Appendix K

Equality impact assessment (EIA) form: evidencing paying due regard to protected characteristics

(Form updated October 2023)

Parking Services Contribution to Savings for the 26/27 MTFS

 

If you would like this information in another language or format such as Braille, large print or audio, please contact the Communications Unit on 01609 53 2013 or email communications@northyorks.gov.uk.

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Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) are public documents.  EIAs accompanying reports going to County Councillors for decisions are published with the committee papers on our website and are available in hard copy at the relevant meeting.  To help people to find completed EIAs we also publish them in the Equality and Diversity section of our website.  This will help people to see for themselves how we have paid due regard in order to meet statutory requirements. 

 

Name of Directorate and Service Area

Environment Directorate – Parking Services

 

Lead Officer and contact details

Steve Brown, Head of Parking Services, steve.brown1@northyorks.gov.uk

Names and roles of other people involved in carrying out the EIA

Jane Wilson – Parking Policy and Technical Operations Manager

How will you pay due regard? e.g. working group, individual officer

Environment Management Team working together at regular sessions

When did the due regard process start?

October 2023 (ongoing review)

 

 

 

 

 

Section 1. Please describe briefly what this EIA is about. (e.g. are you starting a new service, changing how you do something, stopping doing something?)

 

This EIA assesses the equality impacts of savings that are to be generated from income which has derived from parking tariffs for the 26/27 MTFS.

 

 

 

 

Section 2. Why is this being proposed? What are the aims? What does the authority hope to achieve by it? (e.g. to save money, meet increased demand, do things in a better way.)

 

These savings have been designed around the Local Transport plan and Parking Principles which state that charges are set so that Parking Services can offer a high-quality Car Parks and Operations putting the customer first whilst maintain value for money.  The aim is two staged; the first is the effect of adopting Parking Principles in the Financial year 26/27 and the second is a 10% Parking Tariff Increase, which together result in a £1.1m increase in income.  

 

Section 3. What will change? What will be different for customers and/or staff?

 

These changes will involve the increase in Parking charges across all of North Yorkshire.  In the area of Parking Principles, the aim is to re-balance the charges that have been fractionalised because of the former regime of 7 Borough and District Councils setting the charges; this will mean that in some areas charges will decrease whilst in others they will increase, but the end state will create balance and fairness.  The second charge increase by 10% is simply an inflationary increase to keep pace with anticipated increased costs linked to inflation in order to maintain best value.

 

 

Section 4. Involvement and consultation (What involvement and consultation has been done regarding the proposal and what are the results? What consultation will be needed and how will it be done?)

 

      In order to make these changes they are agreed by the Corporate Director in consultation with the Executive Member and the public are informed of the changes via RTRA 1984, section 35C and S.25 The Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996: Permits the lawful variation of charges via notice.

 

 

 

Section 5. What impact will this proposal have on council budgets? Will it be cost neutral, have increased cost or reduce costs?

 

This proposal will have a positive impact on the Council’s budgets as follows:

 

Parking income increase in 26/27 of £1.1m

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 6. How will this proposal affect people with protected characteristics?

No impact

Make things better

Make things worse

Why will it have this effect? Provide evidence from engagement, consultation and/or service user data or demographic information etc.

Age

 

X

 

 

 

No specific impact identified.

 

 

Disability

 

X

 

 

 

No specific impact identified.

 

 

Sex

 

X

 

 

 

No specific impact identified.

 

Race

 

X

 

 

 

No specific impact identified.

 

Gender reassignment

 

X

 

 

 

No specific impact identified.

 

Sexual orientation

 

X

 

 

 

No specific impact identified.

 

Religion or belief

 

X

 

 

 

No specific impact identified.

 

Pregnancy or maternity

 

X

 

 

 

No specific impact identified.

 

 

Marriage or civil partnership

X

 

 

 

No specific impact identified

 

 

 

Section 7. How will this proposal affect people who…

No impact

Make things better

Make things worse

Why will it have this effect? Provide evidence from engagement, consultation and/or service user data or demographic information etc.

