Under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, as a designated public authority, is required to have due regard for the need to promote equality of opportunity between:
- persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation
- men and women generally
- persons with a disability and persons without
- persons with dependants and persons without.
It (we) must also have regard for the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.
These are commonly referred to as the Section 75 statutory equality and good relations duties on public authorities. The duties are in addition to the duty not to discriminate under anti-discrimination law. They are intended to ensure that equality and good relations considerations are at the heart of Council’s policy making and service delivery.
LCCC is required to set out how it (we) proposes to fulfil these duties in an Equality Scheme which must be approved by the Equality Commission and reviewed every five years. LCCC reviewed its Equality Scheme during 2020 – see review report.
While not a statutory requirement, public authorities are encouraged to develop Equality Action Plans to address identified and/or potential inequalities. LCCC’s first action plan covered the period 2015-2020 and progress on its implementation was reported in the Annual Section 75 progress reports to the Equality Commission.
A new Equality Action Plan for 2021-2025 was developed and consulted on in 2021.
In its (our) Equality Scheme, LCCC has committed to screen our policies and decision making for equality and good relations impacts. Click here for copies of our equality and good relations screening reports