As a public sector organisation, we have a legal duty under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty to identify and consider the impact and potential impact, in terms of equality, of our activities. This could be a new or revised service/policy/strategy/ practice/plan. Equality Impact Assessments (EQIA) are an anticipatory process that supports the Council to predict possible issues, and take appropriate action such as removing or mitigating any negative impacts, where possible, and maximising any potential for positive impact. An EQIA assesses against our legal duties and ensures that the impact is assessed in a structured and robust way, which can be evidenced if challenged. If you are unsure whether you need to complete an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA), there is an Equality Impact Initial Screening Template to decide whether one is needed or not.

Equality Impact Assessments (EQIA) are an effective way to:

• Proactively identify potential discrimination and remove it.
• Improve policy development and service delivery.
• Identify how services can be made more accessible and appropriate.
• Avoid adopting unlawful or harmful proposals.
• Identify potential steps to advance equality and foster good relations.
• Become a better employer.
• Be more transparent and accountable.
• Make better, more informed decisions, first time round.
• Deliver value for money.