Community governance review of parishes within the Dorset Council area EqIA

Background to the proposal

Legislation requires that principal Councils (Dorset Council in this instance) carry out a community governance review of all parishes every 10 to 15 years.  This review is being undertaken to ensure compliance with this statutory requirement and to ensure that community governance arrangements of parishes within the area are both effective and appropriate.

Evidence and research 

Data, information, evidence and research used and how it has influenced the decision-making process

Dorset Council area:

The following data has been taken from the area profile for Dorset Council

Age:

With 29.1% of Dorset Council’s population over 65 years of age, we have a considerably higher population of older people than England and Wales at 18.5%. 55.1% of our population are of working age and 15.8% are aged 15 or below.

Population         Total                  Percentage        England & Wales

All Persons         378,510             n/a                    59,439,840

All Males            185,390             49.0%                49.4%

All Females        193,120             51.0%                50.6%

0-15                   59,730               15.8%                19.1%

16-64                 208,730             55.1%                62.3%

65+                    110,050             29.1%                18.5%

Source Dorset Insight: breakdown of population by age. (Source: 2019 mid-year estimate, ONS)  

Disability:

Disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the ability to carry out normal day to day activities. Across the Dorset Council area 8% of the population has day to day activities that are limited a lot and 11% have day to day limited activities a little (Source: Census 2011, ONS). 

Ethnicity:

The current population statistics for the Dorset Council area indicate that the population is predominantly White British (95.6%).  However, the overall statistic for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnicities (BAME) of 4.4% with 1.7% of the population not having English as their 1st language. However, it is unclear whether this is representative of the entire Dorset area and how much regional variation there is in certain parts of the Dorset area.

Race & Ethnicity                                                    %

White British & Northern Irish                              95.6%

BME (Black and Minority Ethnic population)        4.4%

Main language not English                                   1.7%

Source: 2011 Census. Office for National Statistics 

98.3% of Dorset’s residents aged 3 and over have recorded English as their main language in the 2011 Census.

This contrasts with a figure of 92% for England and Wales.  Over 6,000 Dorset residents, English is not their first language.  Where English is not the main language spoken 78 other languages feature across the County as resident’s main language, some in very small numbers.  Where English is not the main language spoken, Polish is recorded with the next highest number of speakers at 1,457 in Dorset, followed by German 429, all other Chinese 344 and Nepalese 292 

Religion:

25.4% of Dorset residents identify as having no religion and 65.1% of residents are Christian.  The five major non–Christian world religions, namely Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Sikhism, constitute 1.5% of Dorset’s residents’ religious beliefs. These groups are concentrated in Dorset’s towns e.g. Weymouth has just over 300 residents of Muslim faith.  There are small areas of the county with relatively high proportions of people from minority religions.  Tarrant Launceston and Tarrant Monkton for example have 7% and 4% of the population who are Hindu and 3% and 2% who are Buddhist.  This reflects the significant Ghurkha community based in and around Blandford Camp.

Religion                               %

Christian                              65.1%

Non-Christian                     1.5%

No religion                          25.4%

Religion not stated             8%

Source Dorset Insight: breakdown of population by religion. (2011 census, ONS)

Deprivation and accessibility

Rural and social isolation creates barriers for communities to access services. Ensuring people can access planning online would help alleviate this.  However the availability of broadband coverage and cost is in turn a further barrier to accessibility.  15.2% of households do not have a car or van. 

Military Personnel

Dorset has a large military presence, with 3,150 serving personnel across 4 bases. It is estimated there are around 1,575 spouses and 2,389 children related to those personnel. 

The county is also home to two per cent of the UK’s veterans.  The total number of members of the Armed Forces Community in Dorset is more than 100,000, around 12.9% of Pan Dorset’s 771,900 population (2011 Census).

This data tells us that the Dorset Council area has an aging population with 29% of residents aged over 65, well above the national average (18.3%).  The 16-64 age group and those under 15 years of age are lower in number than the national average. There is a slightly higher number of females (51.1%) compared to males (48.9%). 

Approximately 1 in 5 of all residents have a health condition that limits their day to day activities. 

Although the majority of the Dorset population is classified as White British (95.6%), 4.4% of Dorset’s residents identify as ethnically diverse and 1.7% of the Dorset do not have English as their main language.  Where English is not the main language spoken, Polish is recorded with the next highest number of speakers at 1,457 in Dorset, followed by German 429, all other Chinese 344 and Nepalese 292.

