Town Centre Forums - Equality Screening
S75 Equality And Good Relations Screening Form
| General Information |
| Service/ Function ☒ |
Policy/ Procedure ☐ |
Project ☒ |
Strategy ☐ |
Plan ☐ |
Guidance ☐ |
| Is this an existing, revised or a new function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance? Existing ☐ Revised ☐ New ☒ |
| Operational Area | Leisure & Development |
| Title | Town Centre Forums |
| Brief Summary Establish a network of Town Centre forums across the borough to act as an advisory group for delivery of the Place/town Management function to ensure the development and sustainability of our town centres. Forum membership will consist of members of the local community, business owners, town centre stakeholders elected representatives and Council officials. |
What is it trying to achieve? (intended aims and outcomes)
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| Who owns and who implements each element of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance? Town & Village Management Team |
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Other policies etc. which have a bearing on this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?
Studies, Publications, Statistics and Guidance:
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| Available Evidence Evidence to help inform the screening process may take many forms. Public authorities should ensure that their screening decision is informed by relevant data. What evidence/information (both qualitative and quantitative have you gathered to inform this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance? Specify details for relevant Section 75 categories. |
It is proposed that all Section 75 categories will be considered via:
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| Section 75 Category | Details of Evidence/Information
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| Religious Beliefs |
The 2011 Census outlined:
Therefore, there is no evidence to indicate that this policy will have a negative impact on any particular grouping. |
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| Political Opinion |
The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (2019) provides the following information on the political parties people in Northern Ireland feel closest to (this information is not available at Council area level) *:
In order to be representative forum members who, have various political opinions, as demonstrated in the Census statistics included above are welcome. The group encourages diversity and various viewpoints from individuals, specialist group representatives or as an individual with multiple identities are welcome. Therefore, there is no evidence to indicate that this policy will have a negative impact on any particular grouping.
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| Racial Group |
On Census Day 27th March 2011 the resident population was:
In order to be representative forum members from any racial group are welcome. The group encourages diversity and various viewpoints from individuals and from specialist group representatives. Therefore, there is no evidence to indicate that this policy will have a negative impact on any particular grouping. |
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| Age |
Age: (Mid Year 2019)* (NISRA statistics)
In order to support age, the forum will provide information in a variety of formats and use a range of advertising forms to encourage membership, e.g., written materials, on-line etc. All written documentation will be provided in an accessible word version to support font enlargement and screen readers. In addition, all communication will use 14 fonts. Meetings could be scheduled at various times, days and locations to suit as many attendees as possible. |
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| Marital Status |
Marital Status:
In order to be representative forum members may have varying marital status, as demonstrated in the Census statistics included above, however all are welcome in the group. Individuals can put forward views as an individual, specialist group representative or as an individual with multiple identities. Therefore, there is no evidence to indicate that this policy will have a negative impact on any particular grouping.
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| Sexual Orientation |
There are no specific figures available on how many people may be Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual or Trans-gender or Trans-sexual (LGBT) specific to the Council area.
In addition the NI Rainbow Project estimates between 6-10% of any given population could be considered as LGBT. Therefore, there is no evidence to indicate that this policy will have a negative impact on any particular grouping.
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| Men and Women Generally |
Gender: (Mid Year 2019 Population Estimates)*
Therefore, there is no evidence to indicate that this policy will have a negative impact on any particular grouping. |
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| Dependants |
The Census information in 2011 showed:
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| Disability |
People with a Disability/People Without:
____
1. ‘Communication difficulty’ means a difficulty with speaking or making yourself understood.
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| Screening Questions 1. What is the likely impact on equality of opportunity for those affected by this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance? |
| Section 75 Category | Positive impact |
Neutral | Negative impact |
Reason | |
| Gender | Women | ☒ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
The project aims to provide opportunities for positive engagement for all sections of the community |
| Men | ☒ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
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| Transgender men/women | ☒ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
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| Other please specify | ☐ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
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| Race (As used in the 2011 census) |
Asian | ☒ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
The project will have an equal impact on all irrespective of race. Provisions will be made to translate written documentation for individuals where English is not their first language |
| Black | ☒ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
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| Chinese | ☒ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
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| Mixed race White |
☒ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
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| Other please specify | ☐ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
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| Disability | Long term health impairment could include mental health problems, asthma, heart conditions, chronic fatigue etc. | ☒ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
The project will have an equal impact on all irrespective of disability Provisions will be made for accessibility as required
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| Sexual orientation | Heterosexual, lesbian, gay men, bisexual, others | ☒ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
The project will have an equal impact on all irrespective of sexual orientation |
| Age | Older People | ☒ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
The project will have an equal impact on all irrespective of age In order to support age the forum will provide information in a variety of formats |
| Younger people and children | ☒ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
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| Political Opinion | ☒ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
The project will have an equal impact on all irrespective of political opinion |
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| Religious Belief | ☒ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
The project will have an equal impact on all irrespective of religious belief |
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| Marital Status | ☒ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
