Equality and diversity

The Council carries out Equality Impact Assessments (EIA's) not only to meet its legal obligations but to also ensure that its services are accessible to all and do not impact on any particular group.
 
An impact is defined as "an intentional or unintentional lasting consequence or significant change in peoples lives, brought about by a policy action or series of actions."
 
EIA's can anticipate the equality consequences of particular policy/procedure/service initiatives and ensure that as far as possible, any negative consequence for a particular group or sector of the community are eliminated, minimised or counterbalanced by other measures.
 
The Council has a programme in place to complete EIA's.  This is monitored via the Council's Equality Champions Group.
 
Any policy, procedure or service that the Council has in place with a relevance to equality will have had or will have an EIA carried out on it.