Simple terms explainer:

Councils must conduct Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs), ensuring they give “due regard” to eliminating discrimination, advancing equality of opportunity, and fostering good relations—before finalising any policy, service, plan, or budget decision. Councils begin by screening proposals, gathering evidence on how different protected groups might be affected, and then identifying potential adverse impacts or opportunities to promote fairness. They must adjust proposals based on findings, document how assessments shaped decision-making, publish results, and monitor outcomes to ensure proposals have the intended positive effect.