Draft Belfast Tree Strategy Equality Screening

Published online January 2023

Introduction

The Council has a statutory duty to screen. This includes our strategies, plans, policies, legislative developments; and new ways of working such as the introduction, change or end of an existing service, grant funding arrangement or facility. This screening template is designed to help departments consider the likely equality impacts of their proposed decisions on different groups of customers, service users, staff and visitors.

Before carrying out an equality screening exercise it is important that you have received the necessary training first. To find out about the training needed or any other queries on screening, contact the Equality and Diversity Officer, Lorraine Dennis, on extension 6027or by email [email protected]

The accompanying Screening Guidance note provides straightforward advice on how to carry out equality screening exercises. Detailed information about the Section 75 equality duties and what they mean in practice is available on the Equality Commission’s website (link opens in new window) .

The screening template has 4 sections to complete. These are:

Section A - provides details about the policy / decision that is being screened

Section B - gives information on the consultation process, supporting evidence gathered and has 4 key questions outlining the likely impacts on all equality groups.

Section C - has 4 key questions in relation to obligations under the Disability Discrimination Order

Section D - is the formal record of the screening decision.

Section A

Details about the policy / decision to be screened

1. Title of policy / decision to be screened:

Belfast Tree Strategy (2023-2033)

2. Brief description of policy / decision to be screened:

The Belfast Tree Strategy is a new strategy and currently in draft format it will have a 10-year lifespan from its anticipated launch date and will set out a commitment to delivering key priorities and actions in a fully resourced action plan which will be reviewed at approximately three-yearly intervals starting from April 2024.

Finance / legislative / procurement implications

The project total to date is £30k. Resourcing of staff and equipment required to deliver the strategy and associated activity for Years 1 to 3 is included in the action plan which was reported to elected members at Belfast City Council in October 2023.

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3. Aims and objectives of the policy / decision to be screened:

The strategy will incorporate the aims of council and key city partners and will reflect existing programmes such as Belfast One Million Trees, the Belfast Local Development Plan, the Belfast Agenda and clearly links tree planting and management with Belfast’s climate ambitions and the benefits that trees provide to health and wellbeing.

The draft Belfast Tree Strategy lays out a clear vision:

“That Belfast is a city which focuses on protecting, enhancing, and expanding its woodlands, hedges, and trees, connecting people to nature, and ensuring that these continue to be a major asset to everyone who lives in, works in, and visits our city.”

4. On whom will the policy / decision impact?

Consider the internal and external impacts (both actual or potential) and explain:

Staff - Yes

Council staff have been allocated to support the development and delivery of the strategy. They will support tree, hedge, and woodland management as well as the allocation of funding and provide legal, strategic development and research support and communications advice as required.

Service users - Yes

Belfast residents and visitors will receive support and services because of this strategy.

Other public sector organisations - Yes

Belfast City Council
NI Housing Executive
Queen's University Belfast
Department for Infrastructure
George Best Belfast City Airport
Nature Recovery Networks
Wildlife Trust

Voluntary / community groups / trade unions - Yes

The Northern Ireland Environment Link Northern Ireland and The Belfast Hills Partnership.

Others, specify - Yes

The Woodland Trust provided £10k funding for the development strategy to Belfast City Council.

5. Are there linkages to other Agencies/ Departments?

The strategy will have a 10-year lifespan from its launch date and will set out a commitment to delivering key priorities and actions in a delivery plan which will be reviewed at approximately three-yearly intervals starting from April 2023. The strategy will incorporate the aims of council and key city partners and will reflect existing programmes such as Belfast One Million Trees, the Belfast Local Development Plan, the Belfast Agenda and clearly links tree planting and management with Belfast’s climate ambitions and the benefits that trees provide to health and wellbeing.

Section B

Information on the consultation process, supporting evidence gathered and has 4 key questions outlining the likely impacts for equality and good relations.

6. Outline consultation process planned or achieved

In compiling this draft, we have drawn upon several sources of information and the consultation process to dated is as follows.

Phase 1 - Appointed consultants facilitated online workshops with stakeholders including representatives from relevant statutory and environmental organisations. Council also held a public survey online and received over 600 responses. Presentation by relevant Council Officers to Climate and Resilience Board and on 8 November 2022 the draft strategy was presented to Belfast City Council’s People and Communities Committee and approved.

