Havant Borough
Council
Disability Access
Group
AGENDA
Thursday August
5th 2010, 2pm in Committee Room 1 (first floor) Civic
Offices
1.
Apologies and welcome from the Chair, Cllr Terry
Hart
2.
Minutes of last meeting which can be found at:
Please click here for
the minutes
3.
Matters arising
4.
HBCDAG
Action Planning for 2010
Members
Update (VH)
5.
Public Service Village
update (CR)
6.
Concessionary Travel Feedback (VH)
7.
Any other business
8.
Date of next meeting and
close
If you have any special requirements
please contact 02392 446007 caren.ransom@havant.gov.uk
Access Group
Meeting Minutes
5
August 2010
1.
Present/Apologies
Apologies:
| Cllr. Terry
Hart |
HBC
|
|
Fred
Dunford
|
HBCDAG
|
|
|
|
Present:
|
Caren
Ransom
(CR)
|
HBC
|
|
Alicia
Samuel
(AS)
|
HBC
(minutes)
|
|
Cllr.
Cheshire
(Cllr C)
|
HBC
(chair)
|
| James Mackenzie |
HBC
(Observing) |
| Cllr.
Ponsonby (Cllr
P) |
HBC
|
| Michelle
Green (MG) |
HBC
|
|
Gwyneth
Fyfield
(GF)
|
HBCDAG
|
| Maggie
Macbeth
(MM) |
Havant Adult Services |
| Louis
Slack (LS) |
Southampton for Access |
|
Judith
Glenister (JG)
|
HBCDAG
|
|
Val
Stanley
(VS)
|
HBCDAG
|
| Jason
Beasley (JB) |
HBCDAG
|
|
Richard
Sturgess
(RS)
|
Gosport & Fareham Access Officer
|
|
Val
Hartridge (VH)
|
HBCDAG
|
Correction, Item 1: Initial LA should be
LS
Correction, Item 4: Cars not Cards
Minutes agreed as per changes
3. Matters arising
Addressed in Item 5
4.
HBCDAG
Action Planning for 2010
Members
Update (VH)
VH gave an update on the action plan
Party in the Park on the 5th June was a great success and the
HBCDAG
stall had many visitors, although the space had to be shared with
another
HBC
group. VH
to liaise with David Harris to see if the
HBCDAG
can
have their own table next time.
On the 12th July members of the
HBCDAG
attended the Gosport Access
AGM
where certificates were
presented to local businesses and services providers. They were
nominated and then given a (secret) server user audit by members of
the Gosport Group. (The certificates are ranked, e.g. gold for
extremely good, for going out of their way to help despite building
restrictions etc.).
The accessibility awards in Gosport have been going on for 10
years now and the certificates are presented by the mayor with a
buffet lunch provided.
The Group discussed doing something similar. It was agreed to
incorporate the awardings into the access guide that they are
looking to develop. JB has been looking at Portsmouth’s guide and
will possibly consult Southampton’s as well.
A 
ranking was considered a better choice and it may take a
year to compile the guide due to the geographical area of the
borough (e.g. Hayling, Waterlooville, Havant, Emsworth etc.).
RS offered his assistance and advice
On 14th July 2010 the Group met with Paula Maguire (Service
Development, Hampshire Library & Information Service) to
determine if there was space suitable at Havant library to hold the
fortnightly drop in sessions, (from 20th September 2010). CR
expressed to the Group that any costs will not be borne by them.
The
HBC
Safety and
Emergency Planning officer was consulted throughout the
process.
The Group will be Kurling on Thursday 19th August at Staunton
School
5. Public Service Village update (CR)
The new meeting space for the drop in sessions
was discussed (during the building work on the Civic Offices, for
the
PSV
)
After visits by the Group CR negotiated that
the learning zones will be used for the Access groups drop in
sessions from Monday 27th September 2010 (booked until
December 2010; however this is just due to diary constraints. There
is availability after December).
The sessions will be in Zone 3 at the back of
the library. It was the only space available but the group after
seeing agreed that it would be fine. Paula Maguire will
aim to be there on 27th September to
welcome the group and sort out the housekeeping arrangements and
address any health and safety issues.
6. Concessionary Travel Feedback (VH)
VH explained that she attended a meeting in
Petersfield, hosted by Hampshire County Council on 21st
July 2010 regarding concessionary travel. The County Council will
be taking over the scheme form district authorities and wanted
feedback to enable them to draw up a proposal that will need to be
in place by April 2010, (the draft scheme must be in place by
October 2010, and funding from central government will be made
available in December 2010).
