Auction Venue and process for concessionary trading locations
S75 Equality And Good Relations Screening Form
General Information:
Service/Function
Is this an existing, revised or a new function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?
New
Operational Area:
Infrastructure
Title:
Auction Venue and process for concessionary trading locations
Brief Summary:
Auction for various concessionary trading sites.
What is it trying to achieve? (intended aims and outcomes)
To facilitate an auction for concessionary trading locations within the Borough of Causeway Coast and Glens. To ensure equality, openness, and transparency in the auction process and ensure venue accessibility.
Who owns and who implements each element of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?
Head of Capital Works, Energy and Infrastructure - Strategic Overview.
Auctioneer - to carry out the auction and supply all relevant details linked to the process.
Car Parks/Concessionary Trading Officer – Processing licence agreement, managing the service area.
Business Support staff – administration of licencing procedure.
Other policies etc. which have a bearing on this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?
Strategies:
• Concessionary Trading licence. Terms and conditions and code of conduct.
Studies, Publications, Statistics and Guidance:
• Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency – Census 2021
• Councils Corporate Strategy
• Equality Scheme 2020
• Councils Debt Management 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.
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 2021 and the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey 2020.
Section 75 Category Details of Evidence/Information:
• The Census statistics in 2021 collated by NISRA statistics detailed the usual resident population of Causeway Coast & Glens Local Government District to be 141,746 accounting for 7.45% of the N.I. total. Statistical information with regards to the Districts makeup and individuals therein was also reviewed.
• It is also clear that the majority of our borough is rural in composition and therefore the specific needs of those individuals must be considered during screening.
• Consideration has been given to the identification of rural factors such as, accessibility of bidders (online, telephone or in person bidding has been incorporated into the process)
• Ability to submit application forms to participate in the auction via online or by mail.
Religious Beliefs
The 2021 Census outlined:
Religion / religion brought up in:
Census 2021 CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
Roman Catholic 40.12% 45.70%
Protestant & Other Christian
(including Christian related) 51.17% 43.48%
Other Religions 0.78% 1.50%
None/Not stated 7.94% 9.32%
In terms of religion or religion brought up in the 2021 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.
The process is open to all regardless of religious beliefs which is not a prerequisite to apply and the venue would be considered neutral, therefore, there is no evidence to show a detriment to any group within the section 75 category.
Political Opinion
The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (2021) provides the following information on the political parties people in Northern Ireland feel closest to (this information is not available at local government level) :
%
DUP/Democratic Unionist Party 12
Sinn Féin 13
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) 13
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) 13
Alliance Party 19
Green Party 5
Other Party 4
None of these 11
Other answer 1
Don't know 9
The process is open to all regardless of political opinion which is not a prerequisite to apply, therefore, there is no evidence to show a detriment to any group within the section 75 category.
Racial Group
On Census Day 21 March 2021 the resident population was:
Census 2021 CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
White 98.55% 96.55%
Irish Traveller 0.03% 0.14%
Roma 0.01% 0.08%
Indian 0.15% 0.52%
Chinese 0.22% 0.50%
Filipino 0.10% 0.23%
Pakistani 0.03% 0.08%
Arab 0.03% 0.10%
Other Asian 0.10% 0.28%
Black African 0.12% 0.42%
Black Other 0.04% 0.16%
Mixed 0.51% 0.76%
Other ethnicities 0.11% 0.19%
The application form is available on the Council website which supports translation into over 40+ languages. Plain English has been used in all documentation and easy read version is available on request. A meeting can be arranged to facilitate the completion of the application and if necessary, an interpreter can be provided.
The process is open to all regardless of their racial group or background which is not a prerequisite to apply, therefore, there is no evidence to show a detriment to any group within the section 75 category.
Age
Age: (NISRA Census 2021 – Table MS-A02)
CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
0-4 years 7,973 (5.62%) 113,820 (5.98%)
5-9 years 8,878 (6.26%) 124,475 (6.54%)
10-14 years 9,113 (6.43%) 126,918 (6.67%)
15-19 years 8,326 (5.87%) 113,203 (5.95%)
20-24 years 7,873 (5.55%) 111,386 (5.85%)
25-29 years 7,713 (5.44%) 116,409 (6.12%)
30-34 years 8,460 (5.97%) 126,050 (6.62%)
35-39 years 8,528 (6.02%) 127,313 (6.69%)
40-44 years 8,513 (6.01%) 122,163 (6.42%)
45-49 years 9,322 (6.58%) 121,670 (6.39%)
50-54 years 10,412 (7.35%) 130,967 (6.88%)
55-59 years 10,150 (7.16%) 129,276 (6.79%)
60-64 years 9,171 (6.47%) 113,049 (5.94%)
65-69 years 7,769 (5.48%) 93,464 (4.91%)
70-74 years 6,990 (4.93%) 83,467 (4.39%)
75-79 years 5,659 (3.99%) 66,377 (3.49%)
80-84 years 3,718 (2.62%) 43,776 (2.30%)
85-89 years 2,126 (1.50%) 25,879 (1.36%)
90+ years 1,051 (0.74%) 13,512 (0.71%)
TOTAL Population 141,745 1,903,174
The trading receptacle – vehicle/trailer is required to be either driven or towed to the location and removed again. Under legislation this can only be carried out by individuals over the age of 17 therefore it is more likely that applicants will be over 17 years of age which has been demonstrated by previous licence holders.
