Appendix 6. Equality Analysis

What is the name of your policy, project or report?

Fuel Poverty Strategy 2020-2025

Month / Year

December 2019

Name and job title of lead officer:

Nat Slade, Group Head of Technical Services

Briefly describe your policy, project or report.

The current trend is for energy usage to rise, not fall, so tackling this trend is a challenge which the attached strategy aims to address. Arun District Council is investing in the future and putting energy efficiency and support for those in fuel poverty at the heart of its decisions. This is supported by the recently adopted council Strategy targets and one of which is Environment and Climate Change, this updated strategy will help support Arun’s response to the environment and climate and emergency.

The primary aims of the strategy are:

  • To contribute towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions in buildings to help meet the Government target of reaching ‘net zero’ by 2050.
  • To encourage and support the insulation of any remaining wall cavities and lofts in the district.
  • To encourage and support the uptake of solid wall insulation in the district.
  • To encourage and support the uptake of domestic renewable energy systems.
  • To further improve the energy efficiency of council’s own housing stock.
  • To target areas know to contain Hard To Treat (HTT).
  • To work towards reducing the number of people living in fuel poverty across West Sussex using both practical and behavioural measures.
  • To inform and enforce the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards in the domestic and private rental sector.
  • To work towards the council’s strategic target of preparing Arun’s response to the Environment and Climate Emergency.

The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination, both in the workplace and in wider society. It covers nine specific groups of people who share one or more of these protected characteristics: age; disability; gender; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; and sexual orientation.

As a local authority Arun District Council (and any other organisation that is carrying out a public function on our behalf) is further bound by the Public Sector Equality Duty. This means that we have to consider all individuals in their day-to-day work - in shaping policy, in delivering services and in relation to our own employees.

The Duty has three aims. It requires public bodies to have due regard to the need to:

  • eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act.
  • advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it - this means removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by people

due to their protected characteristic and encouraging people with protected characteristics to participate in public life or in other activities where their participation is low.

  • foster good relation between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it - this involves tackling prejudice and promoting understanding.

Having due regard means consciously thinking about the three aims of the Equality Duty as part of the process of decision-making. This means that consideration of equality issues must influence the decisions reached by public bodies - such as in how they act as employers; how they develop,

evaluate and review policy; how they design, deliver and evaluate services, and how they commission and procure from others.

The Equality Duty does not impose a legal requirement to conduct an Equality Impact Assessment. Compliance with the Duty involves consciously thinking about the three aims as part of the process of decision-making. Doing this will entail understanding the potential effect of the organisation’s activities on different people. Keeping a simple record of how decisions were reached will help public bodies show how they considered the Duty. Producing an Equality Impact Assessment after a decision has been reached will not achieve compliance with the Equality Duty.

Analysis

Consider what it is that you are trying to achieve and write a brief equality analysis in the box overleaf. You should mention each of the nine protected groups, plus any other (e.g. families, people on low incomes, people in remote areas, etc.) who may be affected. The following questions should help shape your thought process and subsequent decision making.

  • Who will benefit most from this? Will anyone be treated more favourably as a result?
  • Is there any evidence to suggest that your action or policy could have an adverse impact on some groups of people and specifically those with a protected characteristic? Does it present barriers or problems for any groups or communities?
  • Is there any data, research or other evidence available to help or support your decisions?
  • Have you considered any existing examples of good practice?
  • How do you intend to deal with any adverse impact, or lessen it?
  • Who else will you need to be working with to do this e.g. partners, contractor etc and what is their approach? How will this help?

The strategy is an update and based on a number of years’ experience in delivering energy efficiency and fuel poverty initiatives that aim to assist a range of people and properties as well as helping those more vulnerable and in need.

The strategy incorporates all the specific groups - age; disability; gender; gender assignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; and sexual orientation. Funding and grants that are obtained can be means tested so ensures that funding is directed as priority to those on low income, vulnerable and most in need.

The strategy contains an action plan which is reviewed annually to ensure the aims are being met.