Equality Screening Events Policy
Contents:
- Part 1 - Policy Scoping
- Part 2 - Screening Questions
- Part 3 - Screening Decision
- Part 4 - Monitoring
- Part 5 - Approval and Authorisation
Part 1. Policy scoping
The first stage of the screening process involves scoping the policy under consideration.
The purpose of policy scoping is to help prepare the background and context and set out the aims and objectives for the policy, being screened.
At this stage, scoping the policy will help identify potential constraints as well as opportunities and will help the policy maker work through the screening process on a step by step basis.
Public authorities should remember that the Section 75 statutory duties apply to internal policies (relating to people who work for the authority), as well as external policies (relating to those who are, or could be, served by the authority).
Part 1: Information about the policy
| Information about the policy | |
|---|---|
|
Name of policy |
Events Policy |
|
Is this and existing, revised or new policy? |
This is an existing Council activity. |
|
What is it trying to achieve? (intended aims/outcomes) |
To give access to entertainment/leisure activity for residents and visitors, to build community cohesion and community pride, to support jobs and businesses in the Borough. |
|
Are there any section 75 categories which might be expected to benefit for the intended policy? If so, explain how. |
The policy will support the achievement of our new Corporate Plan through the 4 pillars of People, Place, Planet and Performance. Council’s events programme is inclusive and adjustments are made for our citizens, where necessary, to ensure a welcoming and safe environment for all to enjoy. All categories would be expected to benefit from this policy. |
|
Policy Lead Officer (who initiated or wrote the policy) |
Events Manager |
| Who owns/implements the policy? | The Assistant Director of Citizen Focus owns the policy which is implemented by the Events Team. |
| Implementation factors | |
| N/A | |
| Main stakeholders affected | |
|
Who are the internal and external stakeholders (actual or potential) that the policy will impact upon? (please tick as appropriate) Service users |
|
| Other policies with a bearing on this policy | |
|
|
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. The Commission has produced this guide to signpost to S75 data.
What evidence/information (both qualitative and quantitative) have you gathered to inform this policy? Specify details for each of the Section 75 categories.
| Section 75 category | Details of evidence/information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Religious belief |
Protestant and other Christian religions comprise the majority of citizens within MEA Borough at 58% compared to 17% Catholic. Overall NI figures record a majority of Catholic citizens, however this does not apply to MEA Borough. MEA citizens without/did not state religion, accounts for approximately a quarter of MEA Borough. 2011 – 2021 Census Comparison
The category of ‘No religion’ has increased by 6%, these figures may possibly account for the decline in Protestant and other numbers. |
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| Political opinion |
Local Government Elections took place in May 2023 below highlights the weighting in the Borough’s political opinion.
|
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| Racial group |
2021 Census
2011 – 2021 Census Comparison 1% increase in white with a 1% decrease in other |
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| Age |
The largest age range in MEA Borough is 40-64 at 34% with 15-39 representing 29% of the Borough. 69% of the Borough is represented by the 15-64 age range. 2011 – 2021 Census Comparison
In 2011 it was predicted the 65+ age group will continue to grow by 41% by 2030 however it has fallen in the past 10 years. A possible explanation could be the impact of the Covid pandemic during which over 65s were at most risk. |
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|
Marital status |
MEABC has a higher proportion of married residents when compared to Northern Ireland figures. There has been changes in the marital status of MEABC residents since the 2011 census. The number of residents who are single, in a civil partnership or divorced has risen. In comparison the number of residents who are married, separated or widowed has fallen. |
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| Sexual orientation |
Figures refer to Borough residents aged 16 and over, of which there are 113,075.
Sexual orientation statistical breakdown for Mid and East Antrim 2011 census was not available therefore it is not possible to see if there has been any change in the sexual orientation of Mid and East Antrim residents. |
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| Men and women generally |
2021 Census The population of the Borough is 49% male and 51% female. There has been no change since the 2011 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 dependent children. This has fallen from 32.14% recorded in the 2011 census. The age breakdown of the dependent children is as follows:
The majority of children within households with dependent children are aged between 0 and 4. Hours of unpaid care provided by residents of MEABC according to the 2021 census.
|
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/decision?
Specify details of the needs, experiences and priorities for each of the Section 75 categories below:
| Section 75 category | Details needs, experiences and priorities |
|---|---|
| Religious belief |
The events programme focusses on delivering a broad range of content in neutral spaces. None of the events are of a religious focus: However the Christmas lights switch-on events might sometimes include carols and readings to reflect the Christian significance of Christmas. Any carols or readings will not be the main content of the programme. |
| Political opinion |
None |
| Racial group |
None |
| Age |
The events do not directly discriminate against any age grouping but by nature the content is more appealing to young children and their adult care givers. |
|
Marital status |
None |
| Sexual orientation |
None |
| Men and women generally |
None |
| Disability |
All venues are wheelchair accessible with Blue Badge parking very close by. All venues have accessible toilets. |
| Dependants |
None |
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.
