Estates

Equality Impact Assessment: Summary Report

Date of Assessment: 25th June 2008

Completing Officer's Title/ Position: Forward Planning & Performance Manager

Service, policy, procedure, or practice that was Impact Assessed:

Northumberland National Park Authority (NNPA) Annual Corporate Plan – The Annual Corporate Plan sets out the key objectives, priorities and actions necessary to deliver the NNPA vision for Northumberland National Park and to deliver the Authority’s strategic objectives over the next year. It also explains how the Authority will employ financial and other resources and provides important information on the Authority’s performance

The Corporate Plan is aimed at those who want to obtain an overview of what the Authority has achieved in the past year and understand what the Authority is aiming to achieve in the year ahead. It also provides guidance for the organisation’s strategic and middle managers and Members of the National Park Authority, along with Defra and other partners, all of whom help to deliver the Authority’s objectives. It therefore provides the foundation for Directorate Service Plans and individual forward work plans which explain in more detail what we will do to deliver our priorities.

Summary of findings:

• Need to embed the Equality Impact Assessment process in the review of the NNPA Strategic Priorities;
• Corporate Plan should monitor the timetable for the preparation of Equality Impact Assessments and the level of the Equality Scheme attained;
• Individual work areas identified in the Corporate Plan should undergo an Equality Impact Assessment and this timetable should be reviewed to reflect any changes in the strategic priorities;
• There is a need to Equality Impact Assess the NNPA strategic decision making process;
• Continue to produce an annual update summary of the Corporate Plan to residents and businesses setting out the work of the NNPA during the previous financial year and what is proposed for the next; and

Set up a NNP Consultative Forum to allow residents, businesses and the wider community to input to the priorities for the Corporate Plan.

Summary of Recommendations and Key Points of Action Plan:

Need for the following:

• Continue to include a clear policy statement for equality in the Corporate Plan to set direction;
• Need to embed the Equality Impact Assessment process in the review of the NNPA Strategic Priorities;
• Corporate Plan should monitor the timetable for the preparation of Equality Impact Assessments and the level of the Equality Scheme attained;
• Individual work areas identified in the Corporate Plan should undergo an Equality Impact Assessment;
• There is a need to Equality Impact Assess the NNPA strategic decision making process;
• Continue to produce an annual update summary of the Corporate Plan to residents and businesses setting out the work of the NNPA during the previous financial year and what is proposed for the next; and
• Set up a NNP Consultative Forum to allow residents, businesses and the wider community to input to the priorities for the Corporate Plan.

Groups that this policy will impact upon: All

Race - Yes
Gender - Yes
Sexual Orientation - Yes
Age - Yes
Disability - Yes
Religion or Belief - Yes
Other - Yes

Download the Corporate Plan Equality Impact Assessment Improvement Plan (PDF 59kb)

Download the Corporate Plan Equality Impact Assessment (PDF 193kb)