Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 17th June, it had granted approval to:

·      the carrying out of a formal Equality Impact Assessment on the City Hall Memorabilia by an independent external consultant;

·      the refreshing/updating of the Equality Impact Assessment on the Council’s Policy of Flying the Union Flag by an independent external consultant; and

·      the updating of both legal advice and advice from the Equality Commission on the matter by the Town Solicitor.

            The Chief Executive stated that, subsequently, the Joint Group of the Party Leaders’ Forum and Historic Centenaries Working Group had received two presentations on the draft Equality Impact Assessment reports entitled: Policy on the Flying of the Union Flag; and Belfast City Hall: Promoting a Good and Harmonious Environment.  Party briefings had also been provided by consultants on both reports.  Subsequently, the Committee, at its meeting on 25th April, had agreed to proceed with the consultation process on the Equality Impact Assessment draft reports, based upon the best advice available from the Equality Commission.

            The Chief Executive explained that when undertaking an Equality Impact Assessment, the Council followed closely the guidance issued by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland in 2004 which recommended that there should be seven steps in the process:

Step 1:     Definition of the aims of the policy – completed

Step 2:     Consideration of available data and research – completed

Step 3:     Assessment of potential and actual impacts – completed

Step 4:     Consideration of measures – completed

Step 5:     Formal consultation

Step 6:     Decision and publication of the results of the EQIA

Step 7:     Monitoring for adverse impact.

            The two separate reports set out the findings of the first four steps of the process. 

            The Chief Executive stated that both reports set out the available data, relevant policies and research, including a survey of visitors to the City Hall which had been carried out by special consultants over a two week period in September, 2011.  There was an assessment of the potential and actual impacts.  In addition, the reports also contained updated legal advice in relation to both matters.  The final reports included a number of issues raised by the Political Parties, including an analysis of the trends regarding employment by community background at senior levels in the Council.

            He explained that the Equality Impact Assessment process required that, if it was decided that the policy had an adverse impact on one or more of the nine equality categories, then a series of alternatives should be put forward for consideration and an assessment of the possible impact of those alternatives be undertaken.  The Council must consider measures which might mitigate the adverse impact and alternative ways of delivering policy aims which would have a less adverse impact on the relevant equality category or which better promoted the opportunity and good relations.  Both reports presented a series of policy options for the purpose of formal consultation.  The Chief Executive explained that, in line with advice which had been received from the Equality Commission, the following timeline had been agreed by the Committee on 25th April for the two Equality Impact Assessment Consultations to run concurrently:

            The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland had confirmed that there was no definitive requirement regarding consultation as long as the consultation was timely, open and inclusive.  A series of focus groups and staff questionnaires would be facilitated as part of the process.  The Equality Commission had recommended also that a press release should be issued to make the public aware of the Equality Impact Assessments and information should be placed on the Council’s website so that members of the public could also submit their views.  At the close of the consultation period, officers would analyse the responses and present recommendations to the Committee in October for its consideration.

            The Committee authorised the issue of the draft Equality Impact Assessment reports on the Flying of the Union Flag; and Belfast City Hall: Promoting a Good and Harmonious Environment for public consultation.