Phase 2 - 12-week public consultation commencement in January 2023 to include a release of the draft strategy online and a series of webinars and community consultation/in person events in Belfast. In the same period relevant Council Officers will attend the Council’s Disability Advisory panel and consult and getting their views on the strategy and how best it could be delivered by Council.

What evidence / information (both qualitative and quantitative) have you gathered to inform this policy? Set out all evidence below to help inform your screening assessment.

It is important to record information gathered from a variety of sources such as: monitoring information; complaints; research surveys; consultation exercises from other public authorities.

Section 75 category	Details of evidence/information and engagement
Religious belief	Details of the city-wide consultation process and evidence gathered as described in section 6. The Belfast Tree Strategy is a city-wide strategy that will benefit all people in the city.
Political opinion	Details of the city-wide consultation process and evidence gathering as described in section 6. Belfast City Council People and Communities Committee received a report on the Belfast Tree Strategy and Tree Survey on 8 Nov 2022 and discussed the strategy with relevant council officers and representative of appointed consultants Treeconomics.
Racial group	Details of the City-wide consultation process and evidence gathering as described in section 6. We will work collaboratively with relevant officers from the Council’s Equality and Diversity Unit to ensure that representatives from Black and Minority Ethnic groups came to consultation events.
Age	The Belfast Tree Strategy is intended to benefit all ages. We recognize that engagement with both younger and older people is important and will work with relevant Council Officers to highlight the draft tree strategy to appropriate both older and young people’s fora/ groups in Belfast. We will present the draft strategy and ask for feedback.
Marital status	Details of the city-wide consultation process and evidence gathering are described in section 6. The Belfast Tree Strategy is a city-wide strategy that is intended to benefit all the people in the city.
Sexual orientation	Details of the city-wide consultation process and evidence gathering are described in section 6. The Belfast Tree Strategy is a city-wide strategy that is intended to benefit all the people in the city. We will work with relevant Council Officers to encourage LGBTQI + groups to participate in the consultation.
Men and women generally	Details of the city-wide consultation process and gathering are described in section 6. The Belfast Tree Strategy is a city-wide strategy that is intended to benefit all the people in the city.
Disability	Belfast City Council Disability Advisory Panel will be a consultative group in the consultation process and will also produce with support from Mencap a charity supporting people with a learning disability an easy read version of the consultation document. Furthermore, Belfast City Council’s website offers the online functionality to increase text size through the Reach Deck accessibility tool.
Dependants	Details of the city-wide consultation process and evidence gathering are described in section 6. The Belfast Tree Strategy is a city-wide strategy that is intended to benefit all the people in the city.

8. What is the likely impact (indicate if the policy impact is positive or negative) on equality of opportunity for those affected by this policy, for each of the Section 75 equality categories? What is the level of impact?

Section 75 category	Likely impact?	Level of impact? Minor/Major/None
Religious belief	The Belfast Tree Strategy is a citywide strategy for the benefit of all people in the city.	Minor positive impact
Political opinion	The Belfast Tree Strategy is a citywide strategy for the benefit all people in the city.	Minor positive impact
Racial group	The Belfast Tree Strategy is a citywide strategy for the benefit of all people in the city.	Minor positive impact
Age	The Belfast Tree Strategy is a citywide strategy for the benefit of all people in the city.	Minor positive impact
Marital status	The Belfast Tree Strategy is a citywide strategy for the benefit of all people in the city.	Minor positive impact
Sexual orientation	The Belfast Tree Strategy is a citywide strategy for the benefit of all people in the city.	Minor positive impact
Men and women generally	The Belfast Tree Strategy is a citywide strategy for the benefit of all people in the city.	Minor positive impact
Disability	The Belfast Tree Strategy is a citywide strategy for the benefit of all people in the city.	Minor positive impact
Dependants	The Belfast Tree Strategy is a citywide strategy for the benefit of all people in the city.	Minor positive impact

9. Are there opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity for people within the Section 75 equalities categories?

Section 75 category	If Yes, provide details	If No, provide reasons
Religious belief		Same equality of opportunity for all people who live in, work in, and visit Belfast to benefit from its tree strategy.
Political opinion		Same equality of opportunity for all people who live in, work in, and visit Belfast to benefit from its tree strategy.
Racial group		Same equality of opportunity for all people who live in, work in, and visit Belfast to benefit from its tree strategy.
Age	There will be cross generational activities delivered through the delivery of the strategy.
Marital status	Activities will be delivered through the strategy to men’s and women’s only groups as applicable but also to mixed groups.
Sexual orientation		Same equality of opportunity for all people who live in, work in, and visit Belfast to benefit from its tree strategy
Men and women generally		Same equality of opportunity for all people who live in, work in, and visit Belfast to benefit from its tree strategy
Disability		Same equality of opportunity for all people who live in, work in, and visit Belfast to benefit from its tree strategy
Dependants		Same equality of opportunity for all people who live in, work in, and visit Belfast to benefit from its tree strategy

10. To what extent is the policy likely to impact (positive or negatively) on good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group? What is the level of impact?

