Havant Borough
Council
Disability Access
Group
Agenda
Thursday 21 May 2009, 21pm in
Committee Room 1 (First floor)
1.
Apologies and welcome
2.
Minutes of last meeting
3.
Matters arising
4.
Pension Service - Lynn Murdoch-Smith
5. Jason
Beasley – Accessible Services
6.
HBCDAG
Action Planning for 2009
– Group Update
7. Date of
next meeting
6. Any other business
Access Group Meeting
Minutes
21 May 2009
If you require this in large print or
alternative format please contact Caren Ransom on
023 9244 6007 or caren.ransom@havant.gov.uk
1.
Present/Apologies
Apologies:
|
Paula Eastwood
|
Havant Job Centre Plus
|
|
Frank Stanley
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Helen Le May
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Mark Le May
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Adeline Vivian
|
Fortune House
|
|
Tracey Ford
|
HBC
|
|
Caren Ransom
|
HBC
|
Present:
|
Lynne Murdoch-Smith
|
The Pension Service
|
|
Gwyneth Fyfield
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Judith
Glenister
(JG)
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Fred
Dunford
(FD)
|
Acorn Group
|
|
Val
Hartridge
(VH)
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Maggie Macbeth
|
Havant Adult Services, Hampshire County
Council
|
|
Richard
Sturgess (RS)
|
Gosport, Fareham Access Officer
|
|
Val Stanley
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Marian Le May
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Tony Le May
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Jason
Beasley
(JB)
|
HBC Access Group
|
|
Steve Weaver
|
HBC, Development Services
|
|
Sophie Iles
|
HBC, Physical Activity Officer
|
|
Jenny
|
Southdowns College
|
|
Councillor Terry Hart
|
HBC
|
|
Alicia Samuel
|
HBC
|
|
Jodie Maspero
|
HBC
|
2. Minutes of last Meeting
The minutes were agreed
3. Matters Arising
It was queried if guard rails had been
installed at Eastoke Beach yet.
Paul Ramshaw, (Head of Regeneration &
Planning Policy at Eastleigh Borough Council) attending a meeting
to discuss Shared spaces was considered by the group. Strong
opinions against Paul Ramshaw’s view on shared spaces were
expressed.
Cllr
Hart thought that
it would be a great opportunity for an interesting debate with Paul
Ramshaw.
RS talked to the group about a new legislation
that is coming out on 1 June 2009. If vehicles park in front of a
dropped kerb, penalties can be dispersed, (by local authorities
parking wardens) without having to have warning signs
displayed.
JB informed the group that Accessibility in
Portsmouth wanted to make a charge of £30.00 for three people to
make a presentation at a
HBCDAG
meeting. Based on this charge JB cancelled the presentation, which
was due for today. He will speak to their chairman himself and
feedback to the group.
VH updated the group and confirmed that
discussions had taken place to appointment the Chair and Vice
Chair. It was agreed that Val Hartridge will remain as Chair and
Val Stanley as Vice Chair and due to ill health Christine Pyle will
no longer be the secretary.
The group queried if there were any updates on
the Hayling Billy Trails, unfortunately Tracey Ford was not present
to comment.
It was noted that the heating (the radiator)
at the Barley Mow Pub in Hayling Island, in the disabled toilet has
been turned off, to solve the problem of it being too hot to
touch.
The group had discussed (at a drop in session)
the option of changing the drop in sessions date and/or time,
(because of the heating problem discussed at the last quarterly
meeting). It was decided that it should stay as it is because it is
the most convenient for the majority of attendees.
VH told the group that she had questioned a
station worker regarding the station lifts at Havant Railway
Station (as discussed in the previous meeting). The station worker
told Val that they would be finished by July 09. Val asked if they
would be manned - he told her that it will be unmanned between
23.00 and 03.00/04.00 when the barrier will be left open.
JG conveyed her good experience with
travelling with South West Trains recently to the group. She
notified the train company before she travelled and they looked
after her well. Although when she rang Havant Train Station on her
return to check everything was ok, she discovered they failed to
notify the station (as promised) that she was on her way back.
