policy impacts on women because of pregnancy and maternity?
Impact: Eliminating unlawful discrimination
None
Reasons for your decision
No relevant information available.
Impact: Advancing equality of opportunity
None
Reasons for your decision
No relevant information available.
Impact: Promoting good relations
None
Reasons for your decision
No relevant information available.
Characteristic Gender Reassignment - Do you think your policy impacts on transsexual people?
Impact: Eliminating unlawful discrimination
None
Reasons for your decision
No relevant information available.
Impact: Advancing equality of opportunity
None
Reasons for your decision
No relevant information available.
Impact: Promoting good relations
None
Reasons for your decision
No relevant information available.
Characteristic Sexual Orientation - Do you think that the policy impacts on people because of their sexual orientation?
Impact: Eliminating unlawful discrimination
None
Reasons for your decision
No relevant information available.
Impact: Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive
Reasons for your decision
We will not be prescriptive about the use of specific consultation methods and will suggest that the method chosen is appropriate to the particular circumstances.
Impact: Promoting good relations
None
Reasons for your decision
No relevant information available.
Characteristic Race - Do you think the policy impacts on people on the grounds of their race?
Impact: Eliminating unlawful discrimination
Positive
Reasons for your decision
The aim is to have increased engagement for all sectors of society in the Scottish planning system. There is evidence that people wish to engage and shape the places that they stay.
However, it is recognised that to create the positive impact, the potential barriers, some of which are set out in the above evidence, should be challenged, so that people’s views are gathered and reflected upon.
Impact: Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive
Reasons for your decision
We will not be prescriptive about the use of specific consultation methods and will suggest that the method chosen is appropriate to the particular circumstances.
Impact: Promoting good race relations
Positive
Reasons for your decision
The guidance will encourage planning authorities to reflect wider community views in their local development plans.
Characteristic Religion or Belief - Do you think the policy impacts on people because of their religion or belief?
Impact: Eliminating unlawful discrimination
Positive
Reasons for your decision
Evidence from the work to support Democracy Matters70 would suggest that people may wish to engage in planning though they are not always able to do so. The barriers may be language but also of being detached from the wider community and formal decision-making organisations and forums. However, it is recognised that to create the positive impact, the potential barriers, some of which are set out in the above evidence, should be challenged, so that people’s views are gathered and reflected upon.
Impact: Advancing equality of opportunity
Positive
Reasons for your decision
As above.
Impact: Promoting good relations
Positive
Reasons for your decision
The guidance will encourage planning authorities to reflect wider community views in their local development plans.
Characteristic Marriage and Civil Partnership - Do you think the policy impacts on people because of their marriage or civil partnership?
Impact: Eliminating unlawful discrimination
Not assessed. In respect of this protected characteristic, a body subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty (which includes Scottish Government) only needs to comply with the first need of the duty (to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010) and only in relation to work. This is because the parts of the Act covering services and public functions, premises, education etc. do not apply to that protected characteristic. Equality impact assessment within the Scottish Government does not require assessment against the protected characteristic of Marriage and Civil Partnership unless the policy or practice relates to work, for example human resources policies and practices.
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