Good relations category	Likely impact?	Level of impact? Minor/Major/None
Religious belief	People from all over the city will have the opportunity to participate in the consultation and associated citywide events.	Minor, positive impact
Political opinion	People from all over the city will have the opportunity to participate in the consultation and associated citywide events.	Minor, positive impact
Racial group	People from all over the city will have the opportunity to participate in the consultation and associated citywide events.	Minor, positive impact

11. Are there opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group?

Good relations category	If Yes, provide details	If No, provide reasons
Religious belief	Yes, people from all over the city will have the opportunity to participate in the consultation and benefit from the delivery of the Belfast Tree Strategy.
Political opinion	Yes, people from all over the city will have the opportunity to participate in the consultation and benefit from the delivery of the Belfast Tree Strategy.
Racial group	Yes, people from all over the city will have the opportunity to participate in the consultation and benefit from the delivery of the Belfast Tree Strategy.

Section C

Belfast City Council also has legislative obligations to meet under the Disability Discrimination Order and Questions 12 to13 relate to these two areas.

Consideration of Disability Duties

12. Does this proposed policy / decision provide an opportunity for the Council to better promote positive attitudes towards disabled people?

Explain your assessment in full

Yes, research tells us that accessibility can be an issue for people with disabilities and older people and that this should be a key consideration when designing and delivering services.

13. Does this proposed policy / decision provide an opportunity to actively increase the participation by disabled people in public life?

Explain your assessment in full

Yes, the delivery of the consultation on the draft strategy will provide opportunities to attend events, activities and influence the final strategy to ensure increased participation of disabled people in public life. More local events will be arranged that would be easier for disabled people to access.

14. Multiple Identities

Provide details of data on the impact of the policy with multiple identities

Not applicable

15. Monitoring Arrangements

Section 75 places a requirement the Council to have equality monitoring arrangements in place in order to assess the impact of policies and services etc; and to help identify barriers to fair participation and to better promote equality of opportunity.

Outline what data you will collect in the future in order to monitor the impact of this policy / decision on equality, good relations and disability duties.

Equality	Good Relations	Disability Duties
We will conduct a midpoint survey, and end of strategy survey and monitor complaints.	We will conduct a midpoint survey, and end of strategy survey and monitor complaints.	We will conduct a midpoint survey, and end of strategy survey and monitor complaints.

Section D

Formal Record of Screening Decision

Title of Proposed Policy / Decision being screened

Belfast Tree Strategy Draft 2022 – 2023
Date: 29 November 2022

I can confirm that the proposed policy / decision has been screened for –

equality of opportunity and good relations
disabilities duties

On the basis of the answers to the screening questions, I recommend that this policy / decision is – (place an X in the appropriate box below)


Not applicable	*Screened In – Necessary to conduct a full EQIA
X	*Screened Out – No EQIA necessary (no impacts) There are no negative impacts identified.
X	* Screened Out - Mitigating Actions (minor impacts) Provide a brief note here to explain how this decision was reached: Explain what mitigating actions and / or policy changes will now be introduced: Further screenings may be carried out at appropriate stages in the delivery of the strategy should this be deemed necessary.

Not applicable

*Screened In – Necessary to conduct a full EQIA

*Screened Out – No EQIA necessary (no impacts)

There are no negative impacts identified.

* Screened Out - Mitigating Actions (minor impacts)

Provide a brief note here to explain how this decision was reached:
Explain what mitigating actions and / or policy changes will now be introduced:
Further screenings may be carried out at appropriate stages in the delivery of the strategy should this be deemed necessary.

Screening assessment completed by (Officer Level)

Name: Maria McAleer, Performance and Improvement Officer
Date: 29 November 2022
Department: City and Neighbourhood Services

Screening decision approved by

Name: Stephen Leonard, Neighbourhood Services Manager
Date: 29 November 2022
Department: City and Neighbourhood Services