Based upon any data you have considered, or the results of consultation or research, use the spaces below to demonstrate you have analysed how the service or policy: Meets any particular needs of equalities groups or helps promote equality in some way. Could have a negative or adverse impact for any of the equalities groups Examples of actual or potential negative or adverse Examples of what the service has done to impact and what steps have been or could be taken promote equality to address this All people The Council has a well-developed Labour Welfare Reform will affect many people in B&NES: affected market action plan includes ‘wordlessness irrespective of a job brokering programme. Child Benefit (2,740) reductions for high earners support’ through protected characteristics A food bank has been set up in Bath and we Incapacity benefit changes becomes ESA (4,900 to be – are actively exploring food banks in outlying re-assessed at present 34% found fit to work) – areas of North East Somerset Council tax support reduces for all except the most We are carrying out a review of Customer vulnerable (5,676 will see a reduction of which 350 will Access with reference to the Universal Credit receive no benefit) pilot being run in this area and working closely with government agencies and third sector Social fund (crisis loans etc.) budget delegated to local groups. authority A programme of awareness raising is Social Housing under-occupancy (1,100 currently underway regarding the Council tax support estimated, will increase) review and Housing Benefit. Tax credit eligibility criteria changes unknown volume, – Revenues and benefits team are carrying out currently 10,400 claimants of working and child tax research into debt management which will credits) include the profiling of ‘non payers.’ Disability Living Allowance Re-assessed (6,555 The Council continues to commission advice residents currently claiming) services including the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and South Wansdyke Advice Network. Benefits Cap (up to 70 households)
Based upon any data you have considered, or the results of consultation or research, use the spaces below to demonstrate you have analysed how the service or policy: Meets any particular needs of equalities groups or helps promote equality in some way. Could have a negative or adverse impact for any of the equalities groups Examples of what the service has done to promote equality Examples of actual or potential negative or adverse impact and what steps have been or could be taken to address this All people affected irrespective of protected characteristics The Council has a well-developed Labour market action plan includes ‘wordlessness support’ through a job brokering programme. A food bank has been set up in Bath and we are actively exploring food banks in outlying areas of North East Somerset We are carrying out a review of Customer Access with reference to the Universal Credit pilot being run in this area and working closely with government agencies and third sector groups. A programme of awareness raising is underway regarding the Council tax support review and Housing Benefit. Revenues and benefits team are carrying out research into debt management which will include the profiling of ‘non payers.’ The Council continues to commission advice services including the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and South Wansdyke Advice Network. Welfare Reform will affect many people in B&NES: Child Benefit (2,740) reductions for high earners Incapacity benefit changes – becomes ESA (4,900 to be re-assessed – at present 34% found fit to work) Council tax support reduces for all except the most vulnerable (5,676 will see a reduction of which 350 will receive no benefit) Social fund (crisis loans etc.) budget delegated to local authority Social Housing under-occupancy (1,100 currently estimated, will increase) Tax credit eligibility criteria changes – unknown volume, currently 10,400 claimants of working and child tax credits) Disability Living Allowance Re-assessed (6,555 residents currently claiming) Benefits Cap (up to 70 households)
equality_impact_assessment_for_lcts_final_2.docx