City of York Council

Equalities Impact Assessment

Who is submitting the proposal?

Directorate:		Customer and Communities
Service Area:		Sport and Active Leisure
Name of the proposal:		Westfield Multi-Use Games Area
Lead officer:		Paul Ramskill
Date assessment completed:		6 April 2022
Names of those who contributed to the assessment:
Name	Job title		Organisation	Area of expertise
Charlie Croft	Assistant Director Customer and Communities		City of York Council	Communities Lead
Donna Allan	Community Sports Development Officer		City of York Council	Sport Provision
Cllr. S. Daubeney	Westfield Ward Councillor		City of York Council	Ward Member
Cllr. A. Waller	Westfield Ward Councillor		City of York Council	Ward Member

Step 1 – Aims and intended outcomes 

1.1	What is the purpose of the proposal? Please explain your proposal in Plain English avoiding acronyms and jargon.
	To undertake an Equality Impact Assessment on the reinstatement of a Multi-Use Games Area within the Westfield Ward.

1.2	Are there any external considerations? (Legislation/government directive/codes of practice etc.)
	None.

1.3

Who are the stakeholders and what are their interests?

York Acorn ARLFC – The site for the MUGA and primary user. Westfield Ward Councillor’s – Responding to the loss of a community facility. Foxwood Residents Association – Representing residents’ interests.  Foxwood Community Centre - Representing residents’ interests. Sport England – Statutory Planning Consultee and betterment of sporting facilities. Rugby Football League (RFL) – Governing Body of Rugby League. North Riding County Football Association (NRCFA) – Governing Body of Football.

1.4	What results/outcomes do we want to achieve and for whom?  This section should explain what outcomes you want to achieve for service users, staff and/or the wider community. Demonstrate how the proposal links to the Council Plan (2019- 2023) and other corporate strategies and plans.
	The outcome of this project is to reinstate a recently removed tarmac multi-use games area with an enhanced facility based in the Westfield Ward that is managed and maintained with appropriate access for children and young people and for use by the community club and partners and for wider community access to increase participation rates.

Step 2 – Gathering the information and feedback 

2.1	What sources of data, evidence and consultation feedback do we have to help us understand the impact of the proposal on equality rights and human rights? Please consider a range of sources, including: consultation exercises, surveys, feedback from staff, stakeholders, participants, research reports, the views of equality groups, as well your own experience of working in this area etc.
Source of data/supporting evidence		Reason for using
Westfield and Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Ward Committee Meeting – 29 November 2021		We consulted local residents at the Westfield and Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Ward Committee Meeting to get the first community feedback on the project.
Community Survey in January and February 2022		We undertook further research and received responses from local residents the Foxwood Residents Association, Foxwood Community Centre and the Youth Justice Service.
Strategic participation rates / playing pitch strategy and Sport England’s Accessible Sports Facilities Formerly known as Access for Disabled People Design Guidance Note Updated 2010		Planning related and evidence documents.

Step 3 – Gaps in data and knowledge

3.1	What are the main gaps in information and understanding of the impact of your proposal?  Please indicate how any gaps will be dealt with.
Gaps in data or knowledge		Action to deal with this
Community consultation as part of the planning process.		We will undertake further community consultation throughout the planning process to get the best facility possible within the available budget.

Step 4 – Analysing the impacts or effects.

4.1	Please consider what the evidence tells you about the likely impact (positive or negative) on people sharing a protected characteristic, i.e. how significant could the impacts be if we did not make any adjustments? Remember the duty is also positive – so please identify where the proposal offers opportunities to promote equality and/or foster good relations.
Equality Groups and Human Rights.		Key Findings/Impacts	Positive (+) Negative (-) Neutral (0)	High (H) Medium (M) Low (L)
Age		The original site was used by children and young people but was also a site for anti-social behaviour. No one organisation managed the site or had control of its operation. By reinstating the site at a community voluntary sports club within the same ward, brings about a positive impact for children and young people, but also the impact that older residents from the ward were involved in when the site had anti-social behaviour associated with it, but still remains within the ward.	+	H
Disability		The development of this site will do the most to increase participation across the area.  Sport England’s Accessible Sports Facilities Formerly known as Access for Disabled People Design Guidance Note Updated 2010 notes that artificial grass surfaces ‘are generally unpopular with players because they are considered to be ‘hard work’’, it should be noted here that not all disabilities are of a physical nature, but this will be considered in the final decision on the type of artificial grass pitch as it will not be as accessible as a tarmac facility.  Consideration regarding opportunities for disabled people has been considered.  The local leisure centre Energise being an accessible community sports facilities supports disability sport activities.	+	M
Gender		As a city our aims are to increase those groups whose participation rates are lowest, and these include women and girls.  York Acorn ARL Club’s equal opportunities policy is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among their staff and the sport, eliminating any form of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation.  Rugby League is an inclusive sport at all levels whether you are interested in playing, coaching, officiating, volunteering or watching.  Working to improve the mental health, wellbeing and working life of their Rugby Players and Communities.	+	M
Gender Reassignment		None.
Marriage and civil partnership		None.
Pregnancy and maternity		The site will be a safe place for physical activity to take place.	+	M
Race		None.
Religion and belief		None.
Sexual orientation		None.
Other Socio-economic groups including:		Could other socio-economic groups be affected e.g. carers, ex-offenders, low incomes?
Carer		Young carers advertised for use. Working with Local Area Co-ordinator’s, Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust about supportive activities for young people.	+	M
Low income groups		The Westfield Ward is one of the most disadvantaged wards in the city.  The number of community clubs within the ward and the number of opportunities for people to increase their physical activity is also lower than other wards.  By reinstating an enhanced multi-use games area that is managed and open at key times for children and young people to use has been taken into consideration and will be a feature of the free session time that will be managed by the York Acorn ARLFC Club.  Impact of Covid, less funds available, reduction in participation rates.  Extracurricular activity and the support of their educational attainment.	+	H
Veterans, Armed Forces Community		None.
Other
Impact on human rights:
List any human rights impacted.		None.

