JOINT HOUSING EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT - ACTION PLAN 2010-2012 – PRIORITY ACTIONS

ENHANCED HOME-OPTIONS SCHEME AND DALES DISTRICT COUNCIL’S HOMELESSNESS & HOUSING ADVICE SERVICES – Lead officers Simon Beynon DDDC, Jason Hawkes HP Community Housing

Objective Action Partners Timescales Targets Resources Outcome

Communicate the Review the Home By April 2010 Simple guide to Home Options Improved allocations process in a Options allocations District Council (lead) Home Options Group – 2 day understanding of more understandable policy for plain English Dales Housing produced and property availability format for users and produce simple Amber Valley BC Allocations policy (DDDC 2 person guidance for inclusion Amber Valley revised days) on the website and as a Housing leaflet summarising the High Peak BC main policies, High Peak CH (lead) processes and Erewash BC procedures Three Valleys Housing

Increase the provision of Provide more Derbyshire Dales By April 2012 4 additional units 2 People 5 days Temporary temporary and emergency temporary and District Council (lead) provided through accommodation accommodation in the emergency re-modelled / new (DDDC 5 person available for a Derbyshire Dales accommodation units Community Housing provision days) wider client group suitable for single Association (lead) across the District people and people with HCA disabilities within the four market towns in the Derbyshire Dales

Improve the accessibility a) Review the use of Derbyshire Dales By April 2010 Review completed Home Options Improved of information for users colours in materials District Council (lead) and appropriate Group – half a day accessibility to with different disabilities used to advertise Home Dales Housing actions agreed information for Options properties and Amber Valley BC (DDDC 0.5 person users ensure they are Amber Valley day) appropriate for people Housing with visual impairments High Peak BC High Peak CH (lead) Erewash BC Three Valleys Housing Derbyshire Association for the Blind Learning Disability Partnership b) Work with local As above By October 1 new leaflet DDDC 2 person Increase in number groups to design 2010 produced days of people able to information leaflets and understand Home application forms Options process suitable for people with and information learning difficulties

DERBYSHIRE DALES DISTRICT COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC HOUSING SERVICE - Lead officer Rob Cogings DDDC

Objective Action Partners Timescales Targets Resources Outcome

Build as many homes to a) Include policy in Homes and By March Policy agreed and Homes and More accessible the Life Time Homes Single Conversation Communities Agency, 2010 included in Communities and adaptable Standard as development Investment Plan Housing Associations Investment Plan Agency investment, homes for future sites allow requiring all new Ongoing Housing generations publicly funded housing Every scheme Association schemes on accessible assessed and borrowing and sites to include homes developed to meet District Council built to the Life Time Standard where grants Homes Standard this can be applied

b) Seek to incorporate Planning Services, By Nov 2011 Core Strategy Private investment policy relating to Private developers adopted Lifetime Homes into the emerging Derbyshire Dales and High Peak Joint Core Strategy

Build as many homes to a) Include policy in Homes and By March Policy agreed and Homes and Improved social the Building for Life Single Conversation Communities Agency, 2010 included in Communities well being and Standard as development Investment Plan to Housing Associations Investment Plan Agency investment, quality of life for sites allow encourage all publicly Housing residents funded housing Ongoing Aim to exceed Association schemes on accessible minimum score of borrowing and Promotion of sites to exceed the 10 out of 20 on all District Council design excellence Building for Life sites where grants and celebrate best Standard Standard can be practice in the applied house building industry Review signage Housing policy on new Associations developments

b) Seek to incorporate Planning Services, By Nov 2011 Core Strategy Private investment policy relating to Private developers adopted Building for Life into the emerging Derbyshire Dales and High Peak Joint Core Strategy

To meet the needs of all In partnership with DCC Supporting By April 2011 Review and Action 8 person days Evidence of needs people fleeing domestic other Derbyshire People and other Plan completed and a plan for filling violence agencies, review the related service gaps in provision need, provision and providers where these exist promotion of available services and identify service gaps

DERBYSHIRE DALES DISTRICT COUNCIL’S PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING SERVICE - Lead officer Tim Braund DDDC

Objective Action Partners Timescales Targets Resources Outcome

Improve communication a) Work with partner To be identified but By December Summary leaflet 2 person days Increased with under-represented agencies to develop likely to include 2010 produced and awareness and groups communication Connexions, schools issued take-up of support channels with young and Children’s available by young people and provide Centres people summary information

b) Implement referral To be identified but By September Referral system in 3 person days system with key likely to include 2011 place partners Connexions, schools and Children’s Centres Make grant schemes fairer a) Formalise Derbyshire County By September Procedure agreed 0.5 person day Improved service for equalities groups arrangements with Council 2010 and issued to for separated DCC Social Services Occupational Potential funding couples with for assessing the Therapists issue for disabled children needs of parents with Derbyshire County access to disabled Council re: portable children and securing equipment funding to purchase portable equipment

b) Review Housing To be identified By April 2010 Revised Policy 1 person day Equal access to Renewal Policy and agreed and issued discretionary grants grant criteria in respect for same sex of same sex couples couples

DERBYSHIRE DALES DISTRICT COUNCIL’S BENEFITS SERVICE - Lead officer Paul Radcliffe DDDC

Objective Action Partners Timescales Targets Resources Outcome

Develop new ways of a) Work with local 50+ forums, PCT, GP By December Summary leaflet 2 person days Increased take-up communicating with harder groups to carry out surgeries, Youth 2010 produced and of benefits amongst to reach customers to targeted promotional groups, Connexions, issued older and younger increase take-up campaign to increase PCT’s Farming Health people take-up amongst under drop in clinic September Article in 0.25 person days 25’s, over 60s and ( ABC), 2010 dalesMATTERS farming community Farming Life Centre and Bagshaws b) Contact under 25’s Ongoing 5% increase in 6 person days p.a. and over 60’s by response rate telephone to obtain outstanding information to process claims

SHARED HOUSING SERVICE ACTIONS (ALL SERVICES) - All Lead officers

Objective Action Partners Timescales Targets Resources Outcome

Enhance equalities a) Add appropriate By June 2010 Application forms 4 person days Improved monitoring questions to application revised understanding of forms to monitor take users and their up of the service by all needs and areas for equalities groups service b) Carry out biennial By March Further training 2 person days improvement assessment of 2012 needs identified identified equalities training needs for staff

Deliver the Housing Monitor the Derbyshire Dales Biannually Targets achieved Lead officers Improved services Equalities Action Plan implementation of the District Council (lead) (with emphasis on Partners (where for local people Housing Equalities High Peak CH (lead) priority actions) identified) Action Plan High Peak BC (lead)

LSP Board Annually