Equality Screening Debt Management Policy p3
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Sexual orientation |
2021 Census – Citizens aged 16+
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Men and women generally |
2021 Census
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Disability |
2021 Census There are 138,994 residents within Mid and East Antrim and 25% live with a limiting long term health problem or disability. However, the number of households affected by a resident or residents with a limiting long term health problem or disability totals 45% of the 58,283 households within the Borough. Therefore, nearly half the number of households in Mid and East Antrim are affected by one of the 50,121 limiting long term health problems or disability recorded for the area. |
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Dependants |
2021 Census 27.07% of MEABC households have 1 or more dependant children. This has fallen from 32.14% recorded in the 2011 census. The age breakdown of the dependant children is as follows:
The majority of children within households with dependant children are aged between 0 and 4. |
If you do not have enough data to tell you about potential or actual impacts you may need to conduct a pre-consultation to generate more data and to distinguish what groups are potentially affected by your policy.
Needs, experiences and priorities
Taking into account the information referred to above, what are the different needs, experiences and priorities of each of the following categories, in relation to the particular policy or decision?
Specify details of the needs, experiences and priorities for each of the Section 75 categories below:
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Section 75 category |
Details needs, experiences and priorities |
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Religious belief |
There are no specific needs or experiences related to religious belief, as the policy is administrative and applies consistently to all debtors regardless of religious background. |
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Political opinion |
There are no specific needs or experiences related to political opinion. This policy is administrative and applies consistently to all debtors regardless of political opinion. |
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Racial group |
May have reduced access due to different language and would require information in different languages. |
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Age |
May have reduced digital access or confidence and would require non digital access such as letters and telephone calls. Flexible repayment in exceptional circumstances may support this group, particularly older individuals who may experience exceptional circumstances. |
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Marital status |
There are no specific needs or experiences related to marital status. This policy is administrative and applies consistently to all debtors regardless of marital status. |
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Sexual orientation |
There are no specific needs or experiences related to sexual orientation. This policy is administrative and applies consistently to all debtors regardless of sexual orientation. |
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Men and women generally |
There are no specific needs or experiences related to gender. This policy is administrative and applies consistently to all debtors regardless of gender. |
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Disability |
May have reduced digital access and may require non digital access such as letters and telephone calls as well as accessible communications formats such as large print and easy read on request. Flexible repayment in exceptional circumstances may support this group, who may be likely to experience exceptional circumstances. |
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Dependants |
Flexible repayment in exceptional circumstances may support this group. |
Part 2. Screening questions
Taking into account the evidence presented above, consider and comment on the likely impact on equality of opportunity and good relations for those affected by this policy, in any way, for each of the equality and good relations categories, and indicate the level of impact on the group i.e. minor, major or none.
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1 What is the likely impact on equality of opportunity for those affected by this policy, for each of the Section 75 equality categories? Minor, major or none |
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Section 75 category |
Details of policy impact |
Indicate Level of impact for each category? Positive major Positive minor None Negative major Negative minor |
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Category: Religious belief |
The policy does not differentiate between individuals on the basis of religion therefore, religious belief has no bearing on debt recovery processes. |
None |
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Category: Political opinion |
The policy applies consistently to all regardless of their political opinion and as such no differential impact is expected. |
None |
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Category: Racial group |
The policy allows for alternative language communications upon request |
Positive minor |
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Category: Age |
The policy does not rely solely on digital or online communication. The Council continues to use telephone contact and postal correspondence when engaging with individuals regarding outstanding debts. The policy allows for flexible repayment arrangements to be considered in exceptional circumstances. This may include situations where older people face fixed or limited incomes. Any such arrangements will be assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure they are fair, proportionate and consistent with the Council’s duty to recover income. |
Positive minor |
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Category: Marital status |
The policy applies consistently to all regardless of their marital status and as such no differential impact is expected. |
None |
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Category: Sexual orientation |
The policy applies consistently to all regardless of their sexual orientation and as such no differential impact is expected. |
None |
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Category: Men and women generally |
The policy applies consistently to all regardless of their gender and as such no differential impact is expected. |
None |
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Category: Disability |
The policy does not rely solely on digital or online communication. The Council continues to use telephone contact and postal correspondence when engaging with individuals regarding outstanding debts. The policy allows for flexible repayment arrangements to be considered in exceptional circumstances. This may include situations where disabled people face additional financial or practical challenges. Any such arrangements will be assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure they are fair, proportionate and consistent with the Council’s duty to recover income. Alternative format of this policy are available upon request. |
Positive minor |
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Category: Dependants |
The policy includes the option of flexible repayment arrangements to be considered in exceptional circumstances that may support individuals with caring responsibilities. Any such arrangements will be assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure they are fair, proportionate and consistent with the Council’s duty to recover income. |
Positive minor |
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2 Are there opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity for people within the Section 75 equalities categories? |
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Section 75 category |
If Yes, provide details for each category |
If No, provide reasons |
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Category: Religious Belief |
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This policy includes mitigations that address the communication and accessibility risks of differential impact. |
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Category: Political opinion |
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Category: Racial group |
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Category: Age |
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Category: Marital Status |
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Category: Sexual Orientation |
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Category: Men and women generally |
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Category: Disability |
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Category: Dependents |
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3 To what extent is the policy likely to impact on good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group? Minor, major or none |
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Good relations category |
Detail the policy impact for each category |
Advise Level of impact for each category? Positive major Positive minor None Negative major Negative minor |
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Category: Religious belief |
This policy does not relate to community identity, cultural expression, or issues that typically affect relationships between people of differing religious beliefs, political opinions, or racial backgrounds. |
None |
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Category: Political opinion |
None |
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Category: Racial group |
None |
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4 Are there opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group? |
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Good relations category |
If Yes, provide details |
If No, provide reasons |
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Category: Religious belief |
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The policy does not influence good relations; therefore, there are no further opportunities to better promote good relations. |
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Category: Political Opinion |
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Category: Racial Group |
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