The document presents an initial screening for an equality impact assessment of a new Financial Inclusion Strategy. The strategy aims to promote financial inclusion among town residents through partnership working and building on previous work. It also aims to establish a baseline on the costs of financial exclusion, map current financial initiatives, and provide advice and prevention activities for those at risk of financial exclusion. The screening found the strategy could potentially benefit vulnerable groups like young adults, council tenants, the homeless, those on low incomes or benefits, and those suffering from fuel poverty or deprivation. No adverse impacts were identified for any groups.

1. Initial Screening – Financial Inclusion
Strategy
Equality Impact Assessment – Initial Screening
Name of Strategy/Policy Financial Inclusion Strategy Date of Assessment: 1.6.11
Is this a new or updated Policy? New Updated
How is the Strategy/Policy finalised/adopted: Cabinet/Board Delegated
Lead Officer conducting the assessment: Gary OwensJob Title: Housing
Strategy & Performance Officer
Service area: Housing Strategy and PerformanceContact details: 837146
Others involved in the assessment (this could include service users, front line
officers, people with specialist knowledge or interest):
Hannah Bensusan - Housing Options Officer
Identify what the activity is trying to achieve – why is the Policy/activity1
required (is there a statutory duty, how was the issue identified, who was the
originator of the activity, etc).
The Strategy will form the Authority’s approach as to how it will promote financial
inclusion amongst the town residents, not just Council tenants but also private
renters, owners and Housing Association tenants, as Financial Exclusion is not
limited to one type of household.
Key to the delivery of this strategy will be partnership working and building on all the
work which has happened to date. Work which has been done by staff at NBC and
its partners, such as the Northamptonshire County Council, Citizens Advice Bureau
and Community Law Services. Working with our partners over the development of
this strategy is important to ensure that our partners are aware of our priorities over
this matter together with the need to work with them in order to develop further
activities.
Together with building on the work which has already been done, the Strategy will
form key delivery actions which will see innovative plans identifying key activities to
help promote and integrate the Financial Inclusion agenda into the services that the
Council provides for the towns residents.
It is hoped that this Strategy will help decrease the effects of financial exclusion and
provide integrated services which will offer advice and prevention activities for those
who may face becoming financially excluded or are financially excluded at present.
1
Policy/activity in this context includes policies, services, strategies, functions, projects, plans, restructures, major events, etc
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2. Purpose of the Policy/activity. (What does the activity entail? Consider how the
activity relates to the council’s equality and diversity duties and strategic priorities,
etc).
Establish a baseline reflecting the cost of financial exclusion to the benefits of
financial inclusion
Map current community finance initiatives
Act as a gateway to a range of appropriate information, advice and services
aimed at increasing financial capability.
Educate and equip residents with the guidance and skills to deal with financial
distress.
Work with relevant agencies to promote responsible lending, protecting the
most vulnerable.
Keep up to date with trends in economic and financial markets so that the
organisation is well placed to pre-empt change and ensure residents and
communities are informed.
Identify the main beneficiaries or people affected by the issue (who benefits or
is affected - local residents and users of area, community at large, visitors to the
town, contractors working in the area, people delivering the service etc).
The aim of the strategy is to help all those residents affected by financial exclusion
issues within the town. There are those that are more vulnerable to this issue than
others and the aim of this strategy will be to target those who perhaps have the
highest need and are in danger of suffering some form of financial exclusion. These
groups can include but are not necessarily limited to;
Young adults
NBC tenants
Homeless
Low or insecure income
Those on benefits
Those suffering from fuel poverty or deprivation
What information exists already?
There are various sources of information available and the Strategy itself provides an
evidence base for the level of financial inclusion/exclusion both on a national
perspective and at a local level within the town. Other sources are the Indices for
Multiple Deprivation, Office of National Statistics, DECC, Homes and Communities
Agency, P1e Homeless Data, Northamptonshire Observatory, Nomis, Annual
Population Survey, Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited, Department of Work and
Pensions, Shelter, Northampton Credit Union, Northamptonshire Financial Inclusion
Partnership.
Has any consultation been undertaken on this or related issue?
No formal consultation has been undertaken on this specific issue regarding financial
exclusion within the town. There are many factors which make up or count towards
someone who finds themselves financially excluded and these individual issues may
have been consulted on, such as fuel poverty as an individual strategy has been
developed around this issue.
Are any reports or other relevant documents available from our organisation
or from partners or other sources?
Northampton Borough Council’s Affordable Warmth Strategy
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3. Northampton Borough Council’s Corporate Plan
Building Better Credit Unions –
Financial Inclusion in the UK – Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Poorer Households – Financial Inclusion Taskforce
Financial Inclusion Manifesto – CLG
Which parts of the activity have the potential for adverse impact or to
discriminate unlawfully? (Factors or issues that could contribute to inequality,
consider risks and opportunities).
This Strategy is aiming to provide a vision and objectives for helping those who may
find themselves financially excluded. Following this initial screening activity it
appears that there would be no adverse effect on any particular group. However it is
anticipated that it will have a positive impact on the following groups:
Young adults
NBC tenants
Homeless
Low or insecure income
Those on benefits
Those suffering from fuel poverty or deprivation
Could a particular sector of the community be disadvantaged by the
strategy/policy.
Yes No (give details of any evidence you may have)
If yes, proceed to undertake a full Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)
If no, then have this confirmed by the Corporate Equalities Steering Group
representative for your area and signed off by your Service Head / Corporate
Director/ Board. In the event of any queries, check with a member of the Policy team.
Action points (please make this SMART-state what/who/how/when) to be
completed even when not proceeding to a full assessment
No.
Action Responsible
Officer
Resources Outcomes Timeframe
1
Review the initial
Screening EIA post
Consultation
Gary Owens None An updated EIA
Screening
25-Jan-12
2
Evaluate consultation
comments to ensure any
relevent equalities issues
are addressed and if
necessary a full EIA is
completed
Gary Owens None Collated
consultation
responses with
equalities issues
highlighted
Jan-12
3
Document needs to be
accessible
Gary Owens None Offer ability to
provide in
different
languages,
braille, large print
and in different
formats
Oct-11
4 Ensure there is adequate Gary Owens None Section within the Oct-11
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4. opportunity for individuals
to comment on the
equalities nature of the
consultation document
consultation draft
about equalities
together with
consultation
allowing for
comment on the
issue
I agree that this policy/activity should not proceed to a full Impact Assessment
(If appropriate, date equality impact assessment will commence)
Confirmed by: Gary Parsons
Signed by:
N:Strategy & PerformanceHSE1.PROJECTS FOLDERFinancial Inclusion StrategyEIA -Initial Screening- FI Strategy
2011.doc