Enterprise and communities (EqIA)

What is the policy/strategy/function/trying to achieve/do?    

The Local Housing Strategy (LHS) is a local authority’s overarching strategic document for housing in its area. The LHS sets out our priorities and plans for the delivery of housing and related services in North Lanarkshire. It builds on our existing LHS (2016-21), as well as having an assessment of current housing provision and related services, to identify and address the housing issues in North Lanarkshire. The LHS is the mechanism for helping us deliver the national outcomes and targets set by the government whilst reflecting and meeting the needs and priorities of our local authority area.

The  Consultative Draft LHS (2021-26) clearly sets out how housing contributes to the integration of health and social care and our other housing statutory responsibilities including:

• fuel poverty 
• house condition and
• homelessness

It also provides our strategic response to national outcomes, and national housing priorities such as the Scottish Housing Quality Standard, Town Centre living, our contribution to the reduction of carbon emissions, improving environmental and design standards, and supporting the development of sustainable communities. 

The Consultative Draft LHS has been published to gather views and feedback on the housing priorities and actions contained within the strategy  

If this policy is subject to the Fairer Scotland Duty what does it suggest about the impact or potential impact on socio-economic disadvantage? 

The Draft LHS is subject to the Fairer Scotland Duty given the broad scope of priorities and actions that have an impact on socio-economic disadvantage. 

The assessment identifies that it will have a positive impact on low income, low wealth and material deprivation through the contribution made by the development of housing on local economies:

• creating jobs
• providing opportunities for skills development, 
• increasing the supply of affordable housing and energy-efficient housing with reduced running costs. 

The Draft LHS draws attention to the new national housing strategy for Scotland ‘Housing to 2040’ and the requirement to develop more innovative technologies to increase the energy efficiency of our homes. This will have a positive impact on the labour market and economy.

It also sets out a specific commitment to increase the provision of affordable housing built to Housing for Varying Needs Standards, wheelchair liveable housing and amenity housing.  Research suggests that disabled people have lower income levels and that the built environment can present significant challenges for disabled people participating in everyday life. The provision of adaptable and accessible housing promotes and enables independence and provides the foundations for which other aspects of life can be achieved. 

Area deprivation will also be reduced through the range of actions that relate to the regeneration of town centres to address their decline and create vibrant, functional and liveable town centres and communities.

Give details of the impact it has on groups and individuals

The Draft LHS is envisaged to have a positive impact on several groups and individuals who share a protected characteristic.  These include:

• older people and younger people
• disabled people and people with long term health conditions
• LGBTQI+ people
• people of different beliefs or faiths
• people from ethnic minority backgrounds
• children and families
• people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
• looked after and accommodated people
• people transitioning from care
• care experienced young people
• asylum seekers and refugees

A positive impact is identified because of actions specific to these groups and individuals who share these characteristics within the Draft LHS.  These include but are not limited to:

• increasing the supply of affordable housing
• increasing the supply of accessible and wheelchair housing
• implementing the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan to effectively address homelessness
• carrying out further research to understand the needs of ethnic minority communities and LGBTQI+ people better
• increase the use of technology to help enable independence, inclusion and promote better outcomes
• improve access to specialist housing
• enable swifter discharge from hospital and reduce delayed discharge

The full range of actions can be seen in the action plan included within the LHS.

What actions/measures will be put in place or are planned to mitigate any adverse impact or promote equality?

At this stage there is no adverse impact identified in the Draft LHS.  As the Draft LHS sets out a plan to address the key housing challenges in North Lanarkshire, the actions are intended as measures to tackle current or forecast issues and are therefore positive activities.

What is the result/recommendations of the EqIA?

The recommendation is that the Draft LHS be introduced and consulted on for a period of 3 months (until 30 August) with a view to reviewing the feedback received during the consultation period and updating the strategy to produce a finalised LHS later in 2021.