The Disability Oversight Panel of Camden Council met on Wednesday 22 July 2026 to review the council's approach to equality impact assessments and to note the panel's terms of reference. The meeting's agenda also included a review of the minutes from the previous meeting.

Terms of Reference

The panel was scheduled to review its terms of reference, which outline its purpose and role. The Disability Oversight Panel (DOP) is intended to meet up to three times a year to discuss key issues for disabled residents, identified by Equality Champions through their engagement across Camden. The panel is also set to hear directly from service users and experts, such as those from the Centre for Independent Living. A key function of the panel is to support the councillor Champions in their roles and to identify issues for further exploration by the Joint Chairs of Scrutiny meeting. The panel aims to ensure that disabled residents are involved in the scrutiny of relevant issues and to consider whether other recommendations should be made to other parts of the Council concerning decision-making that impacts disabled residents. The panel will also review progress and work undertaken during the year, ensuring oversight on all disabilities.

Equality Impact Assessments Assurance Report

A report from the Director of Communities and Housing Support was scheduled for discussion, providing an overview of the council's equality impact assessment (EqIA) process. The report aimed to assure the panel that Camden is taking practical steps to meet its Public Sector Equality Duty¹ and to be proactive about disability inclusion.

The report detailed Camden's EqIA framework, which is designed to ensure compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty. This duty requires the council, when making decisions or carrying out public functions, to give due regard to the need to:

• Eliminate unlawful behaviours prohibited by the Equality Act 2010, including discrimination, harassment, and victimisation.
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
• Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

The council uses a corporate EqIA template for all decisions and activities, supported by an EqIA screening tool to help officers determine if an assessment is required. The corporate template requires information on the background, evidence and data, analysis of impact, consultation and engagement, assessment, action plan, and review and sign-off.

The report also outlined improvements made by the Equalities Service since early 2026, including the launch of an updated EqIA form and screening tool, the introduction of a peer support network for EqIA reviewers, and the delivery of training workshops on carrying out EqIAs. An optional workshop for members on the council's EqIA framework was also delivered in July 2026.

Insights from the council's EqIA process were presented, noting that the data held is a partial view as not all EqIAs are required to be sent to or reviewed by the Equalities Service. The report provided a table showing the number of EqIAs reviewed by the Equalities Service and submitted to Cabinet for the years 2024, 2025, and 2026 (as of 1 July).

Specific reflections on equality for disabled people arising from EqIAs were also detailed. Of the EqIAs reviewed in 2026, 55 identified potential equality impacts. The report indicated that 32.7% identified only positive impacts for disabled people, 3.6% identified only negative impacts, 54.5% identified both positive and negative impacts, and 9.1% identified no impacts. Commonly recurring potential negative impacts for disabled people included disproportionate impacts from changes to financial support, rising costs, construction works, removal of parking bays, e-bikes and e-scooters creating trip hazards, increased anxiety from contractor access, loss of adjustment information during system transitions, and changes to the public realm. Mitigating actions frequently mentioned included monitoring parking availability, using construction management plans, offering quiet spaces, and facilitating accessible consultation and engagement.

The panel was recommended to consider the detail in the report and discuss how these insights could support its work, and to advise the Equalities Service on further information it would like to receive and how it can be kept updated.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The panel was also scheduled to consider the minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2026. The minutes from that meeting indicated that the panel had discussed the Camden Green Space Investment Programme 2026-2030. During that discussion, officers explained the programme's framework for capital investment, funding sources, and project prioritisation. Members discussed how accessibility and inclusivity were incorporated, noting the importance of accessible play equipment and catering for disabled adults and older residents. Concerns were raised about the lack of public toilets in parks, and the panel suggested clearer borough-wide inclusive design principles for green spaces. The minutes also noted that the panel had been consulted relatively late in the development of the programme and suggested earlier engagement in future cycles. The resolution from that meeting was to note the report.