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Published in May 2023
Contents
Overview of the screening template
Section A Details about the policy or decision to be screened
1. Title or policy or decision to be screened
2. Brief description of policy or decision to be screened
3. Aims and objectives of policy or decision to be screened
4. Who will the policy or decision impact?
5. Are there linkages to other agencies or departments?
Section B Information on the consultation process
6. Outline consultation process planned or achieved
7. Available evidence
8. What is the likely impact on equality of opportunity for those affected by this policy, for each of the Section 75 equality categories?
9. Are there opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity for people in Section 75 equality categories?
10. To what extent is the policy likely to impact good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group?
11. Are there opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group?
Section C Consideration of Disability Duties
12. Does this proposed policy or decision provide an opportunity for the council to better promote positive attitudes towards disabled people?
13. Does this proposed policy or decision provide an opportunity to actively increase the participation by disabled people in public life?
14. Provide details of data on the impact of the policy with multiple identities
15. Monitoring arrangements
Section D
Formal record of screening decision
Screening assessment completed
Screening decision approved
Footnotes
Overview of screening template
The council has a statutory duty to screen. This includes our strategies, plans, policies, legislative developments; and new ways of working such as the introduction, change or end of an existing service, grant funding arrangement or facility. This screening template is designed to help departments consider the likely equality impacts of their proposed decisions on different groups of customers, service users, staff and visitors.
Before carrying out an equality screening exercise it is important that you have received the necessary training first. To find out about the training needed or any other queries on screening, contact the Equality and Diversity Officer Lorraine Dennis on extension 6027 or by email equality@belfastcity.gov.uk
The accompanying screening guidance note provides straightforward advice on how to carry out equality screening exercises. Detailed information about the Section 75 equality duties and what they mean in practice is available on the Equality Commission’s website.[1]
The screening template has four sections to complete. These are:
- Section A provides details about the policy or decision that is being screened
- Section B gives information on the consultation process, supporting evidence gathered and has four key questions outlining the likely impacts on all equality groups
- Section C has four key questions in relation to obligations under the Disability Discrimination Order
- Section D is the formal record of the screening decision
Section A
Details about the policy or decision to be screened
1. Title of policy or decision to be screened
Concessionary, free leisure centre membership for asylum-seekers
2. Brief description of policy or decision to be screened
(Explain is this a new, revised or existing policy? Are there financial, legislative or procurement implications?)
This is a new policy. A decision was taken to grant free leisure membership to anyone on the asylum-seeker register and housed in Belfast. The concession is not time bound and is available for the recipient for as long as they remain on the asylum-seeker register.
The decision was taken by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on 17 June 2022 and subsequently ratified by the full council on 4 July 2022.
One amendment to the proposal was presented to and approved by Party Group Leaders on 29 September 2022 under which the offer was restricted to asylum-seekers only. The scheme was implemented and is currently operating on that basis
There are no direct financial, legislative or procurement implications arising from this policy decision.
3. Aims and objectives of the policy or decision to be screened
(What is the policy trying to achieve?)
The policy is designed to provide additional support to asylum-seekers while their access to housing, standard UK income support and employment remains restricted as dictated under the terms of their asylum-seeker status. The primary benefits are accepted as providing improved opportunities for social interaction and community integration along with regular physical activity for the improvement of both physical and mental health.
4. Who will the policy or decision impact?
Consider the internal and external impacts (both actual or potential) and explain.
| People | Actual or potential impact |
|---|---|
| Staff | No |
| Service users | Yes Impacts on other service users may include facility capacity challenges, cultural integration and the potential for existing users to resent the offer on the basis that it is not available to other council citizens experiencing economic hardship. |
| Other public sector organisations | Yes The logistics of operating the concession requires partnership working with various statutory and voluntary organisations including the Law Centre, Red Cross, Mears Housing and community -based asylum-seeker support groups. |
| Voluntary, community groups and trade unions | Yes |
| Others, please specify |
Yes |
5. Are there linkages to other agencies or departments?
Yes. Other agencies are listed in section 4. Linkages are essential in monitoring and maintaining accurate asylum-seeker register status. Designing the administrative processes was a multi-agency collaboration involving all agencies listed in section 4.
Section B
Information on the consultation process, supporting evidence gathered and has four key questions outlining the likely impacts for equality and good relations
6. Outline consultation process planned or achieved
I am not aware of any public consultation however, in preparing the committee report there was substantial consultation, collaboration and co-design with all groups listed in section 4.
7. Available evidence
What evidence or information (both qualitative and quantitative) have you gathered to inform this policy? Set out all evidence to help inform your screening assessment.
