Parks & Open Spaces Programme Plan Equality Impact Monitoring and review and Needs Analysis (EINA) Directorate: Environment Service Area: Parks & Open Spaces Name of service/ function/ policy/ Parks & Open Spaces programme plan being assessed: Officer leading on assessment: David Allister – Head of Parks, Open Spaces & Print Ishbel Murray – Assistant Director of Environment – Property, Parks and Sustainability Matt Maher - Efficiency Team, Finance and Other staff involved: Corporate Services Justine Dalton – Performance & Equalities Officer Yvonne Kelleher – Park Development Officer PREPARATION FOR THE EQUALITY IMPACT AND NEEDS ANALYSIS 1. Briefly describe the service/ function/ policy: The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (LBRuT) has the largest area of public open space per resident of any London Borough. LBRuT has a local and national reputation for quality and leadership in the delivery of excellent parks. The protection, improvement and management of these spaces is of primary importance to the Borough’s residents, who rate the quality of their environment as a priority. The Borough has a strong ‘parks culture’, with parks and open spaces highly valued as the hub for local communities for activities, events, sports and relaxation. This ‘parks culture’ is a strong contributing factor in much of the policy and decision making within the Council. A period of significant investment has seen the standard of parks and facilities improve to be amongst the best in the country, as recognised by a series of prestigious awards. The LBRuT Parks Service’s commitment to ensuring the quality of parks and open spaces across the Borough remain at this level underpins decisions and actions proposed for the coming years. To maintain and enhance the standards that have been achieved, a series of strategic principles by which the Parks will be managed have been developed and adopted by the Parks Service. The eight principles are: 1. The Management of Parks and Open Spaces will create a sustainable legacy for future generations. 2. The Quality of our Parks and Open Spaces will continue to define LBRuT. 3. Parks and Opens Spaces will enrich the life, health and wellbeing of residents and visitors. 4. Richmond will lead in the delivery of excellent parks and open spaces services. 5. Richmond’s Parks will offer positive experiences to all visitors. 6. Through innovation, the future development of the parks will be ensured. 7. Increased community participation will be encouraged and supported. 8. The Parks and Open Spaces within Richmond will be centres of excellence and celebrated. 1 2. Why is the equality impact and needs analysis being undertaken? Following a thorough review of all aspects of the Parks and Open Space service, it was decided that a Programme should be embarked upon to deliver the Parks and Open Spaces’ future vision. As part of this programme, a number of work streams were developed. These included:- Determine a commissioning model for the client team Expand relationships with voluntary groups (Friends of Parks etc.) Develop connections with other providers/agencies within the Borough Introduce a mechanism for ensuring a long-term sustainable investment legacy for Richmond’s Parks and Open Spaces. With the current Grounds Maintenance / Arboricultural contract due to expire in March 2013, this was considered to be the main driver for change. By 1st April 2013, it is envisaged that we will have made significant savings by the establishment of a new framework agreement arrangement, with the additional benefit of having the ability to ensure sustainable investment in the Boroughs Parks and Open Spaces, whilst enhancing but protecting the authority’s reputation. This will be achieved through three main work streams:- To develop a new Framework Agreement which will generate the required savings and ensure flexibility in future Parks Management. This framework approach will take account of, and reflect, any shared service opportunities. It will also allow for any interested community groups or organisations to have the opportunity to express an interest in the delivery of any aspect of current service/work functions. These functions include Grounds Maintenance; Arboricultural Services; Allotment Management; Conservation Site Management and Sports Bookings. To develop a Parks Management Company, the purpose of which, is to maximise the opportunities that arise from the framework contract; be pioneering in expanding the quality reputation of LBRuT and ensure a sustainable self-perpetuating legacy of investment for Richmond’s Parks and Open Spaces with a programmed transfer to a commissioning model for the client team. Development of an effective Events Strategy, as part of the Income Generation Business Case, will see significant income generation through the charging for large scale events or functions in Parks and Open Spaces. The Efficiency & Transformation – Phase 3 Priority Programme outline Business Case for Parks & Open Space details the plans for the programme with timescales. 3. Has this service/ function/ policy undertaken a screening for relevance? If so, which protected characteristics and parts of the duty were identified as of high or medium relevance and why? Please attach screening for relevance as an appendix to this EINA. If not, make an assessment of which protected characteristics and parts of the duty are of high or medium relevance and explain why: 2 A Screening for Relevance exercise was undertaken in August 2011 and is available in Appendix One. Age and disability have been identified as the ‘protected characteristics’ that have a high relevance to Parks & Opens Spaces. Please refer to Section 5 for an explanation. 4. What sources of information have been used in the preparation of this equality impact and needs analysis? For example, this could include equalities monitoring information, performance data, consultation feedback or needs assessment. Please provide the details in the table below: Information source Description and outline of the information source The following consultation has happened as part of the Events strategy development: Events strategy Full public consultation consultations There has been public meeting in borough libraries. Friends groups Ward Councillors No public consultations have taken place with this strand of the Parks Programme as this will be a procurement exercise. Parks Management Company consultations It is anticipated that there will be no impact on park users or the community as there will be no change in service delivery. It is not appropriate for members of the public to be consulted in this strand of the programme. However, it has been subject internal consultation. The Parks & Open Spaces team have worked together in team meetings in order to develop the principals of the Framework Framework agreement agreement. Throughout this process the ‘plans’ have been presented to Friends Groups and interest groups. To date, the Head of Parks & Open Spaces has completed 5 presentations to friends groups and given to presentations at 2 conferences. Parks and Open Spaces This document outlines the strategic principles that have been Strategic Principles developed in conjunction with users and stakeholders. The Play Strategy is a working document which sets out how the Council’s Play Strategy London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Play Partnership will implement the London Borough of Richmond Play Policy. The report sets out a local strategy for sport and physical activity Council’s Sports strategy developed in partnership with the local community sport and physical activity network. The Local Biodiversity Action Plan for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames sets out the framework for the Biodiversity action plan protection, conservation and enhancement of wildlife within Richmond upon Thames. 3 Information source Description and outline of the information source The allotment strategy outlines the process for managing the boroughs allotments for the next 3 years and looks at 3 main topics. The topics are: Allotment Strategy 2010-15 1. Working with existing and new plot holders 2. How the land itself is managed 3. How to develop the service Minutes from an Allotment steering group meeting in February Allotment steering group 2012. It demonstrates that Parks & Open Spaces have regular meeting minutes meetings with representatives and groups. Green Flag Award page on This page on the public website details the Parks & Open Spaces www.richmond.gov.uk in the Borough which hold the Green Flag Award. Green Flag awards recognise and reward the best green spaces Green Flag Award Website in the country and set a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas. Richmond Borough in Bloom is a local, borough-wide competition, which has been running successfully for over twenty years. Year Richmond in Bloom on year there are an increasing number of entrants and winners. Volunteers working in partnership with the Council to achieve various accolades. LBRUT Parks & Open Spaces team work in partnership with BTCV the Richmond Parks department is asking everyone to get BCTV website involved with volunteer work in parks and nature conservation sites. The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines and set out procedures for the booking and running of events in the Borough’s parks and open spaces. This document replaces the Parks & Open Spaces previous Parks and Open Spaces event policy. Events policy This policy is available on the public website on the following link - http://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/documents/s31968/Appendix.pdf