4. Disability Sports Club Activities - Sophie
Iles
Sophie Iles the Physical Activity Officer at
Havant Borough Council came with a colleague from Southdowns
College to discuss the possibility of having an evening disability
sports club, as suggested by Andy Bundy.
Sophie explained that currently there is a day
group which started a few weeks ago. Unfortunately the time of the
sessions means that people who work during the day cannot attend.
At the moment there is a charge of £2.00 per session for 2
hours.
Sophie suggested a multi-sports group, where
the activity is changed weekly to include: Kurling, basketball,
cricket etc.
Sophie asked the group for feedback on any
sport or activity they would be interested in taking part in over
the summer. It was explained that there is availability at Havant
and Southdowns Colleges’ sports halls.
Val suggested that they discuss possibilities
at the next drop in session.
Sophie gave her email address for any
suggestions or comments. Sophie.Iles@havant.gov.uk
She was also interested in the groups
experience with local sports centres etc.
The group criticised Havant and Waterlooville
facilities and activities but felt the exercise rooms/gymnasium are
good.
Difficulties with the changing room doors at
the Havant leisure centre were expressed.
Group to contact Sophie with concerns over
local sports facilities
5. Pension Service - Lynne Murdoch Smith
Lynne Murdoch-Smith spoke to the group
regarding The Pension Service which is dedicated to people of 60
years and over. It works in partnership with other local
organisations to deliver pension related services.
The service is part of the Department of Work
and Pensions (DWP). Changes were
made 7 years ago to make it a separate service. Originally if
someone needed help they would have to contact large centres, (by
phone, person email etc). Local centres were set up for those who
could/would not contact the larger centres.
The Pension Service helps people work out
services and or entitlements that they can claim for. This can be
done by answering general queries and help with completing forms.
Rather than posting, documentation needed for proof can also be
shown to them.
Lynne explained that her team and she are not
based in a particular office; visits are arranged in people’s home.
A time slot is given but unfortunately a particular time cannot be
given, although they will always try and accommodate individual
needs.
The group were invited to ask questions:
- On the forms, why do the questions
overlap?
People
do not always recognise that they are struggling. By asking the
same
question in different ways it may reveal more about the person’s
situation. Lynne
stressed that she had no influence over the forms content.
- Do the local officers at the Pension Service
have expertise in a variety of disabilities, e.g. sight loss?
Yes
- Is there information available in
braille?
Yes,
leaflets are
Lynne will
get back to the group to see if the application forms are available
in braille.
- How long is the waiting list?
4 weeks
- Do you have to fill in the form before the
visit or can you do it during?
Normally it
would be done before, but it can be completed during the
appointment.
Intentions
will have to be made clear when making the appointment.
- Is your telephone system automated or
answered by a person?
Locally it
has recently changed to automated.
Lynne informed the group that if you call the
national phone line (0845 60 60 265) from a landline it will
automatically detect your nearest centre and direct your call to
them. This centre will then have access to the appropriate computer
records. If the phone lines are busy it will direct your call to
the second nearest centre.
- Do you deal with attendance allowance?
Yes it’s for
65+ years
- Do you deal with disability living
allowance?
Yes –
but claims must be made before your 65th birthday. If
circumstances change
after, the
claim can be reviewed.
- Does being in a couple make a
difference?
Yes – means
and income will be aggregated, therefore couples must apply
together.
Lynne wanted the group to note that the
allowances are there to help them live independently, how it is
used is up to the individual.
Some entitlements can enhance other benefits
e.g. council tax reductions etc.
Lynne left two ‘Pensioners Guides’ for the
group as well as several leaflets on the local Pension Service. If
further copies are required they can be requested through Lynn.
It was noted that she can be contacted on the
Fareham number in the leaflet (01329 243778).
