Initial equality impact assessment screening form This form records an equality screening process to determine the relevance of equality to a proposal, and a decision whether or not a full EIA would be appropriate or proportionate.
Directorate	Environment
Service area	Environmental Services and Climate Change
Proposal being screened	Draft North Yorkshire Council Climate Change Delivery Pathway
Officer(s) carrying out screening	Jos Holmes, Climate Change Strategy Manager
What are you proposing to do?	To seek feedback on the draft Delivery Pathway
Why are you proposing this? What are the desired outcomes?	To enable monitoring of the Climate Change Strategy Delivery
Does the proposal involve a significant commitment or removal of resources? Please give details.	No
Impact on people with any of the following protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010, or NYC’s additional agreed characteristics As part of this assessment, please consider the following questions: · To what extent is this service used by particular groups of people with protected characteristics? · Does the proposal relate to functions that previous consultation has identified as important? · Do different groups have different needs or experiences in the area the proposal relates to? If for any characteristic it is considered that there is likely to be an adverse impact or you have ticked ‘Don’t know/no info available’, then a full EIA should be carried out where this is proportionate. You are advised to speak to your directorate representative for advice if you are in any doubt.
Protected characteristic		Potential for adverse impact				Don’t know/No info available
		Yes		No
Age				x
Disability				x
Sex				x
Race				x
Sexual orientation				x
Gender reassignment				x
Religion or belief				x
Pregnancy or maternity				x
Marriage or civil partnership				x

People in rural areas				x
People on a low income				x
Carer (unpaid family or friend)				x
Are from the Armed Forces Community				x
Does the proposal relate to an area where there are known inequalities/probable impacts (for example, disabled people’s access to public transport)? Please give details.		No
Will the proposal have a significant effect on how other organisations operate? (for example, partners, funding criteria, etc.). Do any of these organisations support people with protected characteristics? Please explain why you have reached this conclusion.		No
Decision (Please tick one option)		EIA not relevant or proportionate:	ü		Continue to full EIA:
Reason for decision		No adverse impacts are anticipated.
Signed (Assistant Director or equivalent)		Michael Leah
Date		18.12.23

Climate change impact assessment

The purpose of this assessment is to help us understand the likely impacts of our decisions on the environment of North Yorkshire and on our aspiration to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2030, or as close to that date as possible. The intention is to mitigate negative effects and identify projects which will have positive effects.

This document should be completed in consultation with the supporting guidance. The final document will be published as part of the decision making process and should be written in Plain English.

If you have any additional queries which are not covered by the guidance please email climatechange@northyorks.gov.uk

Title of proposal	Draft North Yorkshire Council Climate Change Delivery Pathway
Brief description of proposal	Delivery Pathway to monitor the delivery of the Climate Change Strategy
Directorate	Environment
Service area	Environmental Services and Climate Change
Lead officer	Michael Leah
Names and roles of other people involved in carrying out the impact assessment	Jos Holmes, Climate Change Strategy Manager
Date impact assessment started	18.12.23

Options appraisal

Were any other options considered in trying to achieve the aim of this project? If so, please give brief details and explain why alternative options were not progressed.

It is common practice to develop an action plan to delivery strategic aims. The various activities contained therein reflect the numerous projects and activities which we plan to take.

What impact will this proposal have on council budgets? Will it be cost neutral, have increased cost or reduce costs?

Please explain briefly why this will be the result, detailing estimated savings or costs where this is possible.

At this stage, there will be no impact on Council budgets. The Delivery Pathway activities which already have budgetary approval are included. Projects which do not yet have budgetary approval will require the normal financial approval processes.

How will this proposal impact on the environment? N.B. There may be short term negative impact and longer term positive impact. Please include all potential impacts over the lifetime of a project and provide an explanation.		Positive impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant)	No impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant)	Negative impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant)	Explain why will it have this effect and over what timescale? Where possible/relevant please include: · Changes over and above business as usual · Evidence or measurement of effect · Figures for CO₂e · Links to relevant documents	Explain how you plan to mitigate any negative impacts.	Explain how you plan to improve any positive outcomes as far as possible.
Minimise greenhouse gas emissions e.g. reducing emissions from travel, increasing energy efficiencies etc.	Emissions from travel	X			The Pathway outlines how transport emissions can be reduced		Both operational and resident / business and visitor transport emissions are considered.
	Emissions from construction	X			The Pathway includes reference to new builds, including biobased construction
	Emissions from running of buildings	X			The Pathway includes reference to reducing the emissions from existing buildings through retrofitting and low carbon heating.		Both operational and resident / business emissions are inluded.
	Emissions from data storage		X		The Pathway includes reference to improved access to web based information and services to reduce the need to travel. This will result in increased cloud storage. However, the impact of this will be less than the travel emissions it is avoiding.		NYC Operational carbon footprint will include data storage and communications will be developed to reduce this.
	Other	X			A wide range of mitigation measures are proposed.
Minimise waste: Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost e.g. reducing use of single use plastic		X			The Pathway features a waste decarbonisation and circular economy section
Reduce water consumption			X		Not specifically mentioned.
Minimise pollution (including air, land, water, light and noise)		X			The pathway activities will result in a decrease in pollution as a co-benefit.
Ensure resilience to the effects of climate change e.g. reducing flood risk, mitigating effects of drier, hotter summers		X			The pathway refers to this in the Adaptation section.		This section will support both internal operational and wider resident and business resilience.
Enhance conservation and wildlife		X			The Pathway refers to this in the Supporting Nature section.		This section will support both internal operational and wider resident and business resilience.
Safeguard the distinctive characteristics, features and special qualities of North Yorkshire’s landscape			X		This is not specifically referenced in the Pathway.
Other (please state below)

Are there any recognised good practice environmental standards in relation to this proposal? If so, please detail how this proposal meets those standards.

The Delivery Pathway is being mapped against existing monitoring and reporting processes including the UK Climate Emergency Scorecard to ensure that it covers all recommended processes.

Summary Summarise the findings of your impact assessment, including impacts, the recommendation in relation to addressing impacts, including any legal advice, and next steps. This summary should be used as part of the report to the decision maker.

The draft Pathway identifies the actions that are planned to deliver the Climate Change Strategy to enable monitoring of progress. Although a range of activities are proposed, each will follow the Council decision making protocols in terms of financial commitments. The next step is a community engagement event which will consult community environmental groups on the draft Delivery Pathway.

Sign off section

This climate change impact assessment was completed by:

Name	Jos Holmes
Job title	Climate Change Strategy Manager
Service area	Environment and Climate Change
Directorate	Environment
Signature	J Holmes
Completion date	18.12.23

Authorised by relevant Assistant Director (signature): Michael Leah

Date:18.12.23