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 | Corporate |
| Title | Fire Safety Policy |
| Brief Summary Council has a legal responsibility for fire safety of all members, staff, persons contracted to carry out work on the Council premises, authorised visitors, volunteers and members of the public using our services who may be affected by the Council’s activities. |
| What is it trying to achieve? (intended aims and outcomes) The aims are: a. To eliminate or minimise, so far as is reasonably practicable, the risk of fire within Council premises. b. To promote and develop an integral fire safety culture c. To fire risk assess all relevant Council premises and implement appropriate control measures d. Effective consultation and communications with all stakeholders e. Monitor the Council fire safety performance to ensure compliance with its legal obligations and continual improvement of the Councils fire safety management system. |
Who owns and who implements each element of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?
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Other policies etc. which have a bearing on this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance? |
| 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 Fire Safety Policy will treat all individuals the same regardless of their Religious Beliefs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Opinion | The Fire Safety Policy will treat all individuals the same regardless of their Political Opinion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Racial Group | On Census Day 27th March 2011 the resident population was:
It was noted some individuals within this Section 75 group could be impacted by the policy if English was not their first language. This could result in them being unable to read the policy. In order to mitigate its potential impact staff will be trained where there is an identified need regarding the policy and its operation, Fire Wardens will receive specific training to support the safe exit of the building by all users, both Visual and Audible Alarms have been installed as this can act as a warning to all, in addition Pictorial Signage will support understanding and safe exit. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age | Age: (Mid Year 2019) (NISRA statistics)
It was noted some individuals within this Section 75 group could be impacted by the policy or may be slower to leave the building. This could be due to the equipment brought in or to impacts of age itself. In order to mitigate related potential impacts staff will be trained where there is an identified need regarding the policy and its operation, Fire Wardens will receive specific training to support the safe exit of the building by all users, both Visual and Audible Alarms have been installed as this can act as a warning to all, PEEPS will also be developed to take into account general issues and support safe exit. Buildings with lifts are provided with disabled refuges, Evac chairs and appropriately trained staff. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marital Status | Marital Status:
The Fire Safety Policy will treat all individuals the same regardless of their marital status. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sexual Orientation | The Fire Safety Policy will treat all individuals the same regardless of their sexual orientation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Men and Women Generally | The Fire Safety Policy will treat all individuals the same regardless of their gender. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dependants | Dependants The Census information in 2011 showed: People With or Without Dependents:
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| Disability | People with a long term condition/illness by former legacy Council area (most recent figures available from Census 2011):
____
1. ‘Communication difficulty’ means a difficulty with speaking or making yourself understood. It was noted some individuals within this Section 75 group could be impacted by the policy or may be slower to leave the building as a result of their disability. In order to mitigate related potential impacts staff will be trained where there is an identified need regarding the policy and its operation, Fire Wardens will receive specific training to support the safe exit of the building by all users, both Visual and Audible Alarms have been installed as this can act as a warning to all, PEEPS will also be developed to take into account general issues and support safe exit. Buildings with lifts are provided with disabled refuges, Evac chairs and appropriately trained staff. |
| 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 Policy is a Support and Guidance Document and has a neutral impact on this Section 75 category |
| Men | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | ||
| Transgender men/women | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | ||
| Other please specify | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | ||
| Race (As used in the 2011 census) | Asian | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | Mitigating Measures in place: |
| Black | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | ||
| Chinese | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | ||
| Mixed race White | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | ||
| Other please specify | ☐ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | ||
| Disability | Long term health impairment could include mental health problems, asthma, heart conditions, chronic fatigue etc. | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | Mitigating Measures in place: Various languages availableFire Wardens Pictorial Signs Visual and Audible Alarms Trained Staff Reception / Room Booking System requesting information associated with identifying disability |
| Sexual orientation | Heterosexual, lesbian, gay men, bisexual, others | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | The Policy is a Support and Guidance Document and has a neutral impact on this Section 75 category |
| Age | Older People | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | Mitigating Measures in place: |
| Younger people and children | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | ||
| Political Opinion | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | The Policy is a Support and Guidance Document and has a neutral impact on this Section 75 category | |
| Religious Belief | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | The Policy is a Support and Guidance Document and has a neutral impact on this Section 75 category | |
| Marital Status | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | The Policy is a Support and Guidance Document and has a neutral impact on this Section 75 category | |
| Dependants | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ | Mitigating Measures in place: | |
| Screening Questions 2. Are there opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity for people within any of the Section 75 categories? | |||||
| Section 75 Category | If Yes, provide details | If No, provide details | |
| Gender | Women | Policy provided to comply with legislative requirements | |
| Men | |||
| Transgender men/women | |||
| Other please specify | |||
| Race As used in the 2011 census. | Asian | Policy provided to comply with legislative requirements | |
| Black | |||
| Chinese | |||
| Mixed race White | |||
| Other please specify | |||
| Disability | Long term health impairment could include mental health problems, asthma, heart conditions, chronic fatigue etc. | Policy provided to comply with legislative requirements | |
| Sexual orientation | Heterosexual, lesbian, gay men, bisexual, others | Policy provided to comply with legislative requirements | |
| Age | Older People, Younger people and children | Policy provided to comply with legislative requirements | |
| Political Opinion | Policy provided to comply with legislative requirements | ||
| Religious Belief | Policy provided to comply with legislative requirements | ||
| Marital Status | Policy provided to comply with legislative requirements | ||
| Dependants | Policy provided to comply with legislative requirements | ||
| 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 | Support and Guidance Document | None |
| Political Opinion | Support and Guidance Document | None |
| Racial Group | Support and Guidance Document | 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 | No - Support and Guidance Document | |
| Political Opinion | No - Support and Guidance Document | |
| Racial Group | No - Support and Guidance Document |
| Additional Considerations | |
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.) No the policy already takes multiple identity impacts into account via Trained Staff, Fire Wardens and Personnel Evacuation Plans | |
| 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. | |
| Male/Females with Dependants, Older male/females with disabilities, Male/Females from various racial groupings with dependants. In addition the Policy will run as a pilot, with 1 year review - Reasonable adjustments will be considered where necessary to support mitigation of currently unidentified impacts | |
| 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 | |
| If yes, please give further information and examples: | |
| 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 | |
| Please give further information and examples: | |
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: Policy provided to comply with legislative requirements which has included mitigating measures to support various Section 75 groupings The pilot will allow us to consider any reasonable adjustments not yet identified | |
| 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 | |
If YES, give the reasons to support your decision, together with the proposed changes/amendments or alternative policy: | |
| 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. | |
| 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: This pilot policy will be reviewed after 1 year and reasonable adjustments will be considered where necessary Following this 1 year review the policy will then be required to be reviewed every 2 years as part of the Corporate process | |
| Approval And Authorisation | |
| Screened By Position/Job Title Date | Date |
| Building Control Manager | 16/06/2021 |
| Approved By Position/Job Title Date | |
| Director of Environmental Services | 18/06/21 |