Equality screening outcome report: Naming of new park and sportszone at Divis Back Path

Published in July 2022

Contents

Overview of screening template

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 6027 or 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 [Footnote 1].

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

• Section A  provides details about the policy or decision that is being screened
• Section B gives information on the consultation process, supporting evidence gathered and has four key questions outlining the likely impacts on all equality groups
• Section C has four key questions in relation to obligations under the Disability Discrimination Order  
• Section D is the formal record of the screening decision

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Section A

Details about the policy or decision to be screened.

1. Title of policy or decision to be screened

Naming of new park and sportszone at Divis Back Path

2. Brief description of policy or decision to be screened

(Explain is this a new, revised or existing policy?  Are there financial, legislative or procurement implications?)

The Westlink Sports Activity Park (which was its working title for funding purposes) is situated at the Divis “Back Path” area located between the rear of Cullingtree Road and the Westlink.  It stretches from Devonshire Place, near Grosvenor Road to land adjacent to the Frank Gillen Centre, near Divis Street.  It was opened to the public in early July 2021 following a major £1million development, creating a valuable new asset for residents in this part of the west of the city.

On 8 December 2021, the People and Communities Committee agreed to consult on two options for the name of the new park. The options proposed were:

• Divis Back Path Park
• Páirc an Lonnáin

The consultation was undertaken using the council's Your Say Citizenspace webpage between 11 January 2022 and 15 February 2022.

There are no financial or resource implications beyond the City and Neighbourhood Services (CNS) departmental budget already in place.

3. Aims and objectives of the policy or decision to be screened
(What is the policy trying to achieve?)

To agree a name for the new park at Divis Back Path.

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4. Who will the policy or decision impact?

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

The park will be maintained and managed by council staff, some are trade union members. Users include local residents, community groups and sports clubs.

5. Are there linkages to other agencies or departments?

This is not applicable.

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Section B

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

6. Outline consultation process planned or achieved

The consultation process comprised four stages and follows the council Policy Framework agreed for managing requests to name parks at the former Parks and Leisure Committee, at its meeting in August 2008. These stages are:

• Engagement with key stakeholders to develop a long list of new park names, which reflect;
  • a sense of place, reflecting the geographic location, community.
  • neighbourhood or street where the park, facility or amenity is located.
  • the historical significance of the area or unique characteristics of the site (unique flora and fauna).
• Shortlisted names based on stakeholder feedback and assessed against the policy criteria as outlined in engagement;
• Community consultation on the agreed shortlisted names;
• Recommendation to People and Communities Committee to reflect preferred name identified through the community consultation.

Names are not to be considered which:

1. Cause confusion due to duplication or names sounding similar to existing named facilities or locations within Belfast.
2. Unlawfully discriminate within the meaning and scope of the provisions of Section 75, the Good Relations Plan (2007), the Belfast Good Relations Strategy 2019 and the Shared Future agenda.
3. Are party-political in intention or use.

In line with the council policy framework (agreed for managing requests to name parks at the former Parks and Leisure Committee, at its meeting in August 2008), local stakeholders came together to develop a list of potential names for Divis “Back Path” and a panel (including nominated members of the “Back Path” Forum which was the local reference group for the development) considered the submissions against the criteria in the council’s policy framework.

Engagement took place via local meetings with youth organisations, Healthy Living Centres, churches, community groups and sporting organisations. Suggestions were put forward by the groups after they received information around the site and its historical background. A range of three potential names were discussed and suggested for consultation in line with the council policy framework:

• Nugget's Nest – this was suggested to acknowledge the work carried out by Gerry “Nugget” Nugent who has volunteered in the community, particularly Immaculata Amateur Boxing Club, for over 45 years. However, naming the park after a living individual would not comply with the criteria of the naming policy.
• Divis Back Path – this site was always referred to as “Divis Back Path” and people associate the location with the name.
• Páirc an Lonnáin (Loney Park) – this is most popular among local groups given the historical context of the site which was the location of the old Pound Loney. Many people still living in the area are originally from the Loney.

At its meeting on 8 December 2021, the People and Communities Committee agreed to consult on two options for the name of the new park. The options proposed were:

• Divis Back Path Park
• Páirc an Lonnáin

A full public consultation was undertaken using the council’s Your Say webpage between 11 January 2022 and 15 February 2022.

A total of 495 responses were received. Breakdown was:

• Divis Back Path Park: 80 in favour (16 per cent)
• Páirc an Lonnáin: 415 in favour (84 per cent)

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7. Available evidence

What evidence or information (both qualitative and quantitative) have you gathered to inform this policy?  Set out all evidence 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.

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?

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

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? 

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

Section C

Belfast City Council also has legislative obligations to meet under the Disability Discrimination Order. Questions 12 and 13 relate to these areas.

Consideration of Disability Duties

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

Explain your assessment in full

There are no opportunities within this decision to actively increase the participation by disabled people in public life. 

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

Explain your assessment in full

There are no opportunities within this decision to actively increase the participation by disabled people in public life. 

14. Multiple identities

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

This is not applicable.

15. Monitoring arrangements

Section 75 places a requirement the council to have equality monitoring arrangements in place:

• to assess the impact of policies and services
• to help identify barriers to fair participation
• to better promote equality of opportunity

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

Section D

Formal record of screening decision

Title of proposed policy or decision being screened

Naming of new park and sportszone at Divis Back Path

I can confirm that the proposed policy or decision has been screened for:

• equality of opportunity and good relations
• disability duties

Screened out
Mitigating actions (minor impacts)

• Provide a brief note to explain how this decision was reached
• Explain what mitigating actions or policy changes will now be introduced.

Mitigations will be put in place to ensure that accessible standards are maintained and accessibility clauses will be built into all technology procurement exercises.

Screening assessment completed by

Name: Alice McGlone
Date: 9 June 2022
Department: City and Neighbourhood Services 

Screening decision approved by

Name: Kelly Gilliland      
Date: 25 July 2022
Department: City and Neighbourhood Services

Save the Word final version of the completed screening form and email to the Equality and Diversity Officer: [email protected]  A link to this screening form will be provided to the council's Section 75 consultees.

For more information about equality screening, contact:

Lorraine Dennis or Lisa McKee
Equality and Diversity Unit
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Hall
Belfast
BT1 5GS
Telephone:  028 9027 0511
Email: [email protected]

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Footnotes

[Footnote 1] Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (link opens in new window)

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