The project will have an equal impact on all irrespective of marital status |
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| Dependants | ☒ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
The project will have an equal impact on all Meetings can be scheduled at various times, days and locations to suit as many attendees as possible. |
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| Screening Questions 2. Are there opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity for people within any of the Section 75 categories? |
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| Section 75 Category | If Yes, provide details | If No, provide details | ||
| Gender | Women | The project will offer opportunity for all genders to engage with the forum | ||
| Men | ||||
| Transgender men/women | ||||
| Other please specify | ||||
| Race As used in the 2011 census. |
Asian | The project will offer opportunity for all to engage with the forum irrespective of race | ||
| Black | ||||
| Chinese | ||||
| Mixed race White | ||||
| Other please specify | ||||
| Disability | Long term health impairment could include mental health problems, asthma, heart conditions, chronic fatigue etc. |
The project will offer opportunity for all to engage with the forum with or without disability |
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| Sexual orientation | Heterosexual, lesbian, gay men, bisexual, others | The project will offer opportunity for all to engage with the forum irrespective of sexual orientation | ||
| Age | Older People, Younger people and children |
The project will offer opportunity for all to engage with the forum irrespective of age | ||
| Political Opinion | The project will offer opportunity for all to engage with the forum irrespective of political opinion | |||
| Religious Belief | The project will offer opportunity for all irrespective of their religious beliefs to engage with the forum | |||
| Marital Status | The project will offer opportunity for all to engage with the forum irrespective of marital status | |||
| Dependants | The project will offer opportunity for all to engage with the forum | |||
| Screening Questions 3. To what extent is the policy likely to impact on good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group? |
| Section 75 Category | Details of policy impact | Level of impact major/minor/none |
| Religious Belief | This project does not distinguish between people of different religious beliefs | None |
| Political Opinion | This project does not distinguish between people of different political opinion | None |
| Racial Group | This project does not distinguish between people of different racial groups | None |
| Screening Questions 4. Are there opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group? |
| Section 75 Category | If Yes, provide details | If No, provide details |
| Religious Belief | The project will offer opportunity for all irrespective of their religious beliefs to engage with the forum | |
| Political | The project will offer opportunity for all to engage with the forum irrespective of political opinion | |
| Racial Group | The project will offer opportunity for all to engage with the forum irrespective of race |
| Additional Considerations | |
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Generally speaking people can fall into more than one Section 75 category. Taking this into consideration, are there any potential impacts of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance on people with multiple identities? (For example: disabled minority ethnic people, disabled women, young Protestant men, young lesbians, gay and bisexual people.) The forum will support people with multiple identities to have a voice and express their views and needs by participating in the forum, as an individual or through representatives on their behalf. |
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| Provide details of data on the impact of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance on people with multiple identities. Specify the relevant Section 75 categories concerned. | |
This project will positively impact on all section 75 categories. There has been no evidenced gathered or received during the consultation process to date, which indicates forum membership will impact differently or negatively on people with multiple identities. However, mitigation will be offered and adjustments made to suit the needs of forum members and the impact of the forum will be reviewed as part of the monitoring process. |
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| Disability Considerations Is there an opportunity to better promote positive attitudes towards disabled people by altering this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance? ☒ Yes ☐ No |
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If yes, please give further information and examples: Irrespective of any of the section 75 groups mentioned above, all people working in or accessing the town centres will benefit from the project. |
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| Is there an opportunity to encourage participation by disabled people in public life by altering this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance? ☒ Yes ☐ No |
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| Please give further information and examples: Irrespective of any of the section 75 groups mentioned above, all people working in or accessing the town centres will benefit from the project. |
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Screening Decision
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If the decision is not to conduct an equality impact assessment (i.e. likely impact = None), please provide details of the reasons for this: Mitigation and procedures for adjustments have been included in the forum practices to support equality and if necessary further adjustments will be made. The need for further mitigation will be reviewed as part of the monitoring process. |
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| Mitigation | |
| When the Council concludes that the likely impact is ‘Minor’ and an equality impact assessment is not to be conducted, the Council may consider mitigation to lessen the severity of any equality impact, or the introduction of an alternative policy to better promote equality of opportunity or good relations. Can the policy/decision be amended or changed or an alternative policy introduced to better promote equality of opportunity and/or good relations? ☐ Yes ☒ No |
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If YES, give the reasons to support your decision, together with the proposed changes/amendments or alternative policy:
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| Timetabling And Prioritising | |
| If the policy/decision has been ‘screened in’ for equality impact assessment, then please answer the following questions to determine its priority for timetabling the equality impact assessment. On a scale of 1 to 3, with 1 being the lowest priority and 3 the highest, assess the policy in terms of its priority for equality impact assessment. |
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| Priority Criterion | Rating (1 to 3) |
| Effect on equality of opportunity and good relations | N/A |
| Social Need | N/A |
| Effect on people’s daily lives | N/A |
| Relevance to the Council’s functions | N/A |
| Monitoring | |
| Please outline proposals for future monitoring of the policy/decision: Monitoring will be carried out every 2 years as part of the normal council review process. |
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| Approval And Authorisation | |
| Screened By Position/Job Title Date | Date |
| Town & Village Management Officer | 26/11/2021 |
| Approved By Position/Job Title Date | |
| Prosperity & Place Head of Service | 01/12/2021 |
*Sources:
Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (NILT), Queen’s University Belfast and the Ulster University NI Life and Times Survey - 2019 : ORIENT2 (ark.ac.uk)
https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/nlgccg.htm
Northern Ireland Statistics website: www.nisra.gov.uk
2019 Mid Year Population Estimates for Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (nisra.gov.uk)
Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO.
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