VH told the group that at the meeting she was
informed that a bus pass costs £40.00 per person but tokens only
cost £24.00 per person.
There is not an option in this national scheme
of using both passes and tokens – it is one of the other
The Group discussed the merits and demerits of
tokens:
· For those with
mobility issues, (who may find it difficult to access a bus or get
to the stop) tokens are a good
idea as they can be used for taxis as well
· For those in
rural areas, (where buses may not be available from their area or
hard to get to the bus stops or
are not regular) tokens are a good idea to use
on taxis as well
· Tokens can be
donated to local community groups etc.
· Tokens have been
known to be sold inappropriately
· Some taxi drivers
do not like accepting tokens due to the administrative effort to
claim the money back
A ‘smart card’ system (similar to what is used
in Basingstoke) or paying a flat fare (e.g. 50p) were suggested by
the Group
At the County meeting other matters were
discussed:
· By 2015 all
busses will have low floor capabilities however it was noted that
kerbs have different heights
· Student and
disabled bus pass users currently cannot travel before 09.00am
using the passes – it was proposed that students can get discounted
bus passes anyway (through the companies) and if disabled persons
are working (therefore travelling at this time) they could afford
the fares.
· Central
government changes of the free pass age from 65 to 60 will have a
possible saving of £60 million. It will be phased in, passes will
not be taken away from people
· The County
Council will be looking into locations where forms will be sent to
and the passes picked up, (e.g. housing associations, libraries,
post offices, district offices etc.).
· The County has to
decide what it will offer as extra/ on top of the national scheme,
e.g. companion travel etc.
CR encouraged the Group to put their views
across by 31st August 2010 by filling in the
questionnaire
7. Any other business
MG explained that there is a review of a
previous decision to charge blue badge holders to park at
Beachlands car parks. The decision was made some years ago by
cabinet but it has yet to be fully introduced. MG clarified that
officers are in the process of making impact assessments and
further consulting to get views on this. The full consultation is
due in September 2010
The following was suggested, raised, and
discussed:
· The financial
impact on blue badge holders
· Issues with
using, (reading instructions, the buttons etc.) and accessing the
machines(the height and how close a wheelchair can get to)
· Issues with the
car parks themselves, (many have a shingle surface which makes it
difficult to mark out bays. Many blue badge holders need more space
to manoeuvre in and out of their cars, or need space for a ramp
etc. Other cars may block access)
· A suggestion that
blue bade holders pay for the first hour and the rest of the day
free (like some hospitals)
· In other
authorities, (Bournemouth, New Forest, Christchurch etc.) parking
is free if the car is tax disabled (higher rate of the mobility
component of Disability Living Allowance or receiving War
Pensioners Mobility Supplement)
· It can be
difficult to benchmark against other local authorities as
HBC
has limited
tarmaced spaces at Beachlands, (each car park is different)
· Design for the
machines (designing for accessibility) is available on the
Department for Transport
website
· It was expressed
by some of the group that they would not mind paying, as long as
the machine was accessible (by a wheelchair user) and if they could
park near the machine, (as it may be difficult to get to it
otherwise).
· Paying by phone
was explored – the person still needs to be near the machine to
read the signage to get the telephone number and name/number of the
car park and pay machine (which will need to be quoted). Some may
find this process stressful or difficult to achieve
· The slopes by the
fair were discussed (they can be difficult to manoeuvre, especially
if wet)
· The Group finds
that accessing the beach can often be difficult from the car parks
anyway
· Positive and
negative discrimination was also discussed
· It was noted that
blue badge holders can park on double yellow lines for up to 3
hours
· If these changes
are bought about, appropriate signage will have to be put up. Many
blue badge holders will assume it’s free especially if visiting
from outside the borough.
The Group is to consider further and consult
with those not present at the meeting. CR to email any further
comments, issues, and suggestions to MG
8. Any Other Business
LA explained at a recent trip to the Horizon
Leisure Centre he used the disabled toilet; in there was furniture
(being stored). It was noted that if the person using that toilet
had a larger wheelchair they would have found it difficult to
navigate. JB to take comments back to the manager, (as he has had
previous discussions with him regarding this). The Group should
monitor the situation and pass to CR if it needs
escalating
9. Date of next meeting
and close
25 November 14.00 - 16.00, Terrace Bar, Havant
College
If you require this in large print or
alternative format please contact Caren Ransom on
023 9244 6007 or caren.ransom@havant.gov.uk