Question

Wokingham Borough Council did not do an Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) for the marketplace regeneration project despite WBC's Public Sector Equality Duty report clearly stating the importance of EqIA's in upholding the Equalities Act 2010.  According to a Senior Officer at the Council, the reason for an EqIA not being required is because the disability workshops and government guidance were deemed adequate.  However, this same officer also stated that some guidance wasn't followed (such as Guidance on the use of tactile paving surfaces) because it's not policy, and there were recommendations from disability groups that were not utilised, such as the importance of distinct colour contrast.  The result is a public space that discriminates against certain users, particularly the visually impaired.  This is not the first time WBC has redeveloped an area and not fully considered the needs of those with disabilities - the Carnival Pool car park is an example of this, as is the fact that California Cross is being consulted on, despite the design being a shared space which central government has asked all local authorities to halt whilst guidelines are updated to take into account the Equalities Act 2010.  The reputation WBC has regarding accessibility for those with disabilities in public spaces such as the Market Place is poor.  Following a formal complaint I made, I have had acknowledgement that mistakes were made regarding the lack of EqIA for the marketplace regeneration. Given the ongoing nature of these problems, are the Council’s failings down to inadequate understanding and performance by Council Officers or a lack of robust scrutiny from the Council’s Scrutiny Committees. Or is it a combination of the two?

Answer

The Borough Council is aware of its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010. In March 2017 the Council’s Executive approved a set of Equality Objectives including a commitment to accessible services and support for vulnerable individuals and groups.

In order to strengthen the Council’s approach, in 2018 updated guidance on the Public Sector Equality Duty and the development of the Equality Impact Assessments was provided for Officers together with a mandatory e-learning programme for all managers. This will result in improved understanding of the Council’s Equality duties and, in turn, more rigorous and effective decision making.

In the meantime the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees continue to hold the Executive to account and seek to understand and promote the views of all the Borough’s residents.

Recent Scrutiny reviews have highlighted the importance of effective communication and consultation and the importance of removing or minimising any disadvantages suffered by residents due to their protected characteristics. The Scrutiny Committees will continue to highlight any issues of concern and monitor progress against the Council’s published Equality Objectives.

Supplementary Question

Will there be a guarantee from the Council that all projects like this are going to have Equality Impact Assessments?

Supplementary Answer

I am going to look to an Officer for clarification but my understanding is that when the rules were passed through the Executive that was part of that possibility. 

Neil Carr responded as follows:

The guidance and the training last year indicated that for significant projects and service changes there would be an Equality Impact Assessment.  So for major projects like this, then, I think the answer is yes.