Land and Property Policy

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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 – all Council departments
Title Land and Property Policy
Brief Summary 
Causeway Coast and Glens Council is committed to delivering the highest quality public services and will follow best practice in the management of its Land and Property Portfolio. 
What is it trying to achieve? (intended aims and outcomes)
The purpose of this policy is to:
Provide a consistent approach across Council departments for the acquisition and disposal of its land and property.
Set out Council’s principles and terms and conditions for the use of its land.
Provide guidance on how to request the use of Council’s land.
Good estate management of its existing estate and provision of a cost efficient strategy of best use of Council assets.
Who owns and who implements each element of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?
Council’s Estate Management Strategy describes the Council’s strategic approach to the management of its land and property resources and was adopted by the Council on 3rd March 2020.
The Land and Property Sub-Committee has overall responsibility for making recommendation to Council on Land and Property matters.
The implementation and effectiveness of the policy will be overseen by the Chief Executive of the Council or by officers so designated by him.

Other policies etc. which have a bearing on this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?


Strategies/Policies:
Council’s Estate Management Strategy
Council Constitution
Council Standing Orders
Council Events Policy
Booking conditions for specific facilities – e.g pitches, leisure centres, community centres.
Corporate Strategy
Health and Safety, Planning and Licensing Legislation


Studies, Publications, Statistics and Guidance:

  • Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency – Census 2011
  • NINIS, Census 2001
  • Land and Property Service Guidance on ‘Disposal of Surplus Public Sector Property in Northern Ireland’ (March 2013 or as updated).
  • Royal Chartered Institute of Surveyors Policy (red book 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:
  • Quantitative evidence has been sourced via the NI Census in 2011 and the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey 2018.  
  • All individuals and groups are treated equally under the Policy.
  • No complaints or information is available to suggest any individual or group has been adversely affected.
Section 75 Category  Details of Evidence/Information
  • Mid-year 2018 NISRA statistics detailed the usual resident population of Causeway Coast & Glens Local Government District to be 144, 246, accounting for 7.7 % of the N.I. total.  Statistical information with regards to the Districts makeup and individuals therein was also reviewed. 
  • Event plans request information relating to the use of Council land.
Religious Beliefs 

The 2011 Census outlined:

Census 2011  CC&G Borough Council  Northern Ireland
Roman Catholic 36.97%  40.76%
Protestant & Other Christian (including Christian related)  48.44%  41.56%
Other Religions  0.59%  0.82%
None/Not stated  5.64%  6.75%

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 ie 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.

There is no evidence to indicate that this policy will have a negative impact on any of this Section 75 grouping.  The policy does not ask for information on individual’s religion and decisions are made based on other factors such as cost advice from independent bodies (valuations) and internal committees (land and property/planning).
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) *:

Party %            
DUP/Democratic Unionist Party  15
Sinn Féin  11
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)    8
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP)  10
Alliance Party  10
Other Party    5
None of these  24
Other answer    6
Don't know  11

There is no evidence to indicate that this policy will have a negative impact on any of this Section 75 grouping.  Councillors provide representation from all groupings.   In addition all decisions are presented to the Land and Property Sub-Committee for recommendation to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee and Council based on factual information and figures collated both externally and internally presented in a report format for decision making.

Racial Group

On Census Day 27th March 2011 the resident population was:

  N.I. (%) Rest of U.K. (%)  ROI (%)   Other Europe (%)  Rest of World (%)
N.I.  88.84 4.56  2.09  2.51  1.99
Causeway Coast & Glens Local Government District  91.02  4.99  1.42  1.45  1.06

The policy is written in English which may have a minor impact on some racial groups where English is not the individual’s first language.  In order to mitigate this the policy will be uploaded to the Council website where the translation function will support translation into over 40 languages.  In addition if requested a hard copy can be provided to individuals upon request.  If individuals have any queries with regards to the policy the Democratic & Central Services Manager can provide support.    The policy is applied irrespective of any applicant’s background.  All decisions are made based on other factors such as cost advice from independent bodies (valuations), legal advice and officer consultation across all service areas.

Age 

Age: (Mid Year 2018)*   (NISRA statistics)

  CC&G Borough Council  Northern Ireland
Under 16  30,140 (21%)  415,865 (22%)
16-44  48,788 (34%)  673,073 (36%)
45-64  39,216 (27%)  484,506 (26%)
65 and over  26,102 (18%)  308,197 (16%)
TOTAL Population 144,246 1,881,641

The policy applies to individuals over 18 with regards to use of Council Land however community groups whose membership spans a variety of groupings may also use the policy to hire Council Land. 

