EQUALITY COMMISSION
FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
Public Authorities Progress Reports 2002 - 2003
General Consumer Council
Equality Officer name and contact details
David Babington
Corporate Services Manager
General Consumer Council
Elizabeth House
116 Holywood Road
Belfast
BT4 1NY Tel: 9067 2488
david.babington@gccni.org.uk
Section 1: Preparation of Equality Scheme
1.1 The Council’s plan was approved in July 2001.
Section 2: Strategic Implementation of the Section 75 Equality Duties
2.1 The Council’s Corporate Plan includes equality of opportunity as one of its core
values and the current work programme reflects a range of activities with Section 75
Groups. The Council consulted widely on the development of its Corporate Plan for
the period 2002-2005.
2.2 The Council reviews quarterly Equality Progress reports, which include all
equality related matters. The Senior Management Team meetings consider equality
matters as a regular agenda item.
2.3 The Council is coming to the end of an extensive reorganisation that has included
a significant expansion in staff numbers and refurbishing existing and new office
space. This upheaval has, naturally, had an impact on the Council’s programme of
work (referred to further in 11.1).
2.4 Every Job Description stipulates the need for staff to be aware of their obligations
in relation to equality. The Council is investigating equality training as part of the
ongoing staff induction and development programme.
2.5 The Corporate Services Manager attends all DETI Equality and Diversity
Quarterly meetings. As part of the Consumer Skills for All (CSFA) programme the
Council has engaged with a range of Section 75 organisations and has a member
from a Section 75 group on the CSFA Working Group. The CSFA team has also held
regional workshops to which Section 75 groups were invited, a list of groups invited is
attached at Appendix B. The Consumer Network also has representation from
Section 75 groups. During the year the Council held a meeting with the RNIB at
which information was exchanged and arrangements made for future disability
training. A meeting was held with the Transport Advisory Group of Disability Action
following which their nominee was co-opted onto the Transport Group of the Council.
Section 3: Screening & Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) Timetable
3.1 The first impact assessment, on the combined Communications and Consumer
Education policies, started before the end of March 02. Among others DETI’s
Equality team made constructive comments and the final draft was brought before
Council in November; the EQIA was completed and published before the end of
March 03. As the work progressed it was clear that the new CSFA programme would
require a screening; in September the Equality Commission was consulted and it was
agreed that it should be considered as part of the consultation. A screening process
to assess the impact of the CSFA programme is underway.
3.2 The Council’s publication scheme was submitted
Commissioner by the due date, 30th September.
to the
Information
Section 4: Training and Communication
4.1 The Council has conducted training in line with business needs and this year was
reassessed and successfully retained the Investor in People award. All senior
management team members were trained in March 2002, less the recently arrived
Director, Energy and Corporate Services who received training in his previous
employment. Training included how to complete an EQIA. The Council has
commissioned work on all its development and training needs for completion this
year. Training needs will be assessed and equality training requirements will be
identified.
4.2 The Council’s Work Programme has been widely distributed; this contains details
of all activities, including how the Council meets its equality obligations. A copy is
available on the Council’s web site and hard copies have been sent to relevant
groups.
4.3 The Corporate Services Manager has attended training in Disability Awareness
and equality in Recruitment and Selection this year, the Equality Commission ran
both courses. Equality training is being built into the development programmes of all
staff. Individual staff members have undergone training in sign language.
Section 5: Data Collection & Analysis
5.1 Research was carried out in relation to the financial exclusion, gas and retailing
papers and surveys. Data regarding age, sex and religion was collated. In addition
the newly established CSFA team has established a database of contacts with
Section 75 Groups. They are also exploring the possibility of monitoring volunteers
who make up the Council’s Consumer Network. The recently completed Consumer
Proficiency Study also obtained quantitative and qualitative information and this will
be used to inform the Council’s future policies.
5.2 The Council’s EQIA on Communications and Consumer Education policies
revealed that it is difficult to get quantitative data from Section 75 Groups, particularly
ethnic minorities and disability groups. In terms of qualitative data, the Council’s
ability to identify key groups will be enhanced by work, recently completed, during the
Consumer Proficiency Study.
5.3 The Council is looking at more structured ways of gathering information such as
through the existing complaints’ survey for electricity, gas and transport. The Council
is also examining ways to gather information on course evaluation forms.
