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	Community Development
Service area	Planning
Proposal being screened	North Yorkshire Local Development Scheme
Officer(s) carrying out screening	Rachael Hutton
What are you proposing to do?	To seek approval to undertake public consultation during May/June/July 2025 on the North Yorkshire Local Plan: our first conversation and to note the draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report. The following approaches will be used for the consultation: · publication of the consultation document, supporting evidence and guidance notes/video on the council’s website and consultation portal · all Member and Parish and Town Council briefing sessions · hard copies of the consultation documents (excluding the supporting documents), response forms and other documentation will be available at the council’s offices and libraries · notification of the consultation will be sent to statutory consultees and all of those who have registered on our consultation portal (currently c.4100 consultees) · consultation will be advertised through a press release · targeted consultation with groups as necessary (including seldom heard groups). This includes attending specific face to face meetings or specifically engaging with organisations or group leaders who represent seldom heard groups or those with protected characteristics included disability, age, gender, sexual orientation. · Events are scheduled directly with the Youth Council (and two schools) · Event with Harrogate and North Yorkshire disabilities forum · We will be specifically engaging with the Council’s inclusion forum to ensure each of the Council’s support groups knows about the consultation and is encouraged to respond · use of social media, including video as well as text.
Why are you proposing this? What are the desired outcomes?	The preparation of a Local Plan is a statutory requirement as set out in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
Does the proposal involve a significant commitment or removal of resources? Please give details.	The budget implications for delivering the Local Plan will be considered through the Council’s budget setting process.
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				P
Disability				P
Sex				P
Race				P
Sexual orientation				P
Gender reassignment				P
Religion or belief				P
Pregnancy or maternity				P
Marriage or civil partnership				P
People in rural areas				P
People on a low income				P
Carer (unpaid family or friend)				P
Are from the Armed Forces Community				P
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		An impact screening assessment has been undertaken and this concludes that proposals are in place to ensure that as many people as possible are made aware of and are engaged with the consultation- to achieve equality of opportunity. The content of the document has also sought to look at established work on the equalities considerations of North Yorkshire, and reflect those additional corporate equality considerations: carers; rural communities; those on low incomes. The Local Plan will have its own Equalities Impact Assessment which will consider the specific implications of the policies on those recognised as having protected characteristics (as listed above)
Signed (Assistant Director or equivalent)		Trevor Watson
Date		10/4/2025