No issues raised in relation to age following previous events.
The policy will be provided both in paper format and on-line, in addition individuals can contact the relevant department by telephone to seek clarification on any part of the policy during normal working hours Monday-Friday. To support and encourage full participation (across all age groups) with regards to the Disposal of Land information firstly via a public sector (D1),  proposed sale will be advertised through a variety of methods: social media and local newspapers.
Marital Status

Marital Status: 
Marital status by former legacy Council area (most recent figures available from Census 2011):

Census 2011  Ballymoney BC  Coleraine BC  Limavady BC  Moyle DC
Single  32.68%  34.78%  36.64%  34.96%
Married  52.52%  48.88%  48.94%  49.03%
Civil Partnership  0.07%  0.06%  0.08%  0.08%
Separated  3.13%    3.15% 3.58% 3.66%
Divorced/
Civil
Partnership Dissolved 
5.23%  6.13%  4.99%  5.11%
Widowed/
Surviving
Civil Partner 
6.39%   7.00%  5.78% 7.15%

The policy does not adversely impact anyone irrespective of their marital status.  The policy is applied irrespective of any applicant’s background.   Councillors provide representation from all groupings. All decisions are presented to the Land and Property Sub-Committee for recommendation to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee and Council based on factual information and figures collated both externally and internally presented in a report format for decision making.

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. 

The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (2018)* provides the following information on the sexual orientation of people in Northern Ireland (this information is not available at local government level):

  %
I am ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’ (homosexual)    1
 I am heterosexual or ‘straight’  94
 I am bi-sexual    1
Other    1
I do not wish to answer 

  3

In addition the NI Rainbow Project estimates between 6-10% of any given population could be considered as LGBT. 

The policy does not adversely impact anyone irrespective of their sexual orientation or background.  Councillors provide representation from all groupings. All decisions are presented to the Land and Property Sub-Committee for recommendation to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee and Council based on factual information and figures collated both externally and internally presented in a report format for decision making.
Men and Women Generally 

Gender:  (Mid Year 2018 Population Estimates)* 

  CC&G Borough Council  Northern Ireland
Male 71,497 (49.6%)  926,200 (49.2%)
Female 72,749 (50.4%)  955,441 (50.8%)

The gender breakdown in our borough is relatively equal and the policy welcomes applications and/or bids from any individual.  The policy does not adversely impact anyone irrespective of their gender or background.  All decisions are made at full Council meetings, where Councillors represent all sections of the community.   All decisions are presented to the Land and Property Sub-Committee for recommendation to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee and Council based on factual information and figures collated both externally and internally presented in a report format for decision making.

Dependants 

The Census information in 2011 showed:
People With or Without Dependents:

Census 2011 CC&G Borough Council  Northern Ireland 
Number of households  54,970  721,860
Households with dependent children  15,597 (28.37%)  261,251 (36.19%)

The policy does not adversely impact anyone irrespective of whether they have dependants or not.  All decisions are made at full Council meetings, where Councillors represent all sections of the community including individuals with dependants and caring responsibilities or without.   All decisions are presented to the Land and Property Sub-Committee for recommendation to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee and Council based on factual information and figures collated both externally and internally presented in a report format for decision making.

Disability

People with a Disability/People Without:
People with a long term condition/illness by former legacy Council area (most recent figures available from Census 2011):

 

Census 2011 Ballymoney BC Coleraine BC Limavady BC Moyle DC
People with a long term condition/illness  30.6%  31.31%  31.05%  31.68%
People Without  69.4%  68.69%  68.95%  68.32%

 ____                                                              

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Long Term Condition:
Mobility or dexterity  19%
Long term pain or discomfort  17%
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing  14%
A chronic illness  11%
Deafness or partial hearing loss  9%
An emotional, psychological or mental health condition  9%
Other condition  9%
A learning, intellectual or social behaviour difficulty  3%
Frequent periods of confusion or memory loss  3%
Blindness or partial sight  3%
Communication difficulty  3%


Source: NINIS, Census 2011, KS302NI
Notes: 

1. ‘Communication difficulty’ means a difficulty with speaking or making yourself understood. 
2. ‘A mobility or dexterity difficulty’ means a condition that substantially limits one or more basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, lifting or carrying. 
3. ‘An emotional, psychological or mental health condition’ includes conditions such as depression or schizophrenia. 
4. ‘Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing’ includes conditions such as asthma. 
5. ‘A chronic illness’ includes illnesses such as cancer, HIV, diabetes, heart disease or epilepsy. 
6. ‘Long-term’ refers to a condition which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.

The policy may have a minor impact on individuals with a disability. Council’s Disability Action Plan promotes equality for disabled people - facilities available for hire will be accessibility checked as part of the Every Customer Counts process.  In addition Residents can use SignVideo to avail of an interpreter to contact office staff and seek clarification.  Large print or other accessible formats are available on request. 

The policy will be uploaded to the Council website which is screen reader complaint.  All new policies will be listed in the citizens’ newsletter.
 