65% of Dorset residents identify as Christian, 25% of residents have no religion and the remaining residents either do not state their religion or are of another faith. Although a relatively small percentage of the total Dorset population, any consultation should be mindful of different religious customs and practices to ensure fully inclusive events and to not assume that all residents are Christian or have no-religion. 

Dorset is a diverse county with a large urban and rural population which creates its own challenges and barriers to engagement.  A sizable number of households do not have access to a car or van and are therefore reliant on other forms of transport.  This needs to be considered when consultation is being planned. 

Dorset has a large military presence, with 3,150 serving personnel across 4 bases as well as spouses and their children. The military lifestyle can be transient with this group reliant on many of the services on their bases rather than nearby villages and towns.  We can’t assume that military personnel and their families will receive information from the usual community channels and therefore more targeted consultation and engagement is suggested.  The total number of members of the Armed Forces Community in Dorset is more than 100,000, around 12.9% of Dorset’s population. 

Digital inclusion

Digital exclusion is not just about a lack of access to broadband; it covers an array of issues relating to access, skills, education, and costs. 

The Heseltine Institute analysis of OFCOM data suggests 40% of people in the south-west are non-users of the internet or limited users.  It is well accepted that digital deprivation is closely associated with social deprivation.  Weymouth and Portland contain communities with nationally very high levels of deprivation including employment and income.  Using MOSAIC data, Westham ward in Radipole has the highest level of digital exclusion. 

Recent research by the University of Liverpool suggests that the digitally excluded number could be even greater considering there are very narrow users of digital systems (e.g. Facebook/Tiktok) and changes in life circumstances that impact on access.  It is very difficult to exactly state the number in Dorset, we estimate that 11% (55,000) people could be offline and 20% (64,000) lack digital skills. 

The Carnegie report challenges the assumption that all young people are frequent, confident, able users of the internet and digital technology.  Those who are vulnerable, particularly those at points of transition in their life (unemployed, homeless, in care, in secure accommodation) are most at risk of falling outside of the digital mainstream. 

We know from the Office of National Statistics that people who are connected and have digital skills will benefit from greater earnings, employment chances, retail savings, communication, and wellbeing. 

Our recent residents survey told us that 

• 94% of residents use the internet, however as 70% of surveys were completed online, the actual proportion of Dorset residents who do not use the internet may be higher than 6%. Of the respondents who completed the survey as a telephone interview, 18% do not use the internet.
• the most common reason for not using the internet was not being interested, with 72% giving this reason. 22% were prevented from using the internet due to not having equipment and 16% due to lack of skill.
• of the respondents who use the internet, 88% have a smartphone or mobile phone that connects to the internet. 76% have a laptop and 69% have a tablet or an iPad.

The Government Digital Service have published guidance on how to make content particularly on websites accessible.  For example, writing for age 9 as half the UK workforce have a reading age of 11 and below, using the right type of colour and images, including video voice overs and subtitles, avoiding jargon and acronyms. 

Further information needed to help inform this proposal is 

• public consultation through surveys (paper and online)
• consultation with political representatives in the area.
• consultation with local parish councils.
• statistics in respect of planned development and development outlined in the adopted local plan 

Engagement or consultation that has taken place as part of this EqIA

The review has not formally started yet.  There will be a full communications plan including social media, website, local Dorset Council newspaper, press releases, direct email to certain group 

Feedback 

This is how we will provide feedback 

• those engaging with us online will be invited to submit their email addresses to receive a copy of the report produced that will be considered by Full Council.
• information will be posted to a dedicated web address.
• press releases
• social media 

Assessment

Impacts of the proposal 

Key to impacts 

Positive Impact 

the proposal eliminates discrimination, advances equality of opportunity and/or fosters good relations with protected groups.

Negative Impact

Protected characteristic group(s) could be disadvantaged or discriminated against

Neutral Impact 

No change/ no assessed significant impact of protected characteristic groups

Unclear

Not enough data/evidence has been collected to make an informed decision.

Action Plan

Who has agreed this EqIA?

Officer completing this EqIA:  Jacqui Andrews         

Date: 07 June 2021

Equality Lead: Susan Ward-Rice

Date: 21 June 2021

Second sign off:  Becky Forrester

Date: 21 June 2021