6. Accessible
Services - Jason Beasley
Item being deferred until next meeting
JB informed the group that Accessibility in
Portsmouth wanted to make a charge of £30.00 for three people to
make a presentation at a meeting. Based on this charge, JB
cancelled the presentation, will speak to their chairman himself
and feedback to the group.
7.
HBCDAG
Action Plan - Group Update
VH used this opportunity to inform the group
that she, Shona and Kim attended a meeting in Winchester, organised
by Hampshire County Council. It was regarding the refurbishment of
the High Street there. The developers appreciated the input from
them and similar groups who attended. VH told the group that this
earned them £100.00 but this money can only be used for user
visits, kurling etc (
HBCDAG
activities and/or activities including disabled people). She
suggested that this could be used for a trip to Brighton, as the
county has a book of accessible walks, (transport to there would
need to be organised).
VH also updated the group on the first event
for the Diversity Network for Havant which was held on 29 April
2009. Val found it very useful. It was requested that Caren Ransom
provide a list of organisations that attended the event. The next
meeting is scheduled for 8 July 2009 10.00 Committee Room 1.
VH has requested more information from Shona
and Kim on being a ‘mystery shopper’ in Havant. It is thought that
they would be advisory visits rather than audits on shops and other
public buildings.
Cllr
Hart
mentioned that after his hip replacement he was a ‘mystery
traveller’ on busses and had to asses whether drivers were
considerate, if the bell was accessible without stretching etc.
The groups’ different experiences of
travelling on busses were discussed.
The action plan was agreed, it was noted that
it is still a working document.
8. AOB
JG described a gadget called Kindle 2. Kindle
is a software and hardware platform for reading electronic books,
(e-books) developed by Amazon.com. JG
explained that this print to speech facility has opened up reading
for the blind, visually impaired and those with reading
difficulties, (e.g. dyslexia) like never before. JG explained that
there are limited books available to her in braille. Unfortunately
the Authors Guild want a stop to the text-to-speech facility on the
Kindle 2. JG urged the group to visit the petition
website and sign a petition to stop this. RS suggested that the
Guild is probably against this device as no contribution is made to
them. Usually one would buy a book then a document reader which
would mean a contribution is made to the author.
On this web page it does explain that: Amazon
…”under pressure from the Authors Guild, has announced that it will
give authors and publishers the ability to disable the
text-to-speech function on any or all of their e-books available
for the Kindle”.
Gadgets to help visually impaired people were
discussed.
The group talked about the Parchment Makers
Whetherspoons Pub in Havant. The bell at the doors for assistance
to gain access does not work. Gwyneth Fyfield has found that you
either have to knock on the window, (which hurts her knuckles) or
wait for someone to notice you, (who is more likely to be a
customer). Caren had previously written to the pub and Gwyneth has
spoken to the manager who told her that there was no one available
to fix it.
Cllr
Hart offered to
look into this on behalf of the group.
JB mentioned his suggestion for a hoist from
dry to wet side that he made to the Horizon Leisure Trust. He
was told by them that they did not have the finances to install
one.
Cllr
Hart offered to write to
them as he is sure that as a Trust they have access and/or are
entitled to grants/funds, if they put a bid forward.
Cllr
Hart will give feedback at the next
meeting.
The group questioned Steve Weaver on proposals
that he may be dealing with. He explained that his team deals with
new development proposals and if the group has a problem with sites
that are not being newly developed then they should contact the
service provider direct.
Tesco’s progress was discussed.
Val expressed concerns with the footpath that
is opposite the bus station in Havant’s town centre. It becomes
impassable, as it does not lead directly to the roadside. Val to
speak to Tracey and/or Peter Marshall at
HCC
Highways.
Problems the group have experienced with bus
stops and the bus station were discussed.
Cllr
Hart
suggested that someone form Highways be invited to a meeting to
discuss problems the group has with crossings, holes etc.
JB expressed a high regard for the recently
refurbished Havant library. He thought it has a good layout and is
easily accessible.
9. Date of the next
meeting
6 August 2009 – 2pm