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Equality Impact Assessments (EqIA) for Transport Schemes:Their impact on Gender Equality

This event was jointly organised with the RTPI Transport Planning Network to discuss Equality Impact Assessments (EqIA) for transport schemes and their impact on gender equality. The event was hosted at Queen Mary, University of London and Alison Blunt, Professor of Geography and current chair of LWPF, opened the event with an introduction to LWPF before handing over to Victoria Hills, leader of the RTPI’s Transport Planning Network (TPN).

Victoria welcomed delegates to the event and provided a quick introduction to the theme of the event highlighting that when the Gender Equality Duty (GED) comes into force in April 2007, it will require public authorities to promote gender equality and eliminate sex discrimination. Instead of depending on individuals to make complaints about sex discrimination themselves, the duty places the legal responsibility on public authorities to demonstrate that they treat men and women fairly. The duty will affect policy making, public services, such as transport, and employment practices such as recruitment and flexible working. Victoria noted that 1975 was a big year for women as the Equal Pay Act came into effect, the Sex Discrimination Act was passed and the Equal Opportunities Commission was set up to help achieve equality between women and men. Noting that there have been a series of legislative changes since then, Victoria highlighted that the Gender Equality Duty provides a real opportunity to change the culture of organisations, as the onus will be on them to promote equality, rather than on individuals to highlight discrimination. Victoria noted that we all use transport in one shape or form, but traditionally women use public transport in different ways and for different reasons than men. The Gender Equality Duty could see transport service planners improving bus routes across towns to supermarkets, schools and health centres for example and Victoria noted that its not just about women; taking gender into consideration in planning gives a better understanding of what everyone wants from transport services, helping to improve customer satisfaction by tailoring services to actual needs.

The first speaker was Sue Johnson, a Policy and Performance Manager on Gender for the Greater London Authority, who has been championing the cause of equality for over 20 years and in her public and private sector roles has developed broad ranging experience and knowledge of mainstreaming equalities into service delivery and employment. Drawing on her experience with the GLA where she has been working with the London Development Agency, London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Metropolitan Police Service and Transport for London (TfL), Sue provided an overview of undertaking gender equality impact assessments within the context of strategic planning issues. Sue Johnson outlined the first steps of carrying out Equality Impact Assessments using the case example of strategic planning and the London Housing Strategy. Many of Sue’s comments were equally applicable to the case of transport, and it was interesting to learn how an EqIA can tease out the key issues related to gender within a landuse context.

Victoria Hills then introduced Simon Dean, a Director of NOMIS Projects Limited who specialise in equality, inclusion and consultation in the transport sector, and who have led the development of an EqIA process template for TfL, as well as preparing TfL’s Age Positive Equality Scheme and supporting the production of their Gender Equality Scheme. Simon drew upon his transport expertise in equality and inclusion and in particular consultation with local communities to talk through the 10 steps of EqIA; initial screening, planning, data gathering, consultation, testing impact, impact classification, mitigation, introducing change, reporting and monitoring.

After a short break, the afternoon carried on with a presentation by Alice Maynard, founder and Managing Director of Future Inclusion, who help organisations to develop strategies to employ and provide services to people in the community who are often overlooked by transport systems and planning. Alice, who is also studying a part-time student at Cranfield University studying for an Executive Doctorate (DBA), spoke on rising to the Challenge of EqIAs and integrating gender equality into the mainstream. Noting that EqIA in the transport field is a recent but fast developing activity, Alice highlighted that it can play a key role in the mainstreaming of gender equality by providing a systematic approach to the identification of relevant issues within the organisation. The upcoming Gender Equality Duty has the potential to demand a greater focus on EqIA, and Alice emphasised this is an opportunity not to be missed by those who are working in the equality and diversity field.

The final speaker of the day was Stephen Golden, Head of Strategy & Policy, Transport for London (TfL) Group Equality & Inclusion who spoke more specifically on TfL’s Gender Equality Scheme. Stephen, who has worked on the development of TfL's Equality Schemes with a focus on enhancing TfL's equality performance, spoke on the Transport for London (TfL) Gender Equality Scheme and TfL’s approach to the Gender Duty. Using modal examples, Stephen provided anecdotes on what TfL actually do, their approach to equality, research undertaken to date and what TfL hope to achieve through Gender Duty.

Following some lively questions and discussion, Victoria made some final remarks to draw together the afternoon with a forward focussed emphasis on the key role that all the event attendees can play in mainstreaming equality through their day to day work. Delegates then enjoyed a wine reception sponsored by the London Women and Planning Forum.