It is important to record information gathered from a variety of sources such as:
- monitoring information
- complaints
- research surveys
- consultation exercises from other public authorities
Available evidence to inform the council decisions included Home Office statistics on the number of asylum-seekers registered and resident in Belfast, the anticipated time that an asylum-seeker should remain on the register pending their application being processed and approved or rejected along with a breakdown by age, gender, marital status and dependants.
Evidence of religious belief, political opinion, racial group, sexual orientation, and disability was not sought as the proposal to offer the temporary concession was based solely on asylum-seeker status and economic hardship arising from support/restrictions applicable only to asylum-seekers.
In addition to Home Office statistics, additional operational and logistical evidence and advice was gathered through consultation with, for example, the Law Centre (NI), Red Cross, Mears Housing and local community support groups.
| Section 75 category | Details of evidence information and engagement |
|---|---|
| Religious belief | Not considered relevant as the concession is not based on religious belief |
| Political opinion | Not considered relevant as the concession is not based on political opinion |
| Racial group | Not considered relevant as the concession is not based on racial group |
| Age | Evidence gathered from available Home Office statistics along with additional logistical and situational knowledge from the Law Centre (NI), Red Cross, Mears Housing and local community support groups |
| Marital status | Evidence gathered from available Home Office statistics along with additional logistical and situational knowledge from the Law Centre (NI), Red Cross, Mears Housing and local community support groups |
| Sexual orientation | Not considered relevant as the concession is not based on sexual orientation |
| Men and women generally | Evidence gathered from available Home Office statistics along with additional logistical and situational knowledge from the Law Centre (NI), Red Cross, Mears Housing and local community support groups |
| Disability | Not considered relevant as the concession is not based on disability or accessibility |
| Dependants | Evidence gathered from available Home Office statistics along with additional logistical and situational knowledge from the Law Centre (NI), Red Cross, Mears Housing and local community support groups |
8. What is the likely impact (indicate if the policy impact is positive or negative) on equality of opportunity for those affected by this policy, for each of the Section 75 equality categories? What is the level of impact?
| Section 75 category | Likely impact | Level of impact |
|---|---|---|
| Religious belief | In reality none, but there is potential for non-asylum seeker citizens to perceive that the policy and resulting concessions are based on and favour people with particular religious beliefs. | Noen or minor |
| Political opinion | In reality none, but there is potential for nonasylum seeker citizens to perceive that the policy and resulting concessions are based on and favour people with particular political opinions. | None or minor |
| Racial group | In reality none, but there is potential for non-asylum seeker citizens to perceive that the policy and resulting concessions are based on and favour people from particular racial backgrounds. | Minor (potentially negative) |
| Age | Substantial positive impact on eligible recipients as the service offered is provided for all age groups. Based on improved opportunities for social interaction and community integration along with regular physical activity for the improvement of both physical and mental health. | Major (positive) |
| Marital status | Substantial positive impact on eligible recipients as the service offered is unrestricted in relation to the applicant’s marital status. Based on improved opportunities for social interaction and community integration along with regular physical activity for the improvement of both physical and mental health. | Major (positive) |
| Sexual orientation | Substantial positive impact on eligible recipients as the service offered is unrestricted in relation to the applicant’s sexual orientation. Based on improved opportunities for social interaction and community integration along with regular physical activity for the improvement of both physical and mental health. | Major (positive) |
| Men and women generally | Substantial positive impact on eligible recipients as the service offered is unrestricted in relation to the applicant’s gender. Based on improved opportunities for social interaction and community integration along with regular physical activity for the improvement of both physical and mental health. | Major (positive) |
| Disability | Substantial positive impact on eligible recipients as the service offered is delivered in fully accessible, DDA-compliant facilities. Based on improved opportunities for social interaction and community integration along with regular physical activity for the improvement of both physical and mental health. | Major (positive) |
| Dependants | Substantial positive impact on eligible recipients as the service offered is available to applicants and their dependants. Based on improved opportunities for social interaction and community integration along with regular physical activity for the improvement of both physical and mental health. | Major (positive) |
9. 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 | This is not applicable | No. Not within this policy or its impacts as the recipient group are in a unique scenario and living in circumstances not replicated for any other group. |
| Political opinion | This is not applicable | No. Not within this policy or its impacts as the recipient group are in a unique scenario and living in circumstances not replicated for any other group. |
| Racial group | This is not applicable | No. Not within this policy or its impacts as the recipient group are in a unique scenario and living in circumstances not replicated for any other group. |
| Age | This is not applicable | No. Not within this policy or its impacts as the recipient group are in a unique scenario and living in circumstances not replicated for any other group. |
| Marital status | This is not applicable | No. Not within this policy or its impacts as the recipient group are in a unique scenario and living in circumstances not replicated for any other group. |
| Sexual orientation | This is not applicable | No. Not within this policy or its impacts as the recipient group are in a unique scenario and living in circumstances not replicated for any other group. |
| Men and women generally | This is not applicable | No. Not within this policy or its impacts as the recipient group are in a unique scenario and living in circumstances not replicated for any other group. |
| Disability | This is not applicable | No. Not within this policy or its impacts as the recipient group are in a unique scenario and living in circumstances not replicated for any other group. |
| Dependants | This is not applicable | No. Not within this policy or its impacts as the recipient group are in a unique scenario and living in circumstances not replicated for any other group. |
10. To what extent is the policy likely to impact (positive or negatively) on good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group? What is the level of impact?