|
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/none |
||
|---|---|---|
| Section 75 category | Details of policy impact |
Level of impact? |
| Religious belief |
The events programme focusses on delivering a broad range of content in neutral spaces. None of the events are of a religious focus: However the Christmas lights switch-on events might sometimes include carols and readings to reflect the Christian significance of Christmas. Any carols or readings will not be the main content of the programme |
Positive minor |
| Political opinion |
|
None |
| Racial group |
|
None |
| Age |
Council’s full portfolio of annual events balances out any perceived weighting towards children which Christmas and Halloween events might have. |
None |
| Marital status |
None |
None |
| Sexual orientation |
|
None |
| Men and women generally |
|
None |
| Disability |
Council will ensure the event is fully accessible to people living with disabilities |
Positive major |
| Dependents |
Council has made sure the event is age friendly and fully accessible by people living with disabilities which will encourage those with dependants to attend. |
Positive major |
|
2. Are there opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity for people within the Section 75 equalities categories? |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Section 75 category |
If Yes, provide details | If No, provide reasons |
| Religious belief |
|
No |
| Political opinion | No | |
| Racial group | No | |
| Age | No | |
| Marital status | No | |
| Sexual orientation | No | |
| Men and women generally | No | |
| Disability | No | |
| Dependents | No | |
|
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/none |
||
|---|---|---|
| Good relations category | Details of policy impact |
Level of impact? |
| Religious belief |
The events programme focusses on delivering a broad range of content in neutral spaces. The Christmas lights switch-on events include carols and readings to reflect the meaning of Christmas. |
Positive minor |
| Political opinion |
A political event in a neutral space with no admission charge will help build a shared community. |
None |
| Racial group |
A neutral racial event in a neutral space with no admission charge will help build a shared community. |
None |
|
4. Are there opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group? |
||
|---|---|---|
| Good relations category | If Yes, provide details |
If No, provide reasons |
| Religious belief |
Council will strive to ensure that all events are held in shared spaces that are open and available to all, regardless of religious belief. |
|
| Political opinion |
Council will strive to ensure that all events are held in politically neutral, shared spaces that are open and available to all, regardless of political opinion. |
|
| Racial group |
Council will strive to ensure that all events are racially neutral, held in shared spaces that are open and available to all, regardless of racial group. |
|
Additional considerations
Multiple identity
|
Generally speaking, people can fall into more than one Section 75 category. Taking this into consideration, are there any potential impacts of the policy/decision on people with multiple identities? (For example; disabled minority ethnic people; disabled women; young Protestant men; and young lesbians, gay and bisexual people). |
|---|
|
No additional impact is foreseen due to individuals holding multiple identities. |
|
Provide details of data on the impact of the policy on people with multiple identities. Specify relevant Section 75 categories concerned. |
| N/A |
Part 3. Screening decision
|
If the decision is not to conduct an equality impact assessment, please provide details of the reasons. |
|---|
|
An EQIA is considered unnecessary, as no major adverse impacts have been identified through this screening exercise. |
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If the decision is not to conduct an equality impact assessment the public authority should consider if the policy should be mitigated or an alternative policy be introduced – please provide details. |
|
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council will continue to monitor community reactions to our events programme and address any adverse impacts as they arise. |
|
If the decision is to subject the policy to an equality impact assessment, please provide details of the reasons. |
|
N/A |
When the public authority concludes that the likely impact is ‘minor’ and an equality impact assessment is not to be conducted, the public authority 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? |
|---|
|
No |
|
If so, give the reasons to support your decision, together with the proposed changes/amendments or alternative policy. |
|
N/A |
Factors to be considered in timetabling and prioritising policies for equality impact assessment.
If the policy 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 1-3, with 1 being the lowest priority and 3 being the highest, assess the policy in terms of its priority for equality impact assessment.
|
Priority criterion |
Rating (1-3) |
|---|---|
|
Effect on equality of opportunity and good relations |
1 |
|
Social need |
1 |
|
Effect on people’s daily lives |
1 |
|
Relevance to a public authority’s functions |
1 |
Note: The Total Rating Score should be used to prioritise the policy in rank order with other policies screened in for equality impact assessment. This list of priorities will assist the public authority in timetabling. Details of the Public Authority’s Equality Impact Assessment Timetable should be included in the quarterly Screening Report.
|
Is the policy affected by timetables established by other relevant public authorities? If yes, please provide details. |
|---|
|
No |
Part 4. Monitoring
Public authorities should consider the guidance contained in the Commission’s Monitoring Guidance for Use by Public Authorities (July 2007).
The Commission recommends that where the policy has been amended or an alternative policy introduced, the public authority should monitor more broadly than for adverse impact (See Benefits, P.9-10, paras 2.13 – 2.20 of the Monitoring Guidance).
Effective monitoring will help the public authority identify any future adverse impact arising from the policy which may lead the public authority to conduct an equality impact assessment, as well as help with future planning and policy development.
Part 5 - Approval and authorisation
Equality Screening undertaken by:
Position/Job Title: Events Manager
Date Completed: 24 April 2024
Note: A copy of the Screening Template, for each policy screened should be ‘signed off’ and approved by a senior manager responsible for the policy, made easily accessible on the public authority’s website as soon as possible following completion and made available on request.