Introduction of Household Recycling Centre (HRC) Booking System
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 | Operations |
| Title | Introduction of Household Recycling Centre (HRC) Booking System |
| Brief Summary A booking system has been introduced for householders wishing to deposit recyclables and other waste at household recycling centres. Householders can book an appointment either online or via the telephone. |
| What is it trying to achieve? (intended aims and outcomes) The booking system assists in the avoidance of traffic build-up at or near household recycling centres. It also enables staff to monitor waste being deposited and therefore help maximise recycling, the core function of such facilities. |
| Who owns and who implements each element of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance? Head of Operations. Implementation of on-site changes lead by Area Managers, assisted by Operations Supervisors. Administrative help, and liaise with internal and external stakeholders, provided by Operations Technical section. |
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Other policies etc. which have a bearing on this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or 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:
In terms of religion or religion brought up in the 2011 Census indicates that our resident’s religious beliefs are comparable to those in Northern Ireland in that there are 2 predominant groupings i.e. Roman Catholic and Protestant. However we also have a number of individuals (5.64%) who do not practice a specific religion or who do not wish to be grouped into a specific religion. In addition we have a small number of individuals who practice other religions. |
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| Political Opinion |
The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (2018) provides the following information on the political parties people in Northern Ireland feel closest to (this information is not available at Council area level) *:
The booking system does not adversely impact anyone with or without a political opinion. Residents can book the most convenient available slot. Telephone booking system available Monday to Friday (9.30am to 3.30pm). Online booking system available at all times. |
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| Racial Group |
On Census Day 27th March 2011 the resident population was:
As a result of this information, the booking system may have a minor impact on some racial groups where English is not the first language, however, this is mitigated by the translation function on the council website which allows translation of information into 40+ languages. Signage advising of the booking system is present at all Household Recycling Centres. |
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| Age |
Age: (Mid Year 2018) (NISRA statistics)
As a result of this information, the booking system may have a minor impact on some age groups. Information circulated via council website and social media, local newspapers and radio. Information on household recycling centre booking system included in dedicated Covid-19 page on council website. Signage advising of booking system present at all household recycling centres. Option to book an appointment online or via the telephone. Bulky household waste collection service available. |
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| Marital Status |
Marital Status:
The booking system does not adversely impact anyone according to their marital status. Residents can book the most convenient available slot. Telephone booking system available Monday to Friday (9.30am to 3.30pm). Online booking system available at all times. |
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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. |
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| Men and Women Generally |
Gender: (Mid Year 2018 Population Estimates)*
The booking system does not adversely impact men or women generally. Residents can book the most convenient available slot. Telephone booking system available Monday to Friday (9.30am to 3.30pm). Online booking system available at all times. |
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| Dependants |
The Census information in 2011 showed:
The booking system does not adversely impact anyone with dependants. Residents can book the most convenient available slot. Telephone booking system available Monday to Friday (9.30am to 3.30pm). Online booking system available at all times. Children can accompany an adult to the household recycling centre but must remain in the vehicle for the duration of the visit. Bulky household waste collection service also available. |
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| Disability |
People with a Disability/People Without:
____
Source: NINIS, Census 2011, KS302NI
As a result of this information, the booking system may have a minor impact on individuals with a disability. Council's Disability Action Plan promotes equality for disabled people. Residents can book the most convenient available slot. Telephone booking system available Monday to Friday (9.30am to 3.30pm). Online booking system available at all times. Council website is compatible with screen reader software. All civic offices have Sign Video available. Information added to Covid-19 page on council website. Adults with a disability can be accompanied by another adult to assist with the unloading of waste from vehicle. Once social distancing restrictions are lifted, members of staff will be able to assist similar to arrangements pre-lockdown. Bulky household waste collection is also available. |
| 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 ☐ |
Impact is neutral, service provision provided equally regardless of gender. Waste can be deposited at Household Recycling Centres with the assistance of a second person (not staff member) provided it is within social distancing guidelines. |
| 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 ☐ |
Impact is neutral. Plain English used for communication, signage erected at Household Recycling Centres, information available on council website in multiple languages.
