The
Committee’s Equality Scheme states that the Committee will review both the
action taken during the year to promote equality of opportunity and the progress
of the implementation of the Equality Scheme.
The
Committee re-affirms its commitment to the fulfillment of its duties under
Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 in that it will have due regard to
the need to promote equality of opportunity –
§
Between
persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age,
martial status or sexual orientation;
§
Between
men and women generally;
§
Between
persons with a disability and persons without;
and
§
Between
persons with dependants and persons without.
In
addition, without prejudice to its obligations above, NILGOSC shall, in carrying
out its functions, have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations
between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial
group.
NILGOSC
has demonstrated its commitment to the promotion of equality of opportunity
during 2006-2007 by its support from the most senior levels of the organisation.
The
NILGOSC Corporate Plan for 2006-2007 included objectives relating to Equality
and Community Relations. The
Committee approved the Plan in March 2006 and the Senior Management Team, on a
quarterly basis, has monitored the implementation of
objectives.
The
Equality Scheme was approved by the Equality Commission and published in May
2001. Progress on the
implementation of the scheme since then is detailed below:
1.
NILGOSC
published its annual statements for the years 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004,
2004-2005 and 2005-2006 in the Annual Reports and Financial Statements in
October 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
The statements were also reproduced in the Members’ Report, summaries of
the Annual Report, and have been distributed to all members and pensioners (over
70,000 copies). The annual
statements were also made available on the NILGOSC
website.
2.
The
Good Relations Working Group drafted a Community Relations policy. This was issued to all staff at a staff
conference in April 2002. The
policy was screened for impact assessment in June 2002 and approved by the
Committee in October 2002 and was reviewed and updated in June
2005.
3.
The
impact assessment of the Administration of the Local Government Pension Scheme
and the Premature Retirement Scheme was completed in June 2002 and published in
October 2002. As a result of this
assessment:
In
September 2004 NILGOSC carried out a survey among a sample of 1000 scheme
members to determine if any category of person might be underrepresented. The results of the survey concluded that
employers have made Scheme membership widely available to all staff. Differences in the statistics were identified in relation to
age however, it was felt that no adverse impact existed in this grouping in
relation to the administration of the Scheme. The survey findings have been
contributed to the marketing strategy in order that the reasons for lower
membership numbers in the grouping can be examined further and any appropriate
follow up action is taken.
4.
The
impact assessment on the Investment of Contributions was issued for consultation
in March 2004. A number of
responses were received and have been considered. However completion of the assessment was
deferred until the Statement of Investment Principles was reviewed and a
separate Socially Responsible Investment Policy prepared. It is now planned to complete the
assessment by September 2007.
5.
The
impact assessment on the Procurement of Goods and Services was issued for
consultation in March 2004. A
number of responses were received and in light of these the EQIA was issued
specifically to all NILGOSC suppliers for consultation in January 2006. The results of this consultation proved
inconclusive with only 8% of consultees responding. A final version of the impact assessment
will now be issued. Also as a
result of this EQIA all future and current suppliers are now required to
complete a Fair Employment Declaration.
6. The impact assessment on Personnel Policies is underway. A total of 43 policies were identified as relating to employment and an informal consultation document, which was issued in 2006, recommended that 16 policies be subject to an EQIA. The results of this exercise will be considered in the preparation of the EQIA which is timetabled for completion by December 2007.
7. The Equality Scheme is currently under review and will be completed by June 2007.
8.
Specific
training for those managers responsible for the implementation of Equality
Scheme has been undertaken as well as those staff who are members of the
Customer Care Group. The remaining
staff have attended a major conference on Equality and continue to receive
training and updates on equality issues through the annual staff
conference. Awareness training is
provided for new members through the induction procedure.
9.
NILGOSC
have not received any complaints regarding equality issues in the 2006-2007
period. One complaint was received in the 2003-2004 period. This was in connection with the
provision of death benefits to unmarried couples. The pension legislation did not provide
the same death benefits to unmarried couples (either different or same sex
couples) as married couples thus meaning the legislation adversely impacts this
grouping. NILGOSC made a
formal submission to the Department of the Environment regarding this
issue.
10. NILGOSC
did not receive any requests for information in alternative formats in the
period 2006-2007. Two requests for
Thai and Braille formats were received in the 2004-2005 period.
Those who require further information about the NILGOSC Equality Scheme or would prefer to receive this document in an alternative format should contact the Equality Officer at:
Address: NILGOSC, Templeton House, 411 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 2LP
Telephone: (028) 9076 8025
Typetalk: 18001 028 9076 8025 (for people using a textphone)
Fax: (028) 9076 8790
Email: info@nilgosc.org.uk
Copies of the Equality Scheme and this Annual Equality Statement are also available on the Internet at www.nilgosc.org.uk/equality.htm