Equality Scheme with Equality Action Plan 2023-2027 - Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Our arrangements for assessing our compliance with the section 75 duties (Schedule 9 4. (2) (a))
2.1 Some of our arrangements for assessing our compliance with the Section 75 statutory duties are outlined in other relevant parts of this Equality Scheme
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Consultation |
Chapter 3 |
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Monitoring arrangements Assessment of impact of policies Publication arrangements |
Chapter 4 |
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Staff training |
Chapter 5 |
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Access to Information |
Chapter 6 |
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Complaints Procedure |
Chapter 8 |
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Publication and annual review of Council’s Equality Scheme |
Chapters 9 & 10 |
In addition we have the following arrangements in place for assessing our compliance:
Responsibilities and reporting
2.2 We are committed to the fulfilment of our Section 75 obligations in all parts of our work.
2.3 Responsibility for the effective implementation of our Equality Scheme lies with the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive is accountable to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for the development, implementation, maintenance and review of the Equality Scheme in accordance with Section 75 and Schedule 9 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, including any good practice or guidance that has been or may be issued by the Equality Commission.
2.4 If you have any questions or comments regarding our Equality Scheme, please contact Siobhan Fisher, Head of Corporate Performance & Improvement at the address given and we will respond to you as soon as possible.
2.5 Objectives and targets relating to the statutory duties will be integrated into our strategic and operational business plans3.
2.6 Employees’ job descriptions and performance plans reflect their contributions to the discharge of the Section 75 statutory duties and implementation of the Equality Scheme, where relevant. The personal performance plans are subject to appraisal in the annual performance review.
2.7 Mid and East Antrim Borough Council prepares an annual report on the progress we have made on implementing the arrangements set out in this Equality Scheme to discharge our Section 75 statutory duties (Section 75 annual progress report).
The Section 75 annual progress report will be presented to Council and sent to the Equality Commission by 31 August each year and will follow any guidance on annual reporting issued by the Equality Commission.
Progress on the delivery of Section 75 statutory duties will also be included in our (organisational) annual report.
2.8 The Section 75 annual progress report will be made available on this website or by contacting:
Siobhan Fisher, Head of Corporate Performance & Improvement
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
The Braid
1-29 Bridge Street
Ballymena
BT43 5EJ
Tel: 0300 124 5000
Email: Siobhan.Fisher@midandeastantrim.gov.uk
2.9 Mid and East Antrim Borough Council liaise closely with the Equality Commission to ensure that progress on the implementation of our Equality Scheme is maintained.
2.10 The Council will mainstream Section 75 across all Council service areas. All policies, new or revised, will be screened to ensure compliance with this Equality Scheme.
2.11 Mid and East Antrim Borough Council will develop an action plan to promote equality of opportunity and good relations. This action plan will be set out in Appendix 6 to this Equality Scheme.
2.12 The action measures that will make up our action plan will be relevant to our functions. They will be developed and prioritised on the basis of an audit of inequalities. The audit of inequalities will gather and analyse information across the Section 75 categories4 to identify the inequalities that exist for our service users and those affected by our policies5.
2.13 Action measures will be specific, measurable, linked to achievable outcomes, realistic and time bound. Action measures will include performance indicators and timescales for their achievement.
2.14 We will develop any action plans for a period of between one and five years in order to align them with our corporate and business planning cycles. Implementation of the action measures will be incorporated into our business planning process.
2.15 We will seek input from our stakeholders and engage on our action plan before we send it to the Equality Commission and thereafter when reviewing the plan as per 2.16 below.
2.16 We will monitor our progress on the delivery of our action measures annually and update the action plan as necessary to ensure that it remains effective and relevant to our functions and work.
2.17 Mid and East Antrim Borough Council will inform the Commission of any changes or amendments to our action plan and will also include this information in our Section 75 annual progress report to the Commission. Our Section 75 annual progress report will incorporate information on progress we have made in implementing our action plans/action measures.
2.18 Once finalised, our action plan will be available on this website or by contacting Siobhan Fisher, Head of Corporate Performance and Improvement at the address given.