The process is open to all regardless of their age which is not a prerequisite to apply, however records demonstrate historically there have been no licence holder under the age of 17.
The provision of adverts in local papers and Council website/social media would support contact with all age groups including those historically unlikely to apply.
Documents can be requested in large print and the Councils website supports enlargement of information and is screen reader compliant.
Provisions have been made to support the inclusion of all age groups, therefore, there is no evidence to show a detriment to any group within the section 75 category.
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 process is open to all regardless of their marital status, which is not a prerequisite to apply, therefore, there is no evidence to show a detriment to any group within the section 75 category.
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 (2021) 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) 2
I am heterosexual or ‘straight’ 93
I am bi-sexual 4
Other 0
In addition the NI Rainbow Project estimates between 6-10% of any given population could be considered as LGBT.
The process is open to all regardless of their sexual orientation, which is not a prerequisite to apply, therefore, there is no evidence to show a detriment to any group within the section 75 category.
Men and Women Generally Gender:
(Census 2021 – Table MS-A07)
CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
Male 69,848 (49.28%) 936,132 (49.19%)
Female 71,898 (50.72%) 967,043 (50.81%)
The process is open to all regardless of their gender which is not a prerequisite to apply, therefore, there is no evidence to show a detriment to any group within the section 75 category.
Dependants
The Census information in 2011 & 2021 showed:
People With or Without Dependents (Census 2021 – Table MS-B12):
Census 2011 CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
Number of households
(2021 stats) 57,576 768,810
Households with
dependent children
(2011 stats) 15,597 (28.37%) 261,251 (36.19%)
The process is open to all regardless of whether they have or have not dependants. The timing at 11am should support those with dependants of a school age to leave their children to School and then attend the auction. In addition, you can bid online or via telephone which will support individuals with caring responsibilities. Whether an individual has or has not any dependants is not a prerequisite to apply, therefore, there is no evidence to show a detriment to any group within the section 75 category.
Disability
Disability People with a Disability/People Without: (Census 2021 Tables MS-D03 and MS-D04)
Census 2021 CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
People with a long-term
condition/illness 30,656 (53.24%) 423,945 (55.14%)
People Without 90,793 (64.05%) 1,243,371 (65.33%)
The process is open to all regardless of whether they do or don’t have a disability, therefore, there is no evidence to show a detriment to any group within the section 75 category.
The auction process will be divided into lots which will allow individuals to move around between lots and not be seated for long periods of time.
Although the venue has stairs to the main auction room a secondary bidding area may be utilised on the ground floor, this will also support individuals who may experience shortness of breath or with mobility issues. For individuals with hearing impairments a portable hearing loop is available on request. To support those with limited dexterity doors will remain open and bidding can be conducted using a prior agreed method with the auctioneer.
Plain English has been used in all documentation and an easy read version is available on request. A meeting can be arranged to facilitate the completion of the application and if necessary, an interpreter can be provided. Our website and relevant documentation is screen readable compliant. Photographs of the auctioneer’s premises are available online to support individuals who would benefit from a pre visit guide. There is accessible toilet provision. The auctioneer has an evacuation plan in place and dedicated members of staff will support individuals who require assistance to exit safely. A hearing loop can be made available for those who require it on request. Those who need to be situated on ground floor level to participate, online or via telephone in the auction will have the same experience of those in attendance on the first floor, this has been confirmed by the auctioneer.
These reasonable adjustments are in line with the conditions determined in the table below:
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Long-term Condition
Deafness or partial hearing loss 8,914 (6.29%)
Blindness or partial sight 2,560 (1.81%)
Mobility or dexterity that requires the use of a wheelchair 2,145 (1.51%)
Mobility or dexterity that limits physical activities 15,951 (11.25%)
Intellectual or learning disability 1,340 (0.95%)
Intellectual or learning difficulty 4,334 (3.06%)
Autism or Asperger syndrome 2,282 (1.61%)
An emotional, psychological or mental health condition 11,787 (8.32%)
Frequent periods of confusion or memory loss 2,681 (1.89%)
Long term pain or discomfort 17,396 (12.27%)
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 14,525 (10.25%)
Other condition 13,214 (9.32%)
Source: NISRA, Census 2021, tables MS-D03, MS-D04 through to MS-D16
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 (it could benefit) Neutral Negative impact (it could disadvantage)
Gender
Women Neutral impact
Men Neutral impact
Transgender men/women Neutral impact
Other please specify Neutral impact
Reason: Impacts are determined to be neutral. Auction open to all as long as they provide proof of address for licence agreement/invoicing.
Race
The categories used in the Race section are those used in the 2011 census. Consideration should be given to the needs of specific communities within the broad categories.