Section 6: Information Provision and Access to Services
6.1 All reports published by the Council include a statement saying ‘the Council can
provide copies of the executive summary on disk, in large type, in other accessible
formats or in minority ethnic languages’. All of these reports are available on the
Council’s web site. There is currently one text phone and the Council is examining
the need for a second one for the complaints’ section. The text phone number is
quoted on all correspondence including business cards to facilitate those with
hearing/speech difficulties.
6.2 With the establishment of a Communications Manager in January the Council is
developing a communications strategy. This will ensure that the information and
services provided by the Council are as accessible and equitable as possible. An
independent PR consultant reviewed and updated our list of addressees for press
releases to the various equality groups and this list is currently in use.
Section 7: Complaints
7.1 No Section 75 complaints have been received.
Section 8: Timetable
8.1 Details are included in the annexes.
Section 9: Consultation
9.1 Every Section 75 consultation is the responsibility of the relevant Section Head
(Deputy Principal level) who drives the process at the operational level; the Council’s
Equality Officer oversees this. It is the duty of the Section Head to liaise with relevant
organisations and to present the findings of the exercise to Council at appropriate
stages. Consultation methods have included interviews, meetings, qualitative and
quantitative desk research and standard paper-based consultation exercises. The
Council has also used the CSFA Scoping Study and the Consumer Proficiency Study
to engage with umbrella groups.
9.2 The Council wrote to our list of Section 75 organisations asking if they would be
interested in commenting on the corporate plan; only Disability Action replied and no
organisation was able to turn up at informal meetings to discuss the plan.
Section 10: Impacts and outcomes
10.1 The Council is embedding the process of Equality through regular meetings at
Council and Management levels. The high profile CSFA programme has been
engaged in a round of consultations (see appendix) and this has heightened
awareness of these Section 75 groups within the Council and highlighted the value of
the Council to the groups as well.
10.2 The Council will be identifying suitable approaches with DETI for equality
proofing new policies.
10.3 The Council has been able to raise awareness of the value of CSFA and wider
Council work.
Section 11: Additional Information
11.1 The Council has undergone a period of significant change in this reporting
period, increasing from 10 staff to nearly 30 and doubling the size of office space
through extensive refurbishment. Also in that time there has been no Deputy in the
Council and as a result staff have focussed on core work; there has been some delay
in addressing the EQIA on the joint policies of communications and consumer
education and it is anticipated that work on the EQIA on research will begin shortly.
11.2 We would reiterate last year’s request that specific assistance for smaller public
bodies would be extremely useful until the system is fully embedded.
11.3 Assistance with gathering information, such as political opinion, would be
appreciated.
11.4 Through increased staff numbers, and particularly the new CSFA programme,
the Council is now better placed to meet its equality obligations. The CSFA
programme particularly, will play a major part in achieving this. All of the work so far
has contributed to an environment where equality issues are clearly visible.
Appendix A
EQIA Timetables
Matrices
Please enter details relating to the authority’s Equality Impact Assessment timetable
and progress on it.
EQIA Timetable Reporting Matrices – period to end March 2003
Existing policies – included in initial EQIA timetable
Title of existing
policy EQIA’s
due to be
completed preMarch 2003
1. Communications
and Education
2.
3.
4.
5.
Stage (as per
Steps 1-7 of
EQIA
Process)
Stage 7
If jointEQIA
please
state
partner
authorities
NA
If EQIA
If EQIA
completed is completed is
amended
amended
policy now
were
being
adjustments
implemented
to policy a
?
result of
Y/N
Assessment
of adverse
impact/
feedback
from
Consultation
, or Both
Please enter
A, C or Both
Y
C
New policies, i.e. new or revised policies developed after initial EQIA timetable produced
Title of new policy
Stage
EQIA’s
reached (as
due to be
per Steps 1-7
completed preof EQIA
March 2003
Process)
If jointEQIA
please
state
partner
authorities
If EQIA
If EQIA
completed is completed is
amended
amended
policy now
were
being
adjustments
implemented to policy a
?
result of
Please enter Assessment
Y/N
of adverse
impact/
feedback
from
Consultation
, or Both
Please enter
A, C or Both
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
EQIA time-table for 2003-4
Title of EQIA’s
due to be
commenced
during April 2003
– March 2004
1. CSFA
(screening)
2. Research
3.
4.
5.
Existing or New
policy?
Please enter
E or N below.
If joint-EQIA
please state
partner
authorities
Expected
completion date
of EQIA
N
NA
TBC
E
NA
TBC