Section 1: What Is Being Assessed?

Equality Impact Assessment Form Reference – 3R14

Department Regeneration Version no 4.0 Assessed by Allun Preece Date created 23/10/2015 Approved by Julian Jackson Date approved Updated by Date updated Final approval Mike Cowlam Date signed off 12/2/16

Section 1: What is being assessed?

1.1 Name of proposal to be assessed: Street Lighting – Partial Night Switch Off Switching selected street lights off between midnight and 5am will reduce energy costs. Other authorities have adopted this approach. Determining the specific areas subject to the proposals will need surveying, research and consultation to be undertaken. There would be no switch off proposed in areas where;  There is a record of traffic collisions during switch off times  There is high crime during switch off times  There are Roundabouts, complex junctions etc  There is CCTV coverage  There are pedestrian crossings  There is 24 hour use e.g. Hospitals  There is sheltered accommodation and housing for vulnerable people Some initial investment would be required to make the technical changes necessary to deliver ongoing savings. Public consultation may also be required in some areas. Additional switch offs could potentially reduce costs by another 20%.

1.2 Describe the proposal under assessment and what change it would result in if implemented: The first part of the proposal consists of switching off a proportion of the street lighting across the district between the hours of midnight and 5:30am. Each street light will be evaluated against the following avoidance criteria and should they match any of the criteria they will not be switched off.

1 Avoidance Criteria  On roads with a significant road traffic accident record during the proposed switch-off period.  In areas with an above average record of crime during the proposed switch-off period.  In areas with a police record of frequent anti-social behaviour during the proposed switch-off period.  In areas provided with CCTV local authority / police surveillance equipment  In areas with sheltered housing and other residences accommodating vulnerable people.  Around 24hr operational emergency services sites, including hospitals.  At formal pedestrian crossings, subways and enclosed footpaths and alleyways where one end links to a street that is lit all night.  Where there are potential hazards on the highway such as roundabouts, central carriageway islands, chicanes and traffic calming features.  Where public transport stops are in use during the proposed period of switch-off (this was included in response to consultation feedback)

The outcome of the proposal will mean that some of the lighting in the district will only operate until midnight, switch off and then if it is still dark switch back on at 5:30am until daylight.

The second part of the proposal is to switch off the lighting permanently in the back streets across the district where the back street is not the primary access to properties.

Again there will need to be some further evaluation of this and other factors may need to be taken into account after site inspections to ascertain the suitability of such action.

Section 2: What the impact of the proposal is likely to be The Equality Act 2010 requires the Council to have due regard to the need to-  eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation;  advance equality of opportunity between different groups; and  foster good relations between different groups

2.1 Will this proposal advance equality of opportunity for people who share a protected characteristic and/or foster good relations between people who

2 share a protected characteristic and those that do not? If yes, please explain further. No

2.2 Will this proposal have a positive impact and help to eliminate discrimination and harassment against, or the victimisation of people who share a protected characteristic? If yes, please explain further. No

2.3 Will this proposal potentially have a negative or disproportionate impact on people who share a protected characteristic? If yes, please explain further. Equality assessment carried out indicates that this proposal could potentially have a negative impact upon people with a disability in so far as partially sighted people may find it more difficult to travel in areas where lighting is switched off.

There may be some impact with respect to the protected characteristic Age as the elderly may feel more vulnerable where lighting is switched off although there will be consideration of this as part of the avoidance criteria in areas of sheltered housing etc.

Also due to the types of housing in specific areas such as terraced houses in areas of deprivation where there are high numbers of back streets this may have a disproportionate impact on the protected characteristic of low income/low wage.

2.4 Please indicate the level of negative impact on each of the protected characteristics? (Please indicate high (H), medium (M), low (L), no effect (N) for each)

Protected Characteristics: Impact Age M

Disability M

Gender reassignment N

Race N

Religion/Belief N

Pregnancy and maternity N

Sexual Orientation N

3 Protected Characteristics: Impact Sex N

Marriage and civil partnership N

Additional Consideration:

Low income/low wage M

2.5 How could the disproportionate negative impacts be mitigated or eliminated? The disproportionate impacts could be mitigated by careful selection of the units to be switched off. Criteria is being developed to determine priorities where service should be maintained e.g. areas with sheltered housing and areas with a police record of frequent anti-social behaviour during the proposed switch-off period

Section 3: What evidence you have used?

3.1 What evidence do you hold to back up this assessment? The LANTERNS project report “The effect of reduced street lighting on road casualties and crime in England and Wales” Last year many local authorities contributed their time and effort in providing the LANTERNS project with historic inventory data to enabled them to research the impact of part night lighting, part night dimming, trimming and the use of white light had on accidents and crime. The report summarises its findings as: . There is no evidence that reduced street lighting is associated with increases in road traffic collisions or crime . Dimming the amount of light or switching to white light/LEDs may reduce crime in an area . When risks are carefully considered, local authorities can safely reduce street lighting, saving energy costs and reducing carbon emissions, without impacting negatively on traffic collisions and crime The full report is available free from the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

3.2 Do you need further evidence? No

4 Section 4: Consultation Feedback

4.1 Results from any previous consultations None

4.2 Feedback from current consultation Concern was expressed that some vulnerable people will suffer if lights are switched off. It was felt that there were many hidden uncertainties, such as will crime increase, or will those deemed vulnerable feel stressed and anxious.

4.3 Your departmental response to this feedback – include any changes made to the proposal as a result of the feedback As part of the selection criteria consideration will be given to locations where there are likely to be high numbers of vulnerable people. Evidence from other projects already implemented suggests that there appears to be no increase in crime. Feedback from other projects is generally positive.