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.
Men    ☐   ☒ Major  ☐     
​Minor  ☐   
Transgender men/women    ☐   ☒ Major  ☐     
​Minor  ☐   
Other please specify   ☐   ☐ Major  ☐     
​Minor  ☐   
Race
(As used in the 2011 census) 
Asian   ☐  ☐ Major  ☐     
​Minor 
☒    

Impact is minor. Due to the contractual foundation of the policy some of the wording is not in Plain English.  However this can be mitigated by Council using Plain English for communication about the policy, facilitating telephone clarification and publication on the council website into support translation into multiple languages. 

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    ☒   

The policy may have a minor impact on individuals with a disability. This will be mitigated by auditing facilities available for hire to ensure accessibility as part of the Every Customer Counts process.  In addition Residents can use SignVideo to avail of an interpreter to contact office staff and seek clarification.  Large print or other accessible formats will be made available on request.

The policy will be uploaded to the Council website which is screen reader complaint.

 

Sexual orientation  Heterosexual, lesbian, gay men, bisexual, others    ☐   ☒ Major  ☐     
​Minor  ☐   
Service provision provided equally regardless of sexual orientation.
Age  Older People   ☐  ☒ Major  ☐     
​Minor  
☐  

The policy applies to individuals over 18 years of age therefore younger people may be at a disadvantage although community groups whose membership spans a variety of groupings may hire Council Land. 

The policy will be provided both in paper format and on-line, to support younger individuals preferred communication methods.  To support and encourage full participation any proposed sale will be advertised through a variety of methods: council website; social media and local newspapers.
Younger people and children   ☐  ☐  Major  ☐     
​Minor    ☒
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 whether they have dependants or not.

 
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    No.  The policy itself does not support any opportunities.
Men
Transgender men/women
Other please specify
Race
As used in the 2011 census. 
 Asian   No.  The policy itself does not support any opportunities.
Black
Chinese
Mixed race White
Other please specify
Disability Long term health impairment could include mental health problems, asthma, heart conditions, chronic fatigue etc.   No.  The policy itself does not support any opportunities.
Sexual orientation  Heterosexual, lesbian, gay men, bisexual, others    No.  The policy itself does not support any opportunities.
Age  Older People,
Younger people and children 
  No.  The policy itself does not support any opportunities.
Political Opinion      No.  The policy itself does not support any opportunities.
Religious Belief     No.  The policy itself does not support any opportunities.
Marital Status     No.  The policy itself does not support any opportunities.
Dependants     No.  The policy itself does not support any opportunities.
 
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.  The policy itself does not support any opportunities.  
Political Opinion  None.  The policy itself does not support any opportunities.  
Racial Group None.  The policy itself does not support any opportunities.  
 
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  At events brought about via the policy use there may be increased opportunities for individuals across all Section 75 groupings to interact with each other.  
Political Opinion  At events brought about via the policy use there may be increased opportunities for individuals across all Section 75 groupings to interact with each other.  
Racial Group  At events brought about via the policy use there may be increased opportunities for individuals across all Section 75 groupings to interact with each other.  
 
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.)

At events brought about via the policy use there may be increased opportunities for individuals across all Section 75 groupings to interact with each other.  As a result of asset disposal the money received may be used in areas which benefit individuals with multiple identities in a more relevant manner.

 
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.
N/A
 
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:
N/A
 
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:
N/A
 

Screening Decision
Likely Impact

          ☐        Major                    ☒     Minor                     ☐     None

If the decision is to subject the policy to an equality impact assessment (i.e. likely impact – Major), please provide details of the reasons for this:
Minor impacts identified have been mitigated through reasonable adjustments, the policy will be reviewed every 2 years as part of the corporate review process.  If any adverse impacts are noted these will be brought to the committee with possible mitigation to request that the policy be amended. 


If the decision is not to conduct an equality impact assessment (i.e. likely impact = Minor) the Council should consider if the policy should be mitigated or an alternative policy be introduced: 
Mitigation has been included, the policy will be subject to review as per the corporate review process.

If the decision is not to conduct an equality impact assessment (i.e. likely impact = None), please provide details of the reasons for this:

N/A

 
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:

Mitigation has been included in the policy.  The policy will be review every 2 years in line with corporate policy, however if further negative impacts are identified prior to the scheduled review the policy may be reviewed earlier.

 
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:
The policy will be reviewed in 2 years as per corporate procedures.
 
 
Approval And Authorisation
Screened By Position/Job Title Date Date
Democratic & Central Services Manager 12/3/2021
 
Approved By Position/Job Title Date  
Director of Corporate Services 12/3/2021

 

 *Sources:

Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (NILT), Queen’s University Belfast and the Ulster University NI Life and Times Survey - 2019 : ORIENT2 (ark.ac.uk)
https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/nlgccg.htm 

Northern Ireland Statistics website: www.nisra.gov.uk
2019 Mid Year Population Estimates for Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (nisra.gov.uk)
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