Asian Neutral impact
Black Neutral impact
Chinese Neutral impact
Mixed race Neutral impact
Other please specify Neutral impact
Reason: Impacts are determined to be neutral. Plain English is used for communication, information available on Council website in multiple languages. Council officer available to provide advice, support application and arrange translation services.
Disability
Long term health impairment could include mental health problems, asthma, heart conditions, chronic fatigue etc.
Neutral impact
Reason: Impacts are determined to be neutral. Various reasonable adjustments have been set in place for bidders who may need to avail of them. Example: alternative options for bidding, portable hearing loop.
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual, lesbian, gay men, bisexual, others
Neutral impact
Reason: Impacts are determined to be neutral. Auction open to all as long as they provide proof of address for licence agreement/invoicing.
Age
Older People Neutral impact
Younger people and children Neutral impact
Reason: Impacts are determined to be neutral. Auction open to all as long as they provide proof of address for licence agreement/invoicing.
Political Opinion
Neutral impact
Reason: Impacts are determined to be neutral. Auction open to all as long as they provide proof of address for licence agreement/invoicing.
Religious Belief
Neutral impact
Reason: Impacts are determined to be neutral. Auction open to all as long as they provide proof of address for licence agreement/invoicing.
Martial Status
Neutral impact
Reason: Impacts are determined to be neutral. Auction open to all as long as they provide proof of address for licence agreement/invoicing.
Dependants
Neutral impact
Reason: Impacts are determined to be neutral. Various reasonable adjustments have been set in place for bidders who may need to avail of them. Example: alternative options for bidding, to support individuals with caring responsibilities.
Screening Questions
2. Are there opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity for people within any of the Section 75 categories?
Gender
(Women, Men, Transgender men/women , Other please specify)
There is no opportunity to better promote equality of opportunity as the auction is a competitive process where bidders are unlikely to interact more than necessary with others. All genders are welcome to participate.
Race
The categories used in the Race section are those used in the 2011 census. Consideration should be given to the needs of specific communities within the broad categories.
(Asian, Black, Chinese, Mixed race, White, Other please specify)
The provision of information in various languages will support individuals whose first language is not English to participate at the same level in the bidding process.
Although once in the room the auction is a competitive process where bidders are unlikely to interact more than necessary with others.
Disability
Long term health impairment could include mental health problems, asthma, heart conditions, chronic fatigue etc.
The provision of pre agreed reasonable adjustments will support individuals with disabilities to participate at the same level in the bidding process. Although once in the room the auction is a competitive process where bidders are unlikely to interact more than necessary with others.
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual, lesbian, gay men, bisexual, others
There is no opportunity to better promote equality of opportunity as the auction is a competitive process where bidders are unlikely to interact more than necessary with others. All are welcome to participate.
Age
Older People, Younger people and children
There is no opportunity to better promote equality of opportunity as the auction is a competitive process where bidders are unlikely to interact more than necessary with others. All are welcome to participate.
Political Opinion
There is no opportunity to better promote equality of opportunity as the auction is a competitive process where bidders are unlikely to interact more than necessary with others. All are welcome to participate.
Religious Belief
There is no opportunity to better promote equality of opportunity as the auction is a competitive process where bidders are unlikely to interact more than necessary with others. All are welcome to participate.
Marital Status
There is no opportunity to better promote equality of opportunity as the auction is a competitive process where bidders are unlikely to interact more than necessary with others. All are welcome to participate.
Dependants
The provision of alternative options to bid will support individuals with dependants to participate at the same level in the bidding process.
Although online users and telephone bidders will be unable to interact with other bidders.
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: Religious Belief
Level of impact: None. The process has no remit to impact on good relations.
Section 75 Category: Political Opinion
Level of impact: None. The process has no remit to impact on good relations.
Section 75 Category: Racial Group
Level of impact: None. The process has no remit to impact on good relations.
Screening Questions
4. Are there opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group?
Religious Belief: No. The process has no remit to impact on good relations.
Political Opinion: No. The process has no remit to impact on good relations.
Racial Group: No. The process has no remit to impact on good relations.
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.)
Measures have been put in place to support those with multiple identities, example, female carers can bid online, younger workers can bid online, older individuals were informed of the process through more traditional forms of advertisements, e.g., newspapers.
The process will ask for bidders to inform in advance if any further reasonable adjustments were necessary.
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.
Measures have been put in place to support those with multiple identities, example, female carers can bid online, disabled ethnic minorities can bid through the telephone or using a translator, younger workers can bid online, older individuals were informed of the process through more traditional forms of advertisements, e.g., newspapers.
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?
No
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?
No
Screening Decision
Likely Impact 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:
N/A
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:
N/A
If the decision is not to conduct an equality impact assessment (i.e. likely impact = None), please provide details of the reasons for this:
Reasonable adjustments have been added throughout the process from pre planning to final licencing provision. This will be monitored and any further adjustments will be considered and amendments made as necessary.
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?
No
If YES, give the reasons to support your decision, together with the proposed changes/amendments or alternative policy:
N/A
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 process will be monitored throughout and at the end a review will be undertaken to identify learning opportunities for the future.