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| 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 ☒ |
Impact is minor. Waste can be deposited at HRC with the assistance of a second person (not staff member) provided it is within social distancing guidelines. Council website is screen reader software compatible. All civic offices have Sign Video available. Bulky household waste collection service available. |
| Sexual orientation | Heterosexual, lesbian, gay men, bisexual, others | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
Service provision provided equally regardless of sexual orientation. |
| Age | Older People | ☐ | ☐ | Major ☐ Minor ☒ |
Impact is minor. Waste can be deposited at HRC with the assistance of a second person (not staff member) provided it is within social distancing guidelines. Bulky household waste collection service available. |
| Younger people and children | ☒ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
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| Political Opinion | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
Impact is neutral as service provision is provided equally regardless of political opinion. | |
| Religious Belief | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
Impact is neutral as service provision is provided equally regardless of religious belief. | |
| Marital Status | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
Impact is neutral as service provision is provided equally regardless of marital status. | |
| Dependants | ☐ | ☒ | Major ☐ Minor ☐ |
Impact is neutral as service provision is provided equally regardless of dependants. Normal service to be resumed as soon as practically possible. Bulky household waste collection service available. |
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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 | No. | ||
| Men | ||||
| Transgender men/women | ||||
| Other please specify | ||||
| Race As used in the 2011 census. |
Asian | Yes. Contact relevant community groups to advise of change. | ||
| Black | ||||
| Chinese | ||||
| Mixed race | ||||
| White | ||||
| Other please specify | ||||
| Disability | Long term health impairment could include mental health problems, asthma, heart conditions, chronic fatigue etc. | Yes. Site traffic control enables greater accessibility to recycling and waste receptacles. Second person (not staff member) can give assistance provided social distancing rules are adhered to. | ||
| Sexual orientation | Heterosexual, lesbian, gay men, bisexual, others | No. | ||
| Age | Older People, Younger people and children |
Yes. Contact relevant community groups to advise of change. | ||
| Political Opinion | No. | |||
| Religious Belief | No. | |||
| Marital Status | No. | |||
| Dependants | No. | |||
| 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 | None | |
| Political Opinion | None | |
| Racial Group | Minor. Those who do speak English as their first language can access to translation services on the council website. |
| 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 | Due to Covid-19 restrictions social distancing measures are required at Household Recycling Centres until further notice. | |
| Political Opinion | Due to Covid-19 restrictions social distancing measures are required at Household Recycling Centres until further notice. | |
| Racial Group | Due to Covid-19 restrictions social distancing measures are required at Household Recycling Centres until further notice. |
| 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.) People with multiple identities may be subject to minor disadvantage which should be mitigated by measures in pace such as alternative methods to book, communication material in various formats and the ability to be accompanied to household recycling centre with a second person for support. Other mitigation measures to be considered once current restrictions are removed. Older individuals with a disability have the option of 2 booking methods (telephone and online), communication material in various forms and additional support can be brought to household recycling centre when visiting. Older individuals with dependants who are restricted to home can avail of bulky household waste collection service. Council website is screen reader software compatible. All civic offices have Sign Video. Information on booking system can be found on Covid-19 page on council website. |
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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. | |
| Older individuals with a disability – option of booking methods, communication in various forms, additional support. Older individuals with dependants who are restricted to the home can avail of bulky household waste collection service. |
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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: Bulky household waste collection service in operation. |
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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: N/A |
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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: As the mitigation should overcome the minor impacts |
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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: Minor impacts identified have been mitigated through reasonable adjustments and it is anticipated that these will reduce to none when social distancing restrictions end. Mitigation factors have been included in the current system and practices. These will be reviewed as restrictions reduce or end. Social distancing measures at Household Recycling Centres will be kept under review in line with government guidance. Council will regularly monitor and review arrangements in place with regards to the booking system and on-site arrangements to ensure people who may otherwise be negatively impacted can receive assistance. |
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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: Booking system will be monitored and reviewed quarterly in first year and annually thereafter. |
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| Approval And Authorisation | |
| Screened By Position/Job Title Date | Date |
| Operations Technical Manager | 19/06/2020 |
| Approved By Position/Job Title Date | |
| Head of Operations | 19/06/2020 |
*Sources:
Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (NILT), Queen’s University Belfast and the Ulster University www.ark.ac.uk/nilt
5 https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/nlgccg.htm
Northern Ireland Statistics website: www.nisra.gov.uk
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