..live in a rural area?

 

X

 

 

 

 

No specific impact identified.

 

…have a low income?

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

Clearly any increase in fees and charges will affect this group but it is felt that in budgeting to run a motor vehicle that parking costs are factored into their priorities.

…are carers (unpaid family or friend)?

 

 

X

 

 

 

No specific impact identified.

 

 ….. are from the Armed Forces Community

 

 

X

 

 

 

No specific impact identified

 

 

Section 8. Geographic impact – Please detail where the impact will be (please tick all that apply)

North Yorkshire wide

X

 

Craven

X

 

Hambleton

X

 

Harrogate

X

 

Richmondshire

 

X

Ryedale

X

 

Scarborough

X

 

Selby

X

 

If you have ticked one or more areas, will specific town(s)/village(s) be particularly impacted? If so, please specify below.

Part of the purpose of Parking Principles is to re-balance those areas where tariffs have been fractured because of the former two-tier local government structure.  The increase and decrease of tariffs as part of this process is making the charges fairer and more equitable to all areas.

 

 

 

 

 

Section 9. Will the proposal affect anyone more because of a combination of protected characteristics? (e.g. older women or young gay men) State what you think the effect may be and why, providing evidence from engagement, consultation and/or service user data or demographic information etc.

 

The proposed charges do not impact specifically on any of the groups with protected characteristics.

 

 

 

Section 10. Next steps to address the anticipated impact. Select one of the following options and explain why this has been chosen. (Remember: we have an anticipatory duty to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled people can access services and work for us)

Tick option chosen

1.      No adverse impact - no major change needed to the proposal.

X

2.      Adverse impact - adjust the proposal -

 

3.      Adverse impact - continue the proposal -

 

4.      Actual or potential unlawful discrimination - stop and remove the proposal –.

 

Explanation of why option has been chosen. (Include any advice given by Legal Services.)

 

These proposals do not impact on any groups or those with protected characteristics.

 

 

 

 

Section 11. If the proposal is to be implemented how will you find out how it is really affecting people? (How will you monitor and review the changes?)

 

Parking conduct regular reviews throughout the year, these reviews look at a number of areas as follows:

 

Occupancy of car parks – trends are compared with previous years to detect patterns

Number of PCN’s issued - Alongside of occupancy data compliance is estimated

Transactional data – Transactional data is also analysed and compared with BiD footfall        data to assess trends.

 

 

 

 

Section 12. Action plan. List any actions you need to take which have been identified in this EIA, including post implementation review to find out how the outcomes have been achieved in practice and what impacts there have actually been on people with protected characteristics.

Action

Lead

By when

Progress

Monitoring arrangements

Occupancy of car parks

Jane Wilson

Monthly

Start 01/04/2026

Annual Report

Number of PCN’s issued

Jane Wilson

Monthly

Start 01/04/2026

Annual Report

Transactional data

Jane Wilson

Monthly

Start 01/04/2026

Annual Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 13. Summary Summarise the findings of your EIA, including impacts, 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.

 

This Equality Impact Assessment reviewed the proposed parking tariff changes and adoption of Parking Principles for 26/27. The assessment found no specific adverse impact on people with protected characteristics. While low-income groups may experience some effect due to increased charges, this is considered proportionate given the overall cost of vehicle ownership. The proposal aims to create a fair and consistent charging structure across North Yorkshire, supporting the Local Transport Plan and maintaining best value.
Monitoring arrangements, including occupancy data, PCN trends, and transactional analysis, will ensure any unforeseen impacts are identified and addressed. No legal concerns have been raised, and the recommendation is to proceed with the proposal as planned.

 

 

 

 

 

Section 14. Sign off section

 

This full EIA was completed by:

 

Name:  Steve Brown

Job title:  Head of Parking Services

Directorate:  Environment

Signature: Steve Brown

 

Completion date:16/12/2025

 

Authorised by relevant Assistant Director (signature): Barrie Mason

 

Date: 19/12/2025