| Good relations category | Likely impact | Level of impact |
|---|---|---|
| Religious belief | Potential for misunderstanding and resentment of the concession offered and the circumstances in which the recipient group are living. | Minor (potentially negative) |
| Political opinion | Potential for misunderstanding and resentment of the concession offered and the circumstances in which the recipient group are living. | Minor (potentially negative) |
| Racial group | Potential for misunderstanding and resentment of the concession offered and the circumstances in which the recipient group are living. | Minor (potentially negative) |
11. 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 details |
|---|---|---|
| Religious belief | Yes. Dissemination of factual information about the recipient group and their circumstances and the concession being offered. | This is not applicable |
| Political opinion | Yes. Dissemination of factual information about the recipient group and their circumstances and the concession being offered. | This is not applicable |
| Racial group | Yes. Dissemination of factual information about the recipient group and their circumstances and the concession being offered. | This is not applicable |
Section C
Belfast City Council also has legislative obligations to meet under the Disability Discrimination Order. Questions 12 and 13 relate to these areas. Consideration of Disability Duties
12. Does this proposed policy or decision provide an opportunity for the council to better promote positive attitudes towards disabled people?
Explain your assessment in full
No. This policy and its impacts are in no way related specifically to people with disabilities. Within the recipient group there may be people with disabilities but the concessionary membership being offered is available to all of those who meet the asylum-seeker eligibility criteria.
13. Does this proposed policy or decision provide an opportunity to actively increase the participation by disabled people in public life?
Explain your assessment in full
No. The policy is not related to public life and does not focus on people with disabilities in any way.
14. Multiple identities
Provide details of data on the impact of the policy with multiple identities
This is not applicable.
15. Monitoring arrangements
Section 75 places a requirement the council to have equality monitoring arrangements in place:
- to assess the impact of policies and services
- to help identify barriers to fair participation
- to better promote equality of opportunity
Section 75 places a requirement for the council to have equality monitoring arrangements in place in order to assess the impact of policies and services and to help identify barriers to fair participation and to better promote equality of opportunity.
Outline what data you will collect in the future to monitor the impact of this policy or decision on equality, good relations and disability duties.
| Equality | Good Relations | Disability Duties |
|---|---|---|
| Home Office asylum-seeker statistics in Northern Ireland and Belfast | Home Office asylum-seeker statistics in Northern Ireland and Belfast | This is not applicable |
| Membership statistics including new, renewals and duration | Membership statistics including new, renewals and duration | This is not applicable |
| Formal complaints, social media comment, media enquiries | Formal complaints, social media comment, media enquiries | This is not applicable |
Section D
Formal record of screening decision
Title of proposed policy or decision being screened
Concessionary, free, leisure centre membership for asylum-seekers
I can confirm that the proposed policy or decision has been screened for:
- equality of opportunity and good relations
- disability duties
| On the basis of the answers to the screening questions, I recommend that this policy or decision is | |
|---|---|
| Screened in It is necessary to conduct an equality impact assessment |
No |
| Screened out It is not necessary to conduct an equality impact assessment (no impacts) |
Yes |
|
Screened out
|
Yes |
Screening assessment completed by
Name: Noel Munnis
Date: 29 June 2023
Department: City and Neighbourhood Services
Screening decision approved by
Name: David Sales (Director)
Date: 29 June 2023
Department: City and Neighbourhood Services
Please save the Word final version of the completed screening form and email to the Equality and Diversity Officer: equality@belfastcity.gov.uk A link to this screening form will be provided to the council's Section 75 consultees.
For more information about equality screening, contact:
Lorraine Dennis
Equality and Diversity Officer (job-share)
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Hall
Belfast
BT1 5GS
Telephone: 028 9027 0511
Email: equality@belfastcity.gov.uk
Footnotes
[1] Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (link opens in new window)