Carrickfergus Borough Council - Equality

Equality

What is the Equality Scheme?

Section 75 and schedule 9 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 ('the Act') place new duties on public authorities to promote equality of opportunity and good relations.

The Council's Equality Scheme is a statement of the Council's commitment to fulfilling these statutory obligations. It also outlines a plan for ensuring that consideration of equality issues is central to the whole range of policy decision-making in the Council.

What does Council have to do?

Section 75 of the Act requires the Council, in carrying out its functions, to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity:

  • Between people of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation;
  • Between men and women generally;
  • between people with a disability and people without;
  • Between people with dependents and people without.

The Council is also required, in carrying out all its functions, powers, and duties, to have regard to the desireability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.

The Council will monitor the impact of policies to identify their effects on relevant groups and consult accordingly. The work will be reviewed annually and the results posted on the Council's website (also available in written form on request) The most recent Report was sent to the Equality Commission in August 2011. If monitoring and evaluation show that a policy results in greater adverse impact than predicted, or if opportunities arise that would allow for greater equality of opportunity to be promoted, the Council will ensure that the policy is revised.

CALL FOR NEW EQUALITY SCHEME

As of the 1st February 2012, Carrickfergus Borough Council s required to have produced a new Equality Scheme which will be approved, after a period of consultation, by the Secretary of State. The new Draft Scheme can be accessed here and Council would encourage comment from as wide a range of interested parties as possible. Furthermore, Council has also drafted an associated Action Plan based on a regional Audit of Inequalities and work conducted ihn developing a Coporate Plan for the period 2011 - 2015. Again, the Draft Plan can be accessed here.

If you wish to comment on either document, please respond to the Council in writing, by telephoine, or vis email using the following contact details: -

Mrs Lisa Adair

Business Development Manager

Museum and Civic Centre

Antrim Street

Carrickfergus

BT38 7DL

Tel: - (028) 9335 8003

Email: - lisa.adair@carrickfergus.org

Please also note that, should you wish to have the documents sent to you in an alternative format or in another language if your first language is not English, Council is happy to meet your request. Again, please use the contact information here to place your request.

Please note that the closing date for consultation will be 6th January 2012

 

Related Documents

For further information please contact:

Lisa Adair
Telephone: 028 9335 8003
E-Mail: lisa.adair@carrickfergus.org