Use the following guidance to inform your responses:

Indicate:

- Where you think that the proposal could have a POSITIVE impact on any of the equality groups like promoting equality and equal opportunities or improving relations within equality groups

- Where you think that the proposal could have a NEGATIVE impact on any of the equality groups, i.e. it could disadvantage them

- Where you think that this proposal has a NEUTRAL effect on any of the equality groups listed below i.e. it has no effect currently on equality groups.

It is important to remember that a proposal may be highly relevant to one aspect of equality and not relevant to another.

High impact (The proposal or process is very equality relevant)	There is significant potential for or evidence of adverse impact The proposal is institution wide or public facing The proposal has consequences for or affects significant numbers of people The proposal has the potential to make a significant contribution to promoting equality and the exercise of human rights.
Medium impact (The proposal or process is somewhat equality relevant)	There is some evidence to suggest potential for or evidence of adverse impact The proposal is institution wide or across services, but mainly internal The proposal has consequences for or affects some people The proposal has the potential to make a contribution to promoting equality and the exercise of human rights
Low impact (The proposal or process might be equality relevant)	There is little evidence to suggest that the proposal could result in adverse impact The proposal operates in a limited way The proposal has consequences for or affects few people The proposal may have the potential to contribute to promoting equality and the exercise of human rights

Step 5 - Mitigating adverse impacts and maximising positive impacts

5.1	Based on your findings, explain ways you plan to mitigate any unlawful prohibited conduct or unwanted adverse impact. Where positive impacts have been identified, what is been done to optimise opportunities to advance equality or foster good relations?
Based on this equality impact assessment we believe it will have a positive impact on the local community.  At present the ward has had a community facility removed and this equality impact assessment has been drawn up to support the reinstatement of an enhanced community sports facility.

Step 6 – Recommendations and conclusions of the assessment

6.1	Having considered the potential or actual impacts you should be in a position to make an informed judgement on what should be done. In all cases, document your reasoning that justifies your decision. There are four main options you can take:
- No major change to the proposal – the EIA demonstrates the proposal is robust.  There is no                         potential for unlawful discrimination or adverse impact and you have taken all opportunities to    advance equality and foster good relations, subject to continuing monitor and review.
- Adjust the proposal – the EIA identifies potential problems or missed opportunities. This involves taking steps to remove any barriers, to better advance quality or to foster good relations. - Continue with the proposal (despite the potential for adverse impact) – you should clearly set out the justifications for doing this and how you believe the decision is compatible with our obligations under the duty - Stop and remove the proposal – if there are adverse effects that are not justified and cannot be mitigated, you should consider stopping the proposal altogether. If a proposal leads to unlawful discrimination, it should be removed or changed. Important: If there are any adverse impacts you cannot mitigate, please provide a compelling reason in the justification column.
Option selected		Conclusions/justification
No major change to the proposal		We believe the EIA demonstrates the proposal is robust.  There is no potential for unlawful discrimination.  The only adverse impact noted is against the access for disabled people, particularly for those with a physical disability.  Consideration regarding opportunities for disabled people has been considered and we believe this can be offset by the local leisure centre Energise which is an accessible community sports facility that supports disability sport activities.

Step 7 – Summary of agreed actions resulting from the assessment

7.1	What action, by whom, will be undertaken as a result of the impact assessment.
Impact/issue		Action to be taken	Person responsible	Timescale
Community Consultation		Further community consultation as part of the planning process	Community Sports Officer and Community Club	Autumn 2022

Step 8 - Monitor, review and improve

8.1	How will the impact of your proposal be monitored and improved upon going forward?   Consider how will you identify the impact of activities on protected characteristics and other marginalised groups going forward? How will any learning and enhancements be capitalised on and embedded?
As part of the planning application process, we will undertake further community consultation. We will keep the equality impact assessment live throughout the process and continue to monitor the impact against the protected characteristics.  Once the facility has been built, we will be able to assess those that are using the site against the protected characteristics.