Equality impact assessment - contracts

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1. What is the name of the policy or service that is being assessed?

Contracts Section

2. What are the aims of the policy or service? Whose needs is it designed to meet? What are the current priorities?

• To let contracts in line with the Council’s contracts and finance regulations.
• To work in accordance with the corporate procurement strategy 2005-2008.
• To meet corporate and departmental priorities.

3. In what ways might this policy or service affect some groups of people differently? Might some groups find it harder to access the service? Do some groups have particular needs that are not well met by the current policy or service?

The following information relates to:

1. Contracts section process (specifically letting of contracts)
2. To ensure contracted service providers adhere to their responsibilities in relation to equality.

1. Our processes may unintentionally disadvantage organisations or groups.
2. Service providers may have policies and procedures which may disadvantage or exclude (E.g. admissions policy)

4. What evidence do you have for your judgement? Is there evidence of public concern (e.g. complaints)? Have staff raised concerns? Is there local or national research to suggest that there could be a problem?

1. NCVO has identified that voluntary organisations may not always be able to bid for contracts on a n equitable basis.
   • Local organisations have identified training requirements with respect to tender applications (including equitable issues)
2. The Supporting People review process (approx 300 services) Identified a variable understanding of equality (including its relevance to a county of the nature of Wiltshire)

5. Who have you consulted with as part of your assessment? What were the results? Have you published the results of that consultation? If so, where?

This initial screening has involved no initial consultations

6. If you have found that the policy or service might have an adverse impact on a particular group of people, can you justify this?

No adverse impact has been identified.

1. However, it is necessary for an appropriate review of contracts processes by a relevant external organisation.
2. To apply a risk assessed approach to contract reviews which ensures an appropriate sampling of equality policies and procedures.

7. If the impact cannot be justified, what do you intend to do about this? Are there changes that you could introduce which would make the policy or service work better for this group of people? Is further research or consultation required?

In respect of both areas (1) and (2), further research and consultation will be required

8. How will you monitor the take-up or impact of the policy or service in future?

1. To ensure appropriate measures are established to maintain processes that are relevant and effective.
2. To ensure a continued planned approach to contract reviews.

9. What actions do you plan to take as a result of this equality impact assessment? Please state any resource implications

1. To ensure DACS contract processes (tenders) are revised by an appropriate external organisation by 31/03/07 (possible resource implication)
2. To ensure equality and diversity issues are suitably addressed within contract reviews (2007-2008)
3. To ensure staff within the contracts section maintain appropriate knowledge and understanding re: diversity through the application of appropriate training and support.
4. To develop processes to enable feedback from providers on aforementioned

10. There is a legal requirement to publish the outcomes of Equality Impact Assessments. Please outline how / where this will happen

Assessment to be posted on Council website.

11. Name of person completing form

Business Support Manager Contracts

Date assessment completed

03/10/06

12. Senior manager approval

Interim Assistant Director (Strategy & Commissioning)

Date

16/10/06

Last updated: 13 May 2009