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:

Present:

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 65^th 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