The Disability Oversight Panel of Camden Council met on Wednesday 22 July 2026. The meeting's agenda included a review of the council's equality impact assessment process and a discussion of the panel's terms of reference.

Terms of Reference

The panel was scheduled to note its terms of reference, which outline its purpose and role. The Disability Oversight Panel meets up to three times a year to discuss key issues for disabled residents, hear from service users and experts, and support the work of the council's Equality Champions. The panel aims to identify issues for further scrutiny by the Joint Chairs of Scrutiny meeting and to consider recommendations for other parts of the council concerning decision-making that impacts disabled residents. It also reviews progress and work undertaken during the year, ensuring oversight across all disabilities.

Equality Impact Assessments Assurance Report

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

The report detailed the council's EqIA framework, which requires that when making decisions or carrying out public functions, the council must give due regard to the need to:

• Eliminate unlawful behaviours prohibited by the Equality Act 2010², 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 report outlined the council's EqIA process, including the use of an EqIA screening tool and a corporate EqIA template. This template requires information on background, evidence and data, analysis of impact, consultation and engagement, assessment, an action plan, and review and sign-off. The Equalities Service has been working to improve the EqIA process since early 2026, introducing an updated EqIA form and screening tool, a peer support network for EqIA reviewers, and training workshops for officers and members.

The report also provided insights and learning from the council's EqIA process, noting that the data held was a partial view. It presented a table showing the number of EqIAs reviewed by the Equalities Service and the number submitted to Cabinet for 2024, 2025, and 2026 (as of 1 July). Specific reflections on equality for disabled people arising from EqIAs were also included, detailing the proportion of EqIAs that identified positive, negative, or no impacts on disabled people. The most commonly recurring potential negative impacts identified for disabled people included disproportionate impacts from changes to financial support, construction works, removal of parking bays, e-bikes and e-scooters, contractor access to properties, loss of information on adjustments, and changes to the public realm. Mitigating actions frequently mentioned in EqIAs included monitoring parking availability, using construction management plans, offering quiet spaces, and facilitating accessible consultation.

The report recommended that the panel consider the detail within the report and discuss how these insights can support its work. It also asked the panel to advise the Council's Equalities Service on further information it